Help please! 312 vs. 111

[johannsmit]

Guys (and of course girls), I need your help! I am brand new to the forum and to Panerai. I recently stumbled upon the brand and it was love at first sight. I got the 2009 catalogue and I am about to buy my first Pam.

So... I was just about ready to pull the trigger on a 243 submersible (I am an avid scuba diver and love the look and chunkiness of the watch, the helium valve and the fact that I could dive down to 1000 meter with her) Then I saw Chris' (username TswaneNguni) pics and realized that the 111 is a beautiful looking watch, probably a lot more dressy (and classic, timeless) and that I will never dive deeper than 50 meters and probably won't dive with the watch anyway (oh, and also, I do not have a submarine or and I am not a marine biologist that explore the depths of the oceans)

Then I saw the 312 and again I felt my heart missed a beat. What a beaut. I love the thickness of the watch and the fact that it uses the in-house manifattura movement is kinda cool. I also like the 1950's case.

So here is where I need your help! What is your opinion?? Would one of them be a better "first Panarai"? Would the one be more reliable than the other in terms of the movement? Would the one keep its value better than the other? Is the one more classic? I know I should buy the one that sings to me, but they both are singing like nightingales in stereo on the top of their voices and I am confused...

Any opinions (and I know, it is just an opinion, but if matters to you I want to hear it) would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance, I look forward to your responses!



Johann

"A man is only as big as the dreams he dares to live"