Panerai Info Please..

[2005rivers]

Hello Panerai fans,
To start, I have loved watches since I was a kid, It was not until I recieved my first Rolex recently that I took the plunge into the world of watches. I joined this forum to discover more info on watches. This forum also opened my eyes to Panerai, I then went back and read some old articles on Panerai in old watch magazines.

What I am looking for is an inside view from Panerai owners. The good and bad about the watches. I have read once or twice that people dog the movements, why? and what is your rebuttal? What are the top dog models?I have had my eye on the Panerai Luminor Base, what can you tell me about this model? All in all, Why are you a Panerai fan?

Any reply is greatly apprieciated, I will read all posts

[Fred_Tan]

Originally Posted by 2005rivers

Hello Panerai fans,
To start, I have loved watches since I was a kid, It was not until I recieved my first Rolex recently that I took the plunge into the world of watches. I joined this forum to discover more info on watches. This forum also opened my eyes to Panerai, I then went back and read some old articles on Panerai in old watch magazines.

What I am looking for is an inside view from Panerai owners. The good and bad about the watches. I have read once or twice that people dog the movements, why? and what is your rebuttal? What are the top dog models?I have had my eye on the Panerai Luminor Base, what can you tell me about this model? All in all, Why are you a Panerai fan?

Any reply is greatly apprieciated, I will read all posts

Up to 1950s, Panerais' case & movement are mostly made by Rolex.
Up to 2005, Panerai still do not make their own movement.
They rely on ETA6497 & 7500 plus others from 1993 till today for most of their models.

Most of the current Panerai manual winded models use ETA6497 supplied by SWATCH.
There's a reason why Panerai chose 6497.

If you look at all vintage Panerai made by Rolex in 1930 till 50s, the movement will look like below:


And if you look at the back of almost all manual winded Panerai with ETA6497, you will see this:


Do you see the resemblance?
ETA continued the Brevetatto movement tradition from Rolex in 6497.
In actual fact, up to 1950s, Rolex pocket watch mvmt are not made by Rolex per se.
They were made by Brevet under the brand Brevetatto.

Hence, unlike other brands which use 6497 for manual winding mvmt because they don't have in-house manufacturing capability, Panerai usage of 6497 is purely due to historical & DNA correctness reason.

So, this I hope answer the main dog on Panerai.
You can clearly deduce that Panerai usage of 6497 on PAM1, 2, 4, 9, 16, 22, 26, 56, 115, 117, 127, 217, 219 & many others including pre-Vendome series like 6152s are correct historically.

And from my pictures below, you can deduce further of the finishing of all Panerai to see if the other dogger who says Panerai mvmt are not well finished is true...





























Panerai finishing on it's case, dial, hands, strap & buckle are actually better than Rolex & o par with AP, VC & PP as shown below:































































[IMG]http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/Fred_Tan/217H_2_/48e6349
c.jpg[/IMG]

































































3 things float a watch brand.
1) Technology
2) Design
3) History

If you look at most brands & most models, they have have the technology & design...but many are missing real history.....that's why they need a lot of marketing thru ambassador, golf tourneys & regattas.

Panerai have all 3 naturally without over-mart.
My 2 cents

[Fred_Tan]

[Psmith]

Great post Fred, and your amazing photos are always a treat




Cheers

[HL65]

Fred--Your pictures are amazing--they make me appreciate my watch more just looking at them!!!!! Well done!

[bcacncnc]

Stunning photos!

[Dsaltydog]

Amazing Knowledge! Thanks a great post, maybe the most informative I have ever read!

[chef19]

Excellent post and photos.

[2005rivers]

Insane pics, Thank you for the info, You pushed me over the edge; I HAVE to have one!

[m_reign]

That is some great info, thanks Fred!

[jcatral14]

What Fred said.

[NGN]

Thank you Fred, that was awesome.

2005rivers,
I should also thank you, I was in a very similar position as yours - fairly new to Rolex, came across Panerai on TRF, read about Sly S being a fan, read some more on Wikipedia, liked what I saw, but wanted to know more.

And now, I want one too.

[alexgr8]

Great photo essay Fred. Just one small point...I'm pretty sure that the pocket watch movements that Rolex sold Panerai for the early watches were made by Cortebert.
You, of course, are quite correct to point out that Panerai have maintained that historical DNA connection with the use of the ETA 6497. That shared history is one of the reasons many Rolex guys get interested in adding a Panerai to their collection.

[B. Doggy]

Talk about a modem burner!!!....

[A1000]

Great pictures of a great watch Fred. Not much I can add to your post

[ocwatching]

as always..great photos Fred...
you looking forward to the 339?

[Fred_Tan]

Originally Posted by ocwatchnewbie

as always..great photos Fred...
you looking forward to the 339?

The chocolate dial & brown case will be a killer for photography

[Nica64]

Nice pics Fred!!

[metal man]

and that's all I have to say about that!!!!! Great post!

[Alex_sks]

great details shot, your marina militare is a beaut...

[ersnyder]

Your pics are absolutely astounding Fred! I've always been amazed by them but never responded to tell you. So, here it is, thanks!