PAM up-trend of interest, including me.

[44Jewels]

It seems many Rolex people are leaning toward Panerai. They seem nice so I am looking at a few. I have some questions.
1) Would the older models or newer models (ie H or M) be a better choice to purchase in relation to holding it's value?
2) If one year they made 4000 and the next year they made 2000. would it be better to buy the year they made less or does it not matter?
3) Automatic vs manual... is it strictly personal preference?
4) Having an in-house movement important for the future collectors?

E

[leeye]

Just my personal opinion on your questions.

1. Older models with tritium dials are definitely a keeper as Panerai no longer produces tritium dials/hands.
2. Some models have minor tweaks even though they are the same model number but the number of pieces produced is less important.
3. Automatic vs manual is always a personal preference.
4. For future collectors I would advise to go for the non in-house movement (eg. OPII/III calibre) as Panerai will gradually phase out the OP calibre movements.

[44Jewels]

Thank You Lee!!
I am surprised the number of pieces is not important.

[ocwatching]

+1 with Lee...
the number of pieces only comes into play if you are trying to source a piece from your AD...PAMs still make a lot less per year than Rolex..I think around 60K pieces a year or so...
in terms of value retention...the base models with the ETA will always hold value...most of the SEs will at least hold value..
with PAMs..manualwound is always preferred...

good luck in your hunt!

[jacksonian]

Lee gave you great answers. Number of pieces *can* be important in certain cases, but it's more of some icing on the cake than cake itself. Take the 127 vs 217 SE's for example. The 127 had a production of 1950 and the 217 had only 1000, yet there value is almost identical now (and the 127 still usually commands more). There are many other examples. It's hard to predict which Pams will have that special "it" factor.

So my answers would be:
1) no, H vs M wouldn't matter by itself, unless there was something unique about the older model (like the 292J having a Pig on the dial vs the 292M without Pig)

2) as above
3) mostly personal preference, but most Panerai lovers go for handwound so maybe a little advantage there
4) in-house seems to matter more with other brands IMO. The most highly valued (appreciated value, not new MSRP) Pams are those with Rolex, Angelus, and ETA movements. So not really an advantage with Pam.

[andrew79]

1. H vs M, doesn't really make a lot of differences there.
2. same as no. 1
3. I'd go manual winding for panerai
4. non in-house movement is better for future collectors.

[44Jewels]

Thanks for the info

[mike]

Lee's nailed it.

[theken]

I am not a Panerai collector in the strictest sense but I do feel that the "collectibles" over the long term with be from the Historic manual wind series.
As Lee stated, the changes in the models are very minor.
Some nuances do exist, such as painted vs, sandwich dial, Tritium vs. Luminova dials, and polished vs. brushed crown guards.
Models such as the 219 have been limited to less than 500 units annually.