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A4EP · 19 May 2011, 07:38 AM

Panerai has converted yet another person to their awesomeness. I have always been an Omega fan owning both the Seamaster Prof. and a Speedmaster and must say that I always thought those watches were great time pieces and were equivalent to just about anything else on the market.

I was wrong.

About a month ago I started to look into my next purchase and was 95% sure it would be a Panerai but thought even though I have never liked Rolex simply because of how common they are (I have great respect for the brand itself) I would look at them too (Daytona, Yachtmaster, Deepsea). What I found out is that Rolex is still not in my preferred list and they felt quite a bit like my Omegas but when I put on a few Panerai it was like an awakening.

This brand has taken the idea of simplicity and created the most solid feeling watch I have found yet. It is truly amazing how far this brand has come in recent years and their product are in a class of their own. The simplistic look of the dial along with the elegant lines of the 1950s case is simply amazing.

So I took the plunge a couple weeks ago and ordered a 328 M serial from my AD and picked it up last Thursday. I have spent the last week infatuated with this watch. Now I am anxiously awaiting my Carbon OEM strap to start my collection.

I do have some questions though, when comparing my watch to pics online I noticed that my M serial number has a few differences to the pics of other 328 and 312s online.

1: First off the surround of my display caseback is in brushed SS and not polished like I have seen in other pics of "M" serial 328s. Did they do a change of the caseback mid year?

2: Did they stop including a credit card style warranty card with the M Serials?

3: Also, my watch is a limited run of only 500 units but I noticed the "L" serials were runs of 1000 units. Was there a reason for the change?

I took the watch to a W Hotel this past weekend and took some fun shots of it with the funky lighting in the room. I like green the best :)

Swede00 · 19 May 2011, 09:29 AM

Very nice!

1. 328 shoul be like a 312 but with steel bracelet. On my 312 caseback is brushed, but on other older it is polished. So yes, they have changed that.

2. No credit card warranty.

3 might be that newer models are on the way and panerai can only manufacture a certain amount of watches each year.

dddrees · 19 May 2011, 09:55 AM

Nice, another darkside convert. Congrats.

mocheen · 19 May 2011, 10:46 AM

Nice watch. I like the bracelet.

tkc324 · 19 May 2011, 11:33 AM

Welcome to the darkside... nice piece you got there!!

TswaneNguni · 19 May 2011, 01:04 PM

Love the bracelet PAMs

104 on 220 OEM bracelet a favourite in the collection

Dream: 305 type Sub on a bracelet.That would be something !!

ocwatching · 19 May 2011, 01:40 PM

congrats!

dalip · 19 May 2011, 01:53 PM

Congrats...Panerai are a great brand! Enjoy.

Cru Jones · 19 May 2011, 07:37 PM

a great piece! congrats.

you're right, PAMs are tough, and, your bracelet gives it an even more "solid" look.

A4EP · 19 May 2011, 07:57 PM

Thank you Swede00 for answering my questions about the watch and what was supposed to come with it. I am from the US but living in Germany so I bought the watch from my AD here and sometimes the translations are not clear when I ask the questions to them.

I love the Panerai bracelet and the reason for

A4EP · 19 May 2011, 08:01 PM

I absolutly love the braclet. I know it is not historic Panerai but having the option to switch it out with straps is the best of both worlds. It really adds a lot of weight to the watch and makes it feel even more solid.

nauticajoe · 19 May 2011, 08:59 PM

Very nice. Congrats! Now it's time to go strap shopping!

canwatchco · 20 May 2011, 01:53 AM

Congrats on the great watch! For twenty years of my life I wouldn't wear anything other than Omega! I had multiple variations of the same watch to show for that love...

I fell in love with the first Panerai I ever saw, and it was a 40mm white face Pam 51. This was back in '01 or '02. I just couldn't get myself to lay out a whopping 3 grand for it! That's a laughable price today, however!

Just to clarify, Panerai's with in house movements, particulary with the 9000 series movements have warranty books instead of warranty cards. As for the amount made for the series, most models vary from year to year depending on expected demand.

Enjoy!

A4EP · 20 May 2011, 08:02 AM

My AD called today and my Mad Max Carbon strap has arrived!

Having the option to do both the bracelet and a strap is simply awesome. My 328 is now sporting it's first strap and my obsession grows stronger.

Does anyone know of aftermarket deployant strap manufactures? I have searched for a few but can't find any with a wide selection of color choices.

Here are some pics of the strap transformation!

A4EP · 20 May 2011, 08:03 AM

A few more

mfer · 20 May 2011, 09:48 AM

Now that is a chuck of steel! Congrats

Benwah · 21 May 2011, 06:03 AM

I have the 328 as well and the bracelet is lovely, lots of heft. I do wear it most of the time on the bracelet...

Sarajevo · 21 May 2011, 10:20 AM

Beautiful pictures of a beautiful watch, you are definitely making the most of what Panerai has to offer. I think the sapphire caseback is so beautiful. Great choices and I hope you have many happy experiences with your watch.

gtsayson · 21 May 2011, 09:31 PM

Awesome!!!!!

ArcticMoose · 21 May 2011, 10:10 PM

Very nice! Works perfectly with that strap.

axjimenez · 21 May 2011, 10:52 PM

That thing is GORGEOUS. Congrats. Love the Carbon Fiber Strap.

elevensheep · 22 May 2011, 05:35 AM

The carbon fiber strap is very nice

PanosI · 22 May 2011, 05:39 AM

Congrats and welcome

19 May 2011, 07:38 AM	#1
A4EP "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 8	Another Darkside Convert - My new 328 M Panerai has converted yet another person to their awesomeness. I have always been an Omega fan owning both the Seamaster Prof. and a Speedmaster and must say that I always thought those watches were great time pieces and were equivalent to just about anything else on the market. I was wrong. About a month ago I started to look into my next purchase and was 95% sure it would be a Panerai but thought even though I have never liked Rolex simply because of how common they are (I have great respect for the brand itself) I would look at them too (Daytona, Yachtmaster, Deepsea). What I found out is that Rolex is still not in my preferred list and they felt quite a bit like my Omegas but when I put on a few Panerai it was like an awakening. This brand has taken the idea of simplicity and created the most solid feeling watch I have found yet. It is truly amazing how far this brand has come in recent years and their product are in a class of their own. The simplistic look of the dial along with the elegant lines of the 1950s case is simply amazing. So I took the plunge a couple weeks ago and ordered a 328 M serial from my AD and picked it up last Thursday. I have spent the last week infatuated with this watch. Now I am anxiously awaiting my Carbon OEM strap to start my collection. I do have some questions though, when comparing my watch to pics online I noticed that my M serial number has a few differences to the pics of other 328 and 312s online. 1: First off the surround of my display caseback is in brushed SS and not polished like I have seen in other pics of "M" serial 328s. Did they do a change of the caseback mid year? 2: Did they stop including a credit card style warranty card with the M Serials? 3: Also, my watch is a limited run of only 500 units but I noticed the "L" serials were runs of 1000 units. Was there a reason for the change? I took the watch to a W Hotel this past weekend and took some fun shots of it with the funky lighting in the room. I like green the best :) Attached Images

19 May 2011, 09:55 AM	#3
dddrees "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Dan Location: USA Watch: This N That Posts: 34,253	Nice, another darkside convert. Congrats. __________________ When it captures your imagination, that's when you know you have found your passion. Loyal Foot Soldier of The Nylon Nation. Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

19 May 2011, 01:40 PM	#7
ocwatching "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Phil Location: CA Posts: 5,374	congrats! __________________ too much into watches...

19 May 2011, 01:53 PM	#8
dalip "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Dalip Location: Mumbai and Perth Watch: Rolex PAM Omega Posts: 18,656	Congrats...Panerai are a great brand! Enjoy. __________________ ------------------------------------------------------------ *"The liar's punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else." George Bernard Shaw*

20 May 2011, 08:02 AM	#14
A4EP "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 8	My AD called today and my Mad Max Carbon strap has arrived! Having the option to do both the bracelet and a strap is simply awesome. My 328 is now sporting it's first strap and my obsession grows stronger. Does anyone know of aftermarket deployant strap manufactures? I have searched for a few but can't find any with a wide selection of color choices. Here are some pics of the strap transformation! Attached Images

19 May 2011, 09:29 AM	#2
Swede00 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Shanghai Posts: 67	Very nice! 1. 328 shoul be like a 312 but with steel bracelet. On my 312 caseback is brushed, but on other older it is polished. So yes, they have changed that. 2. No credit card warranty. 3 might be that newer models are on the way and panerai can only manufacture a certain amount of watches each year.

19 May 2011, 10:46 AM	#4
mocheen "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Real Name: Aaron Location: San Francisco Watch: 16610LV Posts: 187	Nice watch. I like the bracelet.

19 May 2011, 11:33 AM	#5
tkc324 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Tom Location: Chi town Watch: Daytona AP DD Sub Posts: 3,717	Welcome to the darkside... nice piece you got there!!

19 May 2011, 01:04 PM	#6
TswaneNguni "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Real Name: Chris Location: . Watch: Daytonas/Subs/GMTs Posts: 12,609	Love the bracelet PAMs 104 on 220 OEM bracelet a favourite in the collection Dream: 305 type Sub on a bracelet.That would be something !!

19 May 2011, 07:37 PM	#9
Cru Jones 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Paris, France Posts: 35,297	a great piece! congrats. you're right, PAMs are tough, and, your bracelet gives it an even more "solid" look.

19 May 2011, 07:57 PM	#10
A4EP "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 8	Thank you Swede00 for answering my questions about the watch and what was supposed to come with it. I am from the US but living in Germany so I bought the watch from my AD here and sometimes the translations are not clear when I ask the questions to them. I love the Panerai bracelet and the reason for

19 May 2011, 08:01 PM	#11
A4EP "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 8	I absolutly love the braclet. I know it is not historic Panerai but having the option to switch it out with straps is the best of both worlds. It really adds a lot of weight to the watch and makes it feel even more solid.

19 May 2011, 08:59 PM	#12
nauticajoe "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Joe Location: PA Posts: 14,774	Very nice. Congrats! Now it's time to go strap shopping!

20 May 2011, 01:53 AM	#13
canwatchco "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Real Name: Bobby Location: Montreal Posts: 6,425	Congrats on the great watch! For twenty years of my life I wouldn't wear anything other than Omega! I had multiple variations of the same watch to show for that love... I fell in love with the first Panerai I ever saw, and it was a 40mm white face Pam 51. This was back in '01 or '02. I just couldn't get myself to lay out a whopping 3 grand for it! That's a laughable price today, however! Just to clarify, Panerai's with in house movements, particulary with the 9000 series movements have warranty books instead of warranty cards. As for the amount made for the series, most models vary from year to year depending on expected demand. Enjoy!

20 May 2011, 08:03 AM	#15
A4EP "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 8	A few more Attached Images

20 May 2011, 09:48 AM	#16
mfer "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Real Name: Mik Location: USA Posts: 13,724	Now that is a chuck of steel! Congrats __________________ member#3242

21 May 2011, 06:03 AM	#17
Benwah "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 89	I have the 328 as well and the bracelet is lovely, lots of heft. I do wear it most of the time on the bracelet...

21 May 2011, 10:20 AM	#18
Sarajevo "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: The Netherlands Watch: 16600371701 Posts: 1,271	Beautiful pictures of a beautiful watch, you are definitely making the most of what Panerai has to offer. I think the sapphire caseback is so beautiful. Great choices and I hope you have many happy experiences with your watch.

21 May 2011, 09:31 PM	#19
gtsayson Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Singapore Posts: 18	Awesome!!!!!

21 May 2011, 10:10 PM	#20
ArcticMoose "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Sea Posts: 1,894	Very nice! Works perfectly with that strap.

21 May 2011, 10:52 PM	#21
axjimenez "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Alex Location: Arlington, Va Watch: ALL OF THEM Posts: 1,705	That thing is GORGEOUS. Congrats. Love the Carbon Fiber Strap. __________________ “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” Rolex 114060 Omega SMP 2531.80 Vintage Omega - no idea but dad's watch

22 May 2011, 05:35 AM	#22
elevensheep "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Real Name: David Location: Australia Posts: 321	The carbon fiber strap is very nice

22 May 2011, 05:39 AM	#23
PanosI 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2008 Real Name: Panos Location: Athens, Greece Watch: 16710 Posts: 8,704	Congrats and welcome

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