fiddy and cali dials

[jman2]

Upon further searching and exploring the www, i've now come across fiddy's and california dials!
wow beautiful looking watches.
I'm more interested in the california dials on the 47mm radiomir style cases.
Can anyone shed some light on whether this 47mm case is too large to wear with a dress shirt or suit?
Secondly i have come across flat's and dome's shaped top glass, now what is the correct piece for that vintage, i think i saw some ebay ad's for original's and it looked like a flat top glass????
Are the original dials suppose to be black with green numbers and black hands?

thanks for all your input!

J

 

[Mr.Majestyk]

G'day jman2,

You know you've entered a place of which there is NO escape!! Ha! Ha! Ha! But is so fun!

I'll share my thoughts & what I've learnt....
I was and am in the same vote as you. Love the 47mm PANs.
I bought a 217 MM (Marina Militare: it's like a "Fiddy" but a destro: left handed crown) many years ago & sold it regretably-but needed the cash at the time.
So, it wasn't until I started researching for my NEW Pan, that I came accross this site & have been hooked ever since....

I love the vintage feel of the PAM:249 Cali (Especially the Acrylic "Glass" it comes with as the Gen & reps), the 127 "Fiddy"(with domed crystal), 217 "destro" (domed crystal) and the recently (couple of years) released PAM:232(flat - for the most part crystal)....but the grandaddy being the PAM:203 with ANGELUS 8-DAY Movement (with domed crystal). reminiscent of the original MARINA MILITARE (PANERAI) 6152-1 with the ANGELUS or the "previous" 6152 with a ROLEX (Cortebert) movement .(PLease correct me anyone if I missed something....or have some details incorrect - just an enthusiast - not a pro).

There was a Q you had about the flatness of the crystal......sorry, got lost there for a moment.
As far as I can tell for a "vintage" look watch, the crystal/glass has to be domed, I don't think watchmakers had the technology back in the late 30's & 40's to curve crystal, I beleive it was too brittle at high temperatures. So in order for these "dive" watches to withstand the pressure the glass was domed in order to counteract the "weight" of the ocean pushing onto the watch......
So, domed acrylic for the CALI all the way baby!

Just make your dress shirts bigger! Problem solved. I don't think they look too big. I'm wearing my 6152-1 with acrylic as I type this & it looks the business!!!
Hope I helped....Good luck!
M*M

PS. Im looking at getting a CALI & then a FIDDY as well as a 217 DETRO again soon....I hear your "pain". ENJOY!