The Panerai Epiphany Moment

[OiRogers]

...Or How OiRogers stopped worrying and learned to love the Pams. :shock:

After many monthes of attempting to learn to appreciate the Pams I have had the Epiphany I've sought... I feel much the same as I did in Highschool the first time I saw a bra and pair of panties on the floor next to my bed (and yes, there was a girl wearing them shortly prior).. Sucess, and I've got to get more of this....

I've purchased five pam reps to date... the first four sit unworn and unloved in my watch coffin.... awaiting disassembly in the aims of teaching myself how to fix these buggers... I finally had that moment that all of you other pam lovers seem to have had... and promised would come... the moment when you look at a pam and the clouds part, angels sing and the watch speaks to you... This came to me with a used 112 rep by way of Johnism from this board... (original supplier: River)

I have no idea what about the 112 *clicked* for me... perhaps the simple dial lacking the sub-dial seconds or date my other pams (and pretty much all my other reps) sport... perhaps the way its 44mm size and nice curve just sit so nicely on my wrist....

Either way... I have seen the light. I now have a Pam that I will wear in public. I now can start to appreciate these fine and beautiful watches... the 061 has caught my eye... the big honkin' diver/chrono monsters are a different story... those things are butt ugly... but the 112 has opened my eyes.... I feel like a new man.

Somewhere, my bank account is crying. I've just added about 6 watches to my "wish list".

 

[Hambone]

May the Panerai Gods bless and keep you in good time..

 

[babola]

Hard to beat the Base, I have to agree with you on that !

So what is so 'wrong' with the other 4 ?

cheers,
babola

 

[OiRogers]

@babola

The datewheel/datewindow on two of them... just looks out of place and a bit on the ugly side of the spectrum.
On the 183 the crown is loose/wobbly even when down... it flops visibly as you move your wrist around.... I'll be demolishing that one to attempt to fix it shortly.
The last is one of the Ferarri rep pams... other than the horrible caseback spelling issues (probably the watches highpoint to me... it makes me laugh)... The overall shape of the case is bad to me... it doesn't sit on my wrist nicely at all. The corners of the case sit about 1/4" off my wrist while I'm wearing it...

So pretty much other than the physical flaw of my 183 being damages/defective... its all a taste thing. If I can get the 183 to cooperate and work properly... I'm sure I'll like it much more.

I am now putting together a pam want list... starting with the 061, perhaps the 176/177... suppose a 111h from Davidson....
I guess the simpler/clean watches are where my attention is drawn... Live and learn... I'll be practicing watch repair on the first four pams I've purchased... if nothing else it gives me a small collection of straps for the 112 already
Nothing spectacular... but a beginning.

 

[Quarks]

I could not resist a 112 as well.... wicked watch. Base is the way to go....

 

[hooligan]

Oi, beware of the strap addiction! :wink:

That 183 may quickly become your favorite, be warned. I LOVE my PAM210 (base dial Rad), it's so easy to dress up or down depending on the strap! Good size for the case, too. Although my tobacco dial 036 is getting all the wrist time at the moment.

Welcome to the club. I just showed my wife the new Davidsen vintage model that I wanted to buy, her reply was "All your watches look the same...." :lol:

She obviously has not had the epiphany, yet.

 

[babola]

@babola
...I am now putting together a pam want list... starting with the 061, perhaps the 176/177... suppose a 111h from Davidson....

Cool, just be cautious with that 061 rep if you ever pull a plug on one, all of the current ones offered come with black dial (the same they use on 111G) while the gen 061 comes with brown dial...on the other hand, you may not care much about that subtle difference 8)

cheers,
babola

 

[MET-Rx]

Cool, just be cautious with that 061 rep if you ever pull a plug on one, all of the current ones offered come with black dial (the same they use on 111G) while the gen 061 comes with brown dial...on the other hand, you may not care much about that subtle difference 8)

You'll basically will have a special edition 040 ( black dial in a 061). Obviously except for the correct numbers on case back. Also most of the 040's would be T dial but there have been reports of L as well. So that would be minor to some.

If you are die hard about the correct 061, you could get the black dial version and put the brown dial from a 118 in it.

 

[babola]

You'll basically will have a special edition 040 ( black dial in a 061). Obviously except for the correct numbers on case back. Also most of the 040's would be T dial but there have been reports of L as well. So that would be minor to some.

If you are die hard about the correct 061, you could get the black dial version and put the brown dial from a 118 in it.

Yup, I know, but currently not interested in neither 040 nor 061...

babola

 

[OiRogers]

Hrmm... now I'm curious...
Joshua offers a 061, states it has the tobacco dial. I want it. it makes my pants fit kinda funny like. :shock:
The tobacco dial is what really is making that watch look great to me... if it has a black dial isn't it pretty much just a 176/177?

Guess an email off to joshua later to ask about the dial...

 

[hooligan]

IMO, the crown and CG on the 036 that Joshua sells looks better than the 061. Neither of the dials are sandwich so the only real difference is the "Luminor Marina Panerai" print on the 061 v. the "Marina Militare Luminor Panerai" print on the 036. The 061 appears to have the recessed canon pin problem, too, whereas the 036 does not.

My $.02

 

[babola]

IMO, the crown and CG on the 036 that Joshua sells looks better than the 061. Neither of the dials are sandwich so the only real difference is the "Luminor Marina Panerai" print on the 061 v. the "Marina Militare Luminor Panerai" print on the 036. The 061 appears to have the recessed canon pin problem, too, whereas the 036 does not.

My $.02

Some good points you made there PS

I would just add to your good observation that Josh's 036 comes with the case_type and serial_number engraved on the back of the case close to lugs like the gen MM_036 rather than caseback. Although the third number (lower right hand corner) is missing on the rep, it makes it very '1:1 like' to the gen.

Both 061 and 036 Joshua sells are nice Ti rep examples in their own right, and if I had the funds - I'd own both

Just as a general note - 036 and 061 cases are different in shape and style as well.
036 comes in an older style 44mm case (similar to pre-Vendome cases like 201/A for example), the 061 comes in 'new' style case like the one we see these days in 111/176/177 etc.

cheers,
babola

 

[OiRogers]

wow... I have alot to learn.

I must research this "recessed canon pin" problem... I've heard it being mentioned... but I do not have the faintest what I'm looking for... off to the search function...

And I suppose the Panerai website... perhaps a collectors site and see what I can learn about the Gens so that I can rep shop with less n00bness.

 

[Panama]

IMO, the crown and CG on the 036 that Joshua sells looks better than the 061. Neither of the dials are sandwich so the only real difference is the "Luminor Marina Panerai" print on the 061 v. the "Marina Militare Luminor Panerai" print on the 036. The 061 appears to have the recessed canon pin problem, too, whereas the 036 does not.

My $.02

Just as a general note - 036 and 061 cases are different in shape and style as well.
036 comes in an older style 44mm case (similar to pre-Vendome cases like 201/A for example), the 061 comes in 'new' style case like the one we see these days in 111/176/177 etc.

cheers,
babola

Babola, do you mean the rep cases of 036 and 061 are different also or only the gen ones?

Cheers
Panama

 

[babola]

Babola, do you mean the rep cases of 036 and 061 are different also or only the gen ones?
Cheers
Panama

Yes mate,
036 Josh sells comes in "old style" Ti rep case no case/serial numbers oon the caseback, instead they're engraved on the back of the case near lugs. It also comes with bigger CG and wider crown. The case itself is also a bit 'chunkier' and slightly different dimensions than newer style Ti cases.

Both old and new Ti rep cases are nice, some of the benefits of the old one are bigger CG and 1:1 crown, as I mentioned above.

cheers,
babola