Here are all the Panerai Releases for SIHH 2012 this year.. they really pulled a quick one on everyone, sneaking in several surprise models that we were not aware were coming out. A nice spread of new watches from Panerai this year totalling 18 watches, with a few announced earlier than SIHH. Some notables include the black coated movements and only two new watches using non-in-house movements, both special editions. The introduction of the two watches featuring the 1940′s style Radiomir case is also a highlight, which is also the same two watches using the non-in-house movements. The 1940′s Radiomir is basically a Radiomir case with Luminor style lugs. Strange isn’t it? Anyway.. Here they are!

Panerai PAM 424 – PAM00424
Radiomir California 3 Days
P.3000 Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 425 – PAM00425
Radiomir S.L.C. 3 Days
P.3000 Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 421 – PAM00421
Radiomir 3 Days GMT Oro Rosso
P.3001 Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 422 – PAM00422
Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days
P.3001 Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 423 – PAM00423
Luminor 1950 3 Days Power Reserve
P.3002 Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 439 – PAM00439
Radiomir Oro Rosso
P.999 Movement
42mm

Panerai PAM 441 – PAM00441
Luminor 1950 3 Days GMT Automatic Ceramica
P.9001 Movement
44mm

Panerai PAM 438 – PAM00438
Tuttonero Luminor 1950 3 Days GMT Automatic Ceramica
P.9001/B Movement (Black colored 9001 Movement)
44mm

Panerai PAM 388 – PAM00388
Radiomir Black Seal 3 Days Automatic
P.9000 Movement
45mm

Panerai PAM 392 – PAM00392
Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic
P.9000 Movement
42mm

Panerai PAM 393 – PAM00393
Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic Oro Rosso
42mm

Panerai PAM 323 – PAM00323
Radiomir 10 Days GMT
P.2003/6 Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 396 – PAM00396
Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Ceramica
P.2005/B Movement
48mm

Panerai PAM 448 – PAM00448
Radiomir California 3 Days (Limited Edition of 500)
P.3000 Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 449 – PAM00449
Radiomir S.L.C. 3 Days (Limited Edition of 500)
P.3000 Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 399 – PAM00399
Radiomir 1940 (Limited Edition of 100)
OP XXVII Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 398 – PAM00398
Radiomir 1940 Oro Rosso (Limited Edition of 100)
OP XXVII Movement
47mm

Panerai PAM 395 – PAM00395
Radiomir 8 Days GMT Oro Rosso
P.2002/10 Movement
45mm

Video review of the JOA (Johel) homage of the famous Panerai 127 Fiddy. This was my first JOA watch, and I really dig it. Check out the video review! Beautiful 47mm case with crown protector and sapphire dome-shaped crystal. Exhibition case back shows off the Swiss Unitas movement.

On my computer, I have a photo temporary folder where I store my photos initially after downloading them from my camera. Its like an “unsorted” temporary folder before I have decided what to do with my pics. Because I am busy (or lazy, can’t always tell which), photos often sit there for months. Looking through my temp folder now, I see lots of wrist shots, and figured I would throw them up on here for kicks. Seeing lots of wrist shots in a row is kind of a cool thing, so Here it is!

Up First: Rolex GMT-II Ceramic

Next Up: IWC 3717 Spitfire Pilots Chronograph

Eterna 1935 Automatic

Panerai PAM90 Power Reserve

Sinn 857 GMT Tegimented

Panerai PAM320 GMT

Wyler Geneve Code-R Chronograph

JOA 249 Homage

Graham Chronofighter Classic

Many of you guys know that I am a sucker for a good PAM Strap, and now that I’ve got a Bell & Ross, I’m a sucker for a good B&R strap too! The thing is, more so than any other watches out there, Panerai and Bell & Ross are characterized by their straps. Without a good strap, the watch just doesn’t look as good as it should.

One of my recent acquisitions is a French Ammo Canvas strap by Micah of Vintagerstraps. I reviewed this recently on Paneraisource, and it is certainly worth a look if you are interested in something different:

The French Ammo Pouch Canvas is mounted on a medium-soft leather backing and looks amazing. I have to say this is one of the most fun straps I’ve worn in a while. Micah is a true artist.

Below is a strap by one of the most creative minds in modern strapmaking today: Shane Delaurian. This one is one of his tamer models, the Easy Rider. The tale is folded over on this model, which gives the strap a subtle uniqueness to it. Something about old school leatherworking gives these straps tons of personality and makes them a joy to wear.

Shane’s straps are always hand-signed on the back or the side of the strap!

This last one here is one from the famous ABP-Paris, which is considered the finest aftermarket strapmaker on the planet. They do custom EVERYTHING, and make Aftermarket OEM replacements for nearly every single watch available. A great choice if you’re having trouble finding a strap for a watch with odd lugs. ABP straps will cost you, however – a typicaly strap costs around $350-500.

Mounted happily on a Panerai PAM90. I love my Panerai Straps!!

I reshot this Panerai PAM90 video review with my new video camera.. its got some problems with the audio, and it seems like I am getting a lot of “dislikes” on youtube because of this.. This is likely going to send my channel into the gutter for popularity but what can I do. My wife gave me this camera for my Christmas present so I am using it.

Finally got a video of my PAM 320 posted on youtube, and here it is! My Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Day GMT in all its glory I am still enjoying this watch very much and its quite frankly the most perfect Panerai I’ve ever owned. It has a minor complication (GMT) visible on the front, leaving the dial uncluttered, and two discreet complications that make the watch special, namely the rear power reserve indicator and the second reset when the crown is pulled out. Enjoy!

Now that the 2011 Vancouver Paneristi GTG has finished, and I’ve had a chance to upload the videos to youtube and post the photos to Paneraisource, I’ll make the requisite post here to let everyone know that it was a success, and to hopefully show some cool vids and pics to entice guys to come to the next one!

I’ve embedded the Youtube videos I shot of the event below, which are short, but I’ve also included some pics of the event at my Panerai Forum.

Its a good day for Panerai Collectors, with a new series of Special Edition Panerai’s announced at SIHH for 2011. Lots of goodies this year with an obvious focus on Brown Sandwich dials, Manufacture movements and 47mm Cases.

Beautiful stuff coming out, I’ve love one of those Bronze Submersible PAM382, but I doubt I will be one of the lucky 1000 people to snag one.

Here’s a brief summary of the line up:

Luminor 1950 3 Days PAM372

Radiomir 3 Days Platino PAM373

Luminor Composite 1950 3 Days PAM375

Radiomir 8 Days Ceramica PAM384

Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo PAM382

Luminor 1950 Chrono Monopulsante Left-Handed 8 Days Titanio PAM345

Luminor 1950 Left-Handed 8 Days Titanio PAM368

Luminor Submersible 1950 Regatta 3 Days GMT Automatic Titanio PAM371

Radiomir 3 Days Oro Bianco PAM376

Radiomir 3 Days Oro Rosa PAM379

Overall, a very satisfying line up of new watches from Panerai this year. I am quite stoked about these guys, but likely will never get the chance to own one of those Special Editions. I can always live Vicariously through the guys at the Vancouver 2011 Paneristi GTG though!

Before I bought the Panerai Black Seal PAM 183, I bought this RXW MM25 Poseidon. Its a Japanese company, but a Swiss Made watch made by Ken’s Trading. While it looks similar to the 183, its quite different in person and on the wrist. The watch came with two 26x26mm straps, quite different from the 26x22mm straps that come with the PAM183.

Here is the watch shown with the lizard pattern 26x26mm strap that came with it. The watch has fixed lugs so straps need to be screwed in with Rivets, making aftermarket straps very difficult to find in variety. Most will have to be custom made or have Rivets in them, which is not the best compromise because sometimes a guy just doesn’t want rivets in his strap! As you can see, it has a great sandwich dial and it glows like a torch.

Caseback is of the Solid Variety, hiding the Swiss Unitas 6497 movement inside. The caseback does proudly annouce the movement inside, as well as the 1000 Gauss Anti-Magnetic rating and 100m Water resistance. Also written on the back is “Luminova Plasmir Dial”, which means that it has a Luminova Sandwich dial.

Crown is a screw-down variety, just like the 183 but is a Brevet Swiss Crown. Its a great crown and feels good when winding. As you can see from the sideview shot, the Bezel protrudes out from the cushion shaped case a fair bit.

Here is the ever-important wrist-shot. When I got this I really really liked it… I thought it was a great looking watch and I couldn’t believe I didn’t like Radiomirs before. It wears quite a bit larger than my 183, but I have to say that after owning the 183, the RXW MM25 has lost a bit of its luster. I just did not want to wear it after getting the Black Seal, so I sold it! Bye bye MM25, but it was a great experience owning it, and I’m glad I did as it motivated me to buy the Panerai 183 Black Seal.

I never really liked the Radiomir style watches from Panerai, even though I tried them on many many times. It wasn’t until one day I picked up a Risti-Scorned RXW MM25 Radiomir watch from a local fellow that it grew on me and I just had to buy this Panerai 183 when a guy I knew was selling it. In addition to the OEM strap, it came with a Kaktus strap which is what its shown on.

The Panerai Black Seal 183 is the model one up from the Base 210 Radiomir and features a small seconds at 9 o’clock and has the words “Black Seal” printed on the dial. It features a curved Sapphire crystal and exhibition caseback as well as a great black sandwich dial that glows like a torch. The PAM183 is a current model that has been in production since 2004.

The movement is an OP XI, based on the Unitas 6497/2 which is heavily modified by Panerai with custom bridges and other fanciness. This one is Chronometer certified, unlike the 210, which does not since it doesn’t have a second hand. With the new 3000 series movements from Panerai, this may soon be the end of these models.

The signed Panerai crown is nicely made, and is a screwdown crown – uncommon for handwind watches. But then Panerai watches are anything but common. The Crown on the 183 is easy to wind, and looks great with the blasted background behind the polished Officine Panerai logo. The lugs are inserted into the case and held in by screws. There are tiny rubber o-rings in the screws and lugs to prevent water from getting into the lug hole and rusting it from the inside out. Smart.

While its not too difficult to change straps on the 183, its nowhere near as easy to do as it is on a Luminor case, especially with the quick release.

And finally, the wrist shot. The 45mm Radiomir case is perfect for a semi-casual vintage style watch, especially when mounted on an aftermarket strap like this Kaktus strap shown. When mounted on an OEM strap, the watch dressed up quite a bit. The smaller 42mm Radiomirs are much more dressy than the 45mm 183 here, and would likely be better candidates if that was what you were looking for. The Panerai PAM183 that I snagged is a good in-between watch that wears especially well with jeans and a t-shirt in my opinion – the only thing I sometimes miss is the date function