The Breitling Watch Blog

One of the things about Panerai’s that draw me towards them are the numerous strap options and how nice they look. My tastes likely lean towards the rougher, ammo looking straps which don’t go well with dress shirts and suits, but for those occasions, I switch to an OEM Gator strap of some sort usually.

I don’t know if I qualify as a Strapaholic, but I own about a dozen or so aftermarket straps, give or take. They are cheap to buy, and adds some fun to your watch collection without having to shell out the cash for a whole new watch to satisfy the I-need-something-new addiction. I am actually in the process of building an aftermarket strap directory complete with reviews of all the straps I have purchased. This should be a useful resource in the future for new Panerai owners.

From browsing the Paneristi forums, I’ve seem some Strapaholics collect hundreds of straps, and some of them of the rare Pre-V Variety that costs in the thousands of dollars.. for a single strap. I couldn’t afford to do that even if I wanted to!

I’ll be posting a brief informational video on straps on youtube soon, keep your eyes peeled 😉 Straps are a great way to add some diversity to your hobby without spending an arm and a leg. And its not just Panerai collectors that can get in on this strap stuff… any watch is suitable for a change of pace by adding an aftermarket strap!

Here is a sampling of some of my straps:

I have picked up a few Panerai’s lately, as I have gotten into the “Panerai Craze”. One of them is this beautiful yet simple PAM114. I recently put up a video review on Youtube, and would also like to share it with you guys here. 44mm Luminor case, white dial, with a exhibition caseback. Very nice base Panerai.

As I rediscover my love for Panerai, it is through the PAM 250, which is quite a sporty looking Panny. The PAM250 Chrono Daylight looks quite a bit more modern than the Historic line offerings from Panerai. Very different than the Base models which Panerai is known for.

On the brushed stainless steel bezel is a Tachymeter scale, which goes further to create the somewhat sportier look of the watch. Pushers are discreetly integrated into the 44mm watch case and look very good, however my only complaint is that the lower pusher is difficult to push due to the Crown Lever covering it partially.

The shot above shows the quick change date mechnism that can be adjusted by pushing a pin into it. The instructions state that you can use the corner of the provided screwdriver, but I found that it did not go deep enough when I used mine. The Dial is a matte black which is typical of Panerai… very simple when compared to the likes of brands such as Breitling or Zenith. One nice feature of this dial is the luminous numbers on the subdials.

The second hand for the chronograph on this watch is interesting. While the rest of the hands are a matte black with Lume on them, the second hand for the chrono is a shiny silver metal color, in contrast the the brushed stainless that the rest of the watch has. I do not know why Panerai did that, but it seems an odd choice… having said that.. it does not seem too out of place.

As you can see, the strap is held in with the usual Panerai screw pins. The strap provided with this model is the Black Croco on Deployant, with an extra Rubber strap.

I feel that the size fits my sub 7″ wrist perfectly, and highly recommend this watch to anyone interested in a slightly more complicated Panerai, that isn’t necessarily interested in their historic models.

Have you ever wondered what the different styles of Panerai cases are? If you’re already a seasoned Panerai collector, this will not be anything you already don’t know, but if you’re new to the brand, this article might be of interest to you. I know from personal experience that it was difficult to tell the difference between the difference case styles as they kind of look the same in pictures.

I wrote an article on Paneraisource.com that illustrates and explains the differences between the cases styles from Panerai. Hope you enjoy it:

Panerai Case Styles Article

I’ve been working hard for the last few months collecting data and building a new site: Panerai Source. This site is intended to be a culmination of information on all the Panerai watches in an easy-to-use format similar to the one used for Breitling Source, but this time for Panerai Watches. Every single Pre-V and Current model should be in the database and on the site. I am still looking for photos of models especially discontinued ones, and looking to eventually add a vintage section as well. I’ll also slowly be building up the articles section to provide users and especially newcomers with useful information.

If anyone has some Panerai photos they have taken and would like to contribute them for use on the site.. please email me and let me know! I would be very grateful for them. Even pics of different straps and buckles would be exceptionally useful. But please take a look, join the forum and help make the Panerai Watch Source a great friendly community for everything 🙂

http://www.paneraisource.com/