Panerai Luminor 1950 (PAM 321) Watch Review

You will find explanations why everyone loves and put on their watches.  Maybe their watch has some emotional link with a celebration within their past, could it have been a present, and when you're like us (watch brainiacs) you just love getting a helpful mechanical toy in your wrist which has style. As I usually readily understand my fellow watch fanatics, I'll be the first one to admit that originally I didn't comprehend the subgroup of watch brainiacs who're to be honest fans from the Officinal Panerai brand, also known as the "Paneristis".
    
If you're not acquainted with this variety of watch lover, just spend a couple of minutes perusing the Panelist forum and that i virtually guarantee that you'll leave the website astonished, otherwise perplexed, through the genuine passionate and frequent posts from Panelists around the globe.  They discuss every model, publish pictures, speculate on new models, give advice to newcomers, as well as frequently throw parties (around the globe) where fellow Panelists come for a great time, make buddies, not to mention showcase their beloved Panerai models...

I had been simply amazed after i discovered the Panelists and didn't realise why they been around to begin with. Also enchanting was why Panerai, a comparatively recently elevated the watchmaking industry company with limited styling, became this kind of legendary brand? That's, I had been ignorant, until I received my first Panerai...  Within this publish I'll review my Panerai Luminor 1950 GMT or PAM 321 while trying to reduce some light to the Panelist movement.  As I don't consider myself part of the "cult" yet, I actually do are in possession of a learned appreciation for that logo and its items but I additionally know very well what the fervor is about -- or at the minimum I'll reveal to you my opinions about them.

When I pointed out, Panerai, like a number of other the watchmaking industry brands and for various reasons, were built with a discontinuous history.  The organization began in Florence (Firenze) in 1860 where Giovanni Panerai setup a watch manufacturing company shop and offered maritime equipment.  In early area of the previous century Panerai's roots in horology were cemented because they grew to become the supplier of watches for that Italian Navy.  In those days, Italian frogmen would use their watches to some time and synchronize attacks and perhaps even mount torpedoes they would navigate to create lower docked enemy ships.  Getting an individual time instrument you could put on and find out underwater would be a must of these procedures and Panerai provided exactly that using their large watches which incorporated a patented luminescent radioactive material: radioman.

Original Panerai store in Florence, Italia

Dealing with Rolex watch, Panerai assisted develops a few of the initial water-resistant watches.  Earlier Panerai models even incorporated Rolex watch actions...  However, maybe because of Italy's reduction in The Second World War or because of the quarta movement crisis from the 70's, or possibly a little of both, the company virtually disappeared...  What goes on next is well recorded, but suffice to state that American actor and noted watch enthusiast and collector Sylvester Stallone gave the company a lift of existence by putting on a Panerai in a single of his movies by sporting timepieces around the red-colored carpet and throughout interviews.  What adopted was the purchase of the organization through the Richemont Group and it is thriving, assisted through the obsessed Panelists an internet-based forums.  Jake's Panerai World blog includes a thorough account from the Panerai history, such as the Rolex watch connection, which i recommend the interested readers peruse for particulars and illustrations.

As the somewhat romantic history using the new Hollywood tie-in will make for any great movie, it does not promise an excellent watch. I truly wanted to understand am special about Panerai and it is watches, especially having seen my cousin Alain, a physician in Miami, and someone I really respect, constantly sporting one.  There has to be a much deeper group of reasons that some men (as well as gals) are drawn to the company and be obsessive about it.  After putting on my PAM 321 for any week straight throughout a part of my winter vacation, I believe I finally cracked the mystery...  however allow me to describe the PAM 321 and also the common design language it explains to all Panerai models.

Much like many effective watchmakers, Panerai follows a typical design and style language its its watches.  The most typical traits are: a sizable cushion situation, highly legible and straightforward dial with super-legible font, along with a flexible range of straps.

On my small PAM 321, the situation may be the so-known as 1950 situation that is a cushion situation created from the solid block of blown stainless.  The crown is polished steel and it is paid by the initial-to-Panerai crown safeguarding device which helps to make the watch water tight.  Basically it is a half-crescent crown guard (tight seal device) of blown steel that entirely covers the crown aside from a little lever that whenever drawn (with nail or finger) releases the crown.  Once launched, the crown may then be drawn and switched.  This is an ingenious device that is a determining visual differentiator for that brand which has become trademarked by Panerai because the 1960 patent privileges have lengthy expired...

Like the majority of Panerai watches, the PAM 321 is very large at 44mm and sits high at 19mm.  It isn't for small men though I've come across various pictures around the Panelist forum of the items seems to become more compact men as well as women putting on 44mm as well as bigger Panerai models?-  For me personally, on my small almost 7 1/2 inch wrist, the 44mm situation seats perfectly because the lugs are curved lower without overpowering my wrist.  The black alligator strap that included it's high quality and appears to become machine sewn in whitened.

Possibly probably the most incredible area of the PAM 321 (as well as many Panerai watches) is its amazing legibility, day or evening.  This is actually the consequence of the sandwich dial construction in which the hour markers and also the 12, 6, and 9 hour marks are full of Panerai luminescent that merely stands out with some charge.  In the past, Panerai has already established various improvements for the reason that space, including using radium-based luminescent, that was changed through the non-radioactive luminor material which provides the series its moniker.  The legibility is really good that merely utilizing it throughout your day, you're going to get through the night legibility? Therefore it is the right watch to sit down in your evening table.  Aiding for the reason that legibility is really a nicely domed azure very on the top from the timepiece-like simple dial using the Panerai unique font that may be read from the distance.

While using incorporated tools (strap change and flat screwdriver) I'm able to rapidly switch to the provided black rubber strap.  It provides the timepiece a far sportier look and turns it right into a veritable "diving" watch.  Whilst not a genuine diver (no rotating bezel, although it is 300m water-resistant) I'd no difficulties with it by the pool and by the pool where I made use of it, towards the dismay of my more youthful brother Laurent, as my preferred scuba diving watch once we hunted, from the waters of Montrouis, for lionfishes (Pterois) ---a predatory species which has penetrated the waters from the Atlantic.

When using the PAM 321 for scuba diving or diving is utilizing the watch poor its historic roots, the opportunity to easily, rapidly, and precisely change straps means will be able to customize the character of my PAM 321 immediately to complement my outfit or even the unique circumstances.  The provided alligator strap is ideal for office work as the rubber can be useful for the sea or even the pool?-  however, the good thing about possessing Panerai watches is obtaining 3rd party straps yet still time completely altering your watch.

You will find literally thousands of aftermarket straps readily available for all Panerai models.  They're offered from around the globe, some beginning as little as a couple of dollars plus some reaching well in to the $1K range.  The types of materials change from calf leather (new or distressed and all things in between) to alligator and crocodile, and also to some exotic leathers for example stingray, sharks, reptiles, ostrich, and much more.  The accessible colors are multitudinous and also the level of comfort will be different using the material and construction. For mine, I could acquire some distressed calf leather Large Belt straps from Time Republic vendor on eBay for around $60 each (with shipping) with a pre-V (pre-Vendome) buckle incorporated.

Not to mention, this isn't mentioning official Panerai straps and bracelets that you can also buy.  In the Panerai store in Bal Harbour, FL, for considerably more income, I could add some legendary assolutamente deployment strap to my collection in addition to a rare blown stainless bracelet.  Both of them are very difficult to find at approved sellers (Advertisements) or on eBay.  As pointed out, each strap simply completely changes the timepiece as though I'd bought a brand new watch.  This is from comments of buddies and family throughout my vacation where I made use of the timepiece daily.  Using the stainless bracelet, I basically converted my PAM 321 to some PAM 347 because the bracelet may be the only difference backward and forward models.

On the top famous that, the PAM 321 has the in-house P.9002 automatic movement including some intriguing and helpful features.  First, the PAM 321 is C.O.S.C licensed and possesses an exhibition caseback that shows the threeOr4 plate movement decorated with blue screws and rubies.  The decoration isn't excessively done which can be useful for the primary tool character from the watch.  The movement is really a GMT in which the hour hands (once the crown is launched and drawn to put one) can change rapidly in jumping fashion.

Oddly enough, the GMT hands is colored identical to the dial and it is thin so that by moving the hour hands above it, you are able to hide the GMT hands and convert the PAM 321 to some non-GMT watch.  This really is unlike what's usually possible along with other GMT watches in which the GMT hands makes a person revolution from the dial in 24 hrs.  The date changes once the hour hands makes two revolutions from the dial.  However, one drawback here, highlighting that this isn't a "real" GMT watch, is you don't easily determine if the GMT hands is showing AM or PM.  Some Panerai models, e.g., PAM 270 and PAM 335, have an additional AM/PM indicator while using P.2003 movement.

Two capabilities of the movement would be the quick totally reset seconds and also the 3-day energy reserve indicator.  First, by delivering the crown and tugging it towards the second position, you are able to slowly move the minute’s hands and also the GMT hands.  However, what's awesome is the fact that when you pull the crown to that particular second position, the seconds hands immediately moves to zero and also the movement stops.  This enables you to definitely precisely set the present time for you to a reference time.  No more must you wait for seconds hands to achieve 60 to be able to stop it and hang it precisely. The P.9002 movement does that for you personally instantly.

Finally, the PAM 321 includes a 72 hour energy reserve by having an indicator at 4 o'clock that utilizes an average Panerai lumed hands (like the seconds hands) moving across reasonable semicircle showing zero to 72 hrs.  The indicator intervenes slightly using the GMT hands once the lumed arrow mind travels across it, however, that's a little cost to pay for to rapidly know that you ought to put on or wind the timepiece.  I additionally found the energy reserve indicator to become accurate, showing exactly 36 hrs remaining after I fully billed the timepiece and left it on my small Wolf Designs watch winder having a 36 hrs start delay.

As pointed out, I used the PAM 321 in a variety of contexts: by the pool mingling at parties as well as scuba diving and skin diving by the pool.  What grew to become obvious next week is the fact that I believe I finally "got" why is Panelists so mad regarding their Panerai watches.  It is a passion that evolves from getting a wrist watch with unique style that's versatile (numerous available 3rd party straps that may be transformed easily), that's legible (simple, super obvious dial and fonts with amazing lume), which includes a strong presence around the wrist that's hard to complement every other watch.

With you’re a powerful cult-like following, the interest in Panerai watches just get more powerful with a few models selling out completely once they are introduced.  The PAM 321 examined here's a 2012 N series that is restricted to 2000 models and sells for $9,800.  The PAM 347 the same model however with the bracelet is listed at $10,600.  Because the bracelet is difficult to find and sells in the Panerai store for $2,400 (when you are able think it is!), I'd recommend obtaining the PAM 347 if you want steel bracelets or could be hoping to get a bracelet later on.  The primary drawback to the bracelet is adding 60 grams for an already somewhat heavy situation that weighs in at in at 140 grams without straps.

I'm now so pleased with my PAM 321 that I’m thinking about adding a Submersible 47mm version to my listing of future watch acquisitions?-  And trust me that whenever I acquired the PAM 321, I figured this is my first and last Panerai, since at that time, within my eyes all of them looked exactly the same.  Now I see each model and that I rapidly lust in the capabilities or slight variations.