Which Panerai?

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Gasman

·Mar 20, 2020

For some time now I have been fancying a Panerai Radiomir. I have been doing the usual research on Google and eBay and quite like the models with a sandwich dial and no complications whatsoever. Does anyone have any info to share with me that could help me to decide which model. 👎

 

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Wivac

·Mar 20, 2020

 

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Lazy_Lightning

·Mar 20, 2020

Gasman

For some time now I have been fancying a Panerai Radiomir. I have been doing the usual research on Google and eBay and quite like the models with a sandwich dial and no complications whatsoever. Does anyone have any info to share with me that could help me to decide which model. 👎

How big is your wrist? Panerai typically makes a large watch. Once you determine the right size, you have to determine if you like the model with the standard or wire lugs.

My wrist is 7 1/8, I wear a 42mm Submersible and it's the perfect size for mm. 45 and 47mm are way too large.

 

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Gasman

·Mar 20, 2020

Lazy_Lightning

How big is your wrist? Panerai typically makes a large watch. Once you determine the right size, you have to determine if you like the model with the standard or wire lugs.

My wrist is 7 1/8, I wear a 42mm Submersible and it's the perfect size for mm. 45 and 47mm are way too large.

I think I’d prefer a 42mm but have never tried one. I must agree with you the 45mm I’ve tried does feel a little big. At the moment I’m leaning towards a 00512 or 1940 I think they are the same watch.

 

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Lazy_Lightning

·Mar 20, 2020

The 00512 is a very nice watch, it's got such a clean look.

While mine is a 42mm, it has the crown guard so it wears bigger. This is what it looks like next to a 42mm Speedy and a 44 Sea Dweller.

Also, the Submersible has a cool quick release feature for the spring bars.

 

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NGO1

·Mar 20, 2020

Here’s my 42mm Rad Sandwich dial, w wire-lug and onion crown for you.

 

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Bushido

·Mar 20, 2020

As far as your preferences go:
42-44mm sandwich dial Radiomirs- check
Do you prefer the 1940 case or wire lugs?
Are you wanting BNIB, used, or open to either?
Any preference on dial color and/or WR?
Are you open to the Submersible or Luminor lines?
Preference between manual vs automatic?

Just going off of 42-44mm new sandwich dial Radiomirs, you have the 995, 574, 620, 933, and 1144. Lots more options if you are open to 45mm, including the recently released 992. Plenty of awesome possibilities in the 44mm range with Luminors such as the classic 233.

Lastly, because I enjoy sharing pics of Panerai, here are a couple of mine I recently took after some strap changes:

 

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timjohn

·Mar 20, 2020

They always seemed like a lot of money for a gussied-up ETA movement. Unless you got one of the El Primeros: PAM74, PAM72 PAM52 PAM 108, PAM121, PAM122

 

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Waltesefalcon

·Mar 20, 2020

To my eye they look like those Eastern European pocket watch conversions you see on Ebay.

 

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NGO1

·Mar 20, 2020

Radiomir 1950s Wire-lugs and onion crown is sweet spot. Distinctive with a mix of modern and vintage.

 

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Om3ga321

·Mar 21, 2020

None.

 

K

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killer67

·Mar 21, 2020

modern - Radiomir 1940 no guard
vintage - 3646 but probably gonna be a franken or fake watch

 

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rootbeer7

·Mar 21, 2020

I went through this a while back. In fact, I couldn’t find a Radiomir that felt comfortable. The 47mm felt too large and 45, 42 felt underwhelming. In the end, I tried a 44 Luminor and it was perfect. I had a 390 first and then traded up to my current 233 (in the image) both manual winding so slightly thinner in depth. I did recently try the classic and limited edition 47mm 232 from a while back and it was superb. In my opinion, go and try every size, shape and design. You may be surprised.

 

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Archer

·Mar 21, 2020·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

timjohn

They always seemed like a lot of money for a gussied-up ETA movement. Unless you got one of the El Primeros: PAM74, PAM72 PAM52 PAM 108, PAM121, PAM122

They haven't been using ETA movements for quite some time, as most are "in-house" movements now. But they have used movements from a variety of suppliers, so ETA, Zenith, JLC, GP, etc.

 

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Gasman

·Mar 21, 2020

Archer

They haven't been using ETA movements for quite some time, as most are "in-house" movements now. But they have used movements from a variety of suppliers, so ETA, Zenith, JLC, GP, etc.

I believe they even used Rolex movements at one time.

 

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Archer

·Mar 21, 2020·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

Gasman

I believe they even used Rolex movements at one time.

Yes, but of course those movements were not made by Rolex...