Returned home from my visit at the SIHH in Geneve yesterday. It was great to see that Panerai continue to use their DNA in the new collection.

My personal highlight was “the return of the 8 mm crown” (PAM 399) on a Luminor case, which was only produced with the legendary crown protecting device in modern Panerai watches since 1993. This type of crowns have been used on vintage Panerai watches of the references 6152, 6154 and 6152/1 (Rolex 8 mm Brevet crown). You can find more info in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter VI.III on page 325.

Features of the watch:
Reference: PAM399
Case: 47mm AISI 316L polished steel
Movement: Hand-wound mechanical,exclusive Panerai OP XXVII calibre, base Minerva 16-17
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
Water resistance: 30 metres
Crystal: Plexiglas 3.0 mm
Back: See-through sapphire crystal

You can find a detailled overview of the 2012 models at www.paneristi.com, also at www.panerai.com

As a vintage Panerai enthusiast, it was a big pleasure for me to see the famous “74″ Ref. 6152/1 watch with Angelus movement and single pencil hands on display at the Panerai booth! Panerai showed a couple of special and rare watches, also the PAM203 with vintage Angelus movement (a special edition model of the year 2005).

Today I got the chance ot see the PAM372 for the first time in real. The “nearest-to-my-place” Panerai dealer promised me weeks ago to give me a call when his first PAM372 would hit his store, so I could take an eye on it before he will call the new owner (to get his christmas gift “just in time”).

Since our friend Asi posted his comparing report directly from SIHH earlier this year I was excited to see this watch now with my own eyes. What caught me instantly, was the engraved “Luminor Panerai” on the dial – that looks just wonderful!

As the watches were hitting the boutiques and Ads lately, a lot of collectors got their “early Christmas gift” already. I must admit that this is a wonderful watch and it will makes many collectors very happy – for sure!

I put my 6152/1 on to make some comparing photos with the 372. Panerai put in a lot of their DNA into the PAM372: the flat lugs, coming out of the middle of the case, remind me on the Vintage Panerai references 6152 and 6154, the edged cushion shape of the case also, which does not exist on 6152/1 watch cases. I also like the fact that the watch has a plexi instead of a sapphire - some extra “old school flavour”. Overall a very well done piece.

[Volker Wiegmann]

A set of vintage “Luminor Panerai” instruments – the so called “Trittico”: compass, Ref. 6152/1 wrist watch and 16 m depth gauge. The depth gauge is calibrated to 16 meters. There exist other versions for various depths, depending on their use (attack or defense; calibrations from 7 to 60 meters are known today). Both instruments, the compass and the depth gauge, have a case size of 70 x 90 mm. The compass rose is divided into 22.5° sections, commonly used in seafaring circles.

Our fellow collector friend Assaf Burstein from Israel provided some very nice comparing photos of the brand new PAM372 next to his 6152/1.

It is great to see that Panerai has introduced a watch with so many historical features, carrying the DNA of the brand into the future.

The long waited for “fiddy base” watch is here, giving applause to the designers in Milan.

Paneristi wanted this watch since years - 
Panerai made it real!

Technical details of the “Luminor 1950″ PAM372 (find more at www.panerai.com):
Hand-wound mechanical, Panerai P.3000 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 16½ lignes, 5.3 mm thick, 21 jewels, Glucydur balance, 21,600 alternations/hour. Incabloc anti-shock device. Power reserve 3 days, two barrels. 160 components.

Functions:
Hours, minutes.

Case
Diameter 47 mm, polished steel.

Bezel
Polished steel.

Back
See-through sapphire crystal.

Device protecting the crown
(protected as a Trademark) Brushed steel.

Dial
Black with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers.

Interesting to see the case construction / shape from different views. The lugs are comming out of the case much deeper than on the original 6152/1 case. They reminds on the lugs of the 6152 and 6154 watches, which is underlined by the strong edges on the sides of the PAM372 case. From a top view this is nearly not visible, but good to see from Asi’s comparing photos. Nice, that Panerai placed the reference numbers between the lugs, just like on their “vintage grandfathers”, which hold the Rolex reference number and individual six digit case number.

By the way: “Asi, it looks good on your wrist, and nice shirt too!”

The “Luminor Panerai” engraved dial is just great! The old font has been used for that, which is much nicer than the modern Helvetica font. Giving applause to the fact that the names are not printed onto the dial, but engraved into the dial. The “double pencil” hands seem to be a little bit too small / short, but I can imagine that this will be changed on later production models. It would be not the first time, that Panerai presented a watch to the public at the SIHH which later appears with small modifications… On the display back we can find again the historical correct fonts used for the “OFFICINE PANERAI BREVETTATO” - very nice! The see-thru chrystal is a nice feature to show the new P.3000 movement.

The trademark signatures on the crown protecting device are causing a little “head down” in me, but as it is the number 1 feature of the brand, Panerai must bring it – honestly I would have been off the roof to see an engraved “BREV. ITAL.” on the backside of the crown protecting device. Overall its really a wonderful watch, the star of the 2011 Panerai collection for me. Regular production 3000 pcs., hopefully enough for all who like to wear the heritage of a legendary brand on their wrist …a Panerai “Luminor 1950″.

[photos by Assaf Burstein - thanks mate!]

Great news from Geneva today: Panerai presented the novelties of their 2011 collection.

One of the highlights are these two 47 mm watches, which got a lot attention immedately after they were released on the public forum at paneristi.com: PAM372 (Panerai P3000 cal. /regular production / 3000 units) and PAM368 (Panerai P2002/9 cal. / special edition / 1000 units), which use a lot DNA of the historical models, giving applause to the designers from Panerai for going this way!

The official Panerai website is updated – click here to see the novelties 2011.

In the mood for another DNA photo, I placed the 6152/1 onto the GPF 1/58.

Meanwhile, two new entries in our database arrived: Both Ref. 6152/1 watches with Rolex movement, yet undiscovered. Our database grows… more to discover in the future!

Caught some details of the “Elettrosegnalatore GPF 1/58″. Fantastic to see the rich details on such a simple tool… many fine engravings all over the case of the signal light, Panerai branded almost everywhere, including matriculation number on the rear plate (covers the batteries).

Stunning functionality of the grip, which can be rotated to move a colored tube over the light bulb, coming up from the front grip into the area infront of the mirror (see detail photo upper and lower left). The signal light can expose white (regular), blue (“A”) and red (“R”) light signals by using the rear grip’s pistol trigger. At the detail photo (lower left), the blue light tube is turned on.

A shoulder extension (stored in the transport box together with a set of spare light bulbs) can be mounted on the rear plate, giving comfort for a straightening use of the signal light in a seesaw situation. For sending accurate signals, an ironsight (low right on the detail photo) is placed on top left of the case, which has an overall dimension of approx. 29 x 22 cm (without shoulder extension).

It’s simple. It’s clean. It’s perfect. The Panerai DNA is still striking after 60+ years…! The photo shows a Ref. 3646 / Type G watch with Oyster crown and the typical flat bezel (1944).

Read more about the “California Dial” watches – the DNA of Panerai - in both of our books.  [Volker Wiegmann]

Compare a Panerai “Luminor Submersible” from actual production whith this vintage Ref. GPF 2/56 – you can find a lot Panerai DNA from the 1950’s transferred into modern times.

The “Big Egiziano” aka “Egiziano Grosso” received its nickname because of  the huge case: it measures 60 mm, with crown protecting device even 66 mm. Panerai has produced a replica of this fantastic toolwatch as a Special Edition model in 2009 (PAM341) made of titanium.

Ralf captured the legendary, matte coated rotating bezel with 5 minute graduation in form of pin shaped elevated markers, with the 15, 30 and 45 minute markers particularly accentuated. The reference point at 12 ‘o’clock is filled with luminous material.

You can read more about the Ref. GPF 2/56 in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, chapter V, pages 256-283.

Looking thru my library today, I stopped at this photo which I took in april 2007. It was one of the first photos to build up the layout of our 1st book.

The pure DNA of Panerai featuring the crown protecting device, 47 mm case with solid lugs, huge domed plexi and “a strap like a belt” come out quite well, I think…

You can read more about the “Arillo Luminor” in our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, chapter I.V, pages 114-141 and also in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, chapter IV.II, pages 226-237.