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).

Returned from a fantastic journey to Australia, where P-DAY#10 was celebrated at Hamilton Island. After six years I met my friend Alan “Hammer” Bloore again, who wrote the preface of chapter III in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References” (page 186-187).

I’ve published a report in the public forum at www.paneristi.com. Enjoy reading part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / part 5 / part 6 / part 7 / part 8 / part 9.

Amanda from the P-DAY#10 organization crew has created a wonderful slideshow which was shown during the Farewell Dinner on sunday, november 7th at Outrigger Marquee, Hamilton Island.

[Volker Wiegmann]

Joined the XI Meeting Club Panerai in Viareggio/Italy, hosted by www.clubpanerai.com
Another fantastic long weekend in Tuscany with many Panerai collectors and friends.

Find my detailled reports posted in the public forum at www.paneristi.com below:
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

Thanks to Piero and his crew for making another great meeting in Italy, home of Panerai!
[Volker Wiegmann]

Still two weeks to go, but already “in the mood” for the XI Meeting Club Panerai in Viareggio/Italy, meeting collectors and passionated friends from Italy, Europe and Overseas. Piero Lapiana and his friends will prepare another great event for sure. Radiomirs and Luminors at its best! A presto!

Find my 2010 meeting report in the public forum at www.paneristi.com. Enjoy reading part 1 / part 2 / part 3. Fellow paneristi mates published their personal reports in 2010 as well: Ron (Isle of Man) at www.paneristi.com published a nice random photo galore. Ralf (Germany) has published a nice report at www.paneraiforum.de with several batches of photos. Find a line-up of my earlier travel reports (2005 to 2010) published at paneristi.com here.

Wishing all attendees safe travels and a great time – a presto! 
[Volker Wiegmann]

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.

Last week I received one of the limited edition watches for the 10th anniversary of paneristi.com. Click here to see my earlier blog about the PAM360 this summer.

Since I got it, the watch is on my wrist. I sold my last 44 mm Panerai back in 2007, so it is some time ago since I wore a 44 mm Panerai watch… without doubts, it is a very good feeling! 

I must admit that the overall look is really nice. The “pencil gray” DLC case looks stunning and reminds me to the rare PVD coated Pre-Vendome Ref. 5218-202/A and 5218-203/A. The “patina” color of the luminous material together with the coated case is a wonderful combination, also the famous “OP” logo, first used on the Pre-Vendome Ref. 5218-201/A in 1993. Also, vintage Panerai tools (like compasses and depth gauges) have a gray coating, which appears to me as a great heritage of Panerai.

Wearing this watch reminds me on the paneristi.com community, the friendships that have been built there over all those years… I’m sorry for those who were not able to get one of these (only) 300 pieces, as there were nearly 3000 orders for it. Anyway I’d like to express my thanks to those behind this special edition project: Panerai, the owners and moderators of paneristi.com and all others involved. [Volker Wiegmann]

Martin Wilmsen, skilled photographer and member of the paneristi community, has shared some excellent photos he took for the paneristi.com 2010 calendar at the public forum. Check this out here and get blown away by his work of art. (Some of the watches are published in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”)

Awesome, Martin – thanks for sharing!

September 1st, 2010: today www.paneristi.com is celebrating the 10th anniversary.

Thanks to the owners, moderators and all the collectors around the world, who make this website a great place to talk about Panerai watches!

[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Officine Panerai introduced the PAM360 – the 44  mm Luminor watch for the 10th anniversary of www.paneristi.com – on their homepage www.panerai.com

Find the entire story here.

www.paneristi.com – the unofficial resource for Officine Panerai - is celebrating it’s tenth anniversary in 2010. Today, the moderators of paneristi.com have announced a special edition watch (PAM360), which can be ordered at Panerai via e-mail only. Read more here.

Kudos to all involved persons behind this project, especially Mr. Angelo Bonati, his crew and the owners and moderators of paneristi.com!

photo credits: www.panerai.com / www.paneristi.com