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The brand new Submersible QuarantaQuattro Bianco PAM01226 brings again recollections of the primary Panerai watch that pulled me into the model. It will need to have been someday in the summertime of 2004, and I used to be visiting Antwerp with my then-girlfriend (now-wife). As I at all times do when touring, I additionally stopped by a couple of jewellery shops within the space to take a look at some watches. One in all them was a Panerai supplier, and I observed a mannequin within the window that instantly caught my curiosity. It was a white-dialed Panerai PAM00113 on a tan leather-based strap.
At that time, I had by no means owned a watch from Panerai. Nevertheless, I actually preferred the PAM00113’s massive case, large numerals, and, at the moment, unusual white dial. I had seen and tried on the Panerai Luminor and Luminor Base fashions with black dials, however by no means in white. Usually, I’m not an enormous fan of white dials, as I discover them to be too onerous on the eyes. And particularly with my pale pores and skin tone, they simply don’t look superb. However I went for it anyway, as sporting the PAM00113 on the tan leather-based strap softened the white dial considerably. I didn’t purchase it on the spot, however reasonably, I ordered it by my then-regular watch supplier.
PAM00113 — Picture through Xupes
A Panerai with a white dial
When the watch arrived, the large wood field made an immediate and lasting impression on me. Inside was the watch, a further rubber strap, and a screwdriver to vary the strap your self. It was a harmful factor to do your self; alas, the quick-change techniques we see as we speak weren’t that widespread again within the early 2000s. With a little bit of 3M tape, you might at the very least considerably defend the lugs from incurring scratches whereas altering the strap.
I by no means ended up sporting it on the included rubber strap. I did, nonetheless, get my fair proportion of different straps appropriate for the immense 24mm Panerai lugs. Alligator, denim, calf, and even beaver tail — I had all of them. Swapping straps at all times resulted in a brand new (or at the very least a unique) search for your watch. There was seemingly no want — at the very least for some time — to purchase one other watch to scratch that ever-present itch watch fans have.
PAM00113 — Picture through Xupes
However, as at all times, new issues arrive on the horizon. Finally,this Panerai PAM00113 needed to make means for one thing new. I can’t even keep in mind what watch it was particularly. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t be stunned (and neither would you) if we had been speaking about some form of Speedmaster right here. That mentioned, on the time, my focus was on watches that had this little crown on the dial.
Some years later, a black-dialed Panerai Base Emblem adopted (PAM00000, if reminiscence serves), however that was a short-lived journey. I form of misplaced my curiosity in Panerai from a collector’s perspective, however at all times adopted the Florence model within the years that adopted. Although I’ve not at all times preferred what Panerai has made or introduced to us in the course of the SIHH reveals (now Watches And Wonders), that additionally applies to many manufacturers. Firstly, I’m an observer, and I write concerning the watches I discover attention-grabbing. Whether or not they find yourself in my private assortment or not shouldn’t be that essential.
Enter the Submersible QuarantaQuattro Bianco PAM01226
Nevertheless, throughout Watches And Wonders this 12 months, Panerai stunned me with one other white-dialed creation — the PAM01226. It’s the Submersible QuarantaQuattro Bianco, also referred to as the 44mm Submersible with a white dial. Panerai scaled again the extra typical 47mm Submersible case and launched a 42mm model in 2016. Now Panerai gives one thing within the center, (re)introducing the 44mm Submersible case.
In actual fact, this case measurement shouldn’t be completely new for the Submersible. The primary ones from 1998 additionally got here in 44mm circumstances. Up to now, nonetheless, I fully ignored the Panerai Submersible, because the design was simply not for me. Not less than, not on the time. After I look again now on the PAM00087, and even the pretty fundamental PAM00024, I believe that they’re fairly cool and good-looking watches in hindsight.
On the wrist
Strapping on the Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro Bianco PAM01226 had an impact I didn’t anticipate. From the get-go, I preferred it rather a lot. And it’s humorous as a result of, usually, I are likely to avoid white dials (with some exceptions, after all). However the mixture of the metal bezel, the inexperienced strap, and the white dial merely works for me. It will in all probability have been completely different if the bezel had been black ceramic or one other contrasting coloration.
The scale works completely on my 19cm wrist, and I can’t perceive why I didn’t attempt the Submersible watches earlier than. Up to now, I might have at all times picked the Luminor or Luminor Marina, as these fashions are so tied to the model’s historical past. The Submersible, nonetheless, appears good and sturdy, and admittedly, the historical past of Panerai is so “far and wide”, that my purist’s view on this model has pale a bit.
Panerai’s PAM01226 comes on a inexperienced rubber strap, which is straightforward to swap for a different-colored rubber strap or a 24mm leather-based strap of alternative. You don’t want screwdrivers anymore, risking scratches on the case. Simply use the quick-release button below the lug to take off the strap.
Caliber P.900
P.900 Motion
Contained in the PAM01226 is Panerai’s caliber P.900. This isn’t an in-house-developed motion, however reasonably a Richemont Group motion present in different watches from the group’s manufacturers. At this worth level, a real in-house motion would have been good, however I’m additionally of the opinion that the entire “in-house” factor is reasonably overrated. Through the introduction of this mannequin (however this additionally applies to another Panerai watches), the most important criticism was that Panerai is utilizing the P.900 in a watch with this price ticket.
Small replace: Perezcope tell us an essential “element”. The motion inside this PAM01226 is seemingly not the embellished one which I confirmed first. The motion shouldn’t be seen anyway, and the efficiency of the motion is not going to be affected, however (particularly) at this worth level, you need to anticipate some correct ornament on the motion. It doesn’t change my verdict on the watch, as I merely just like the aesthetics of the watch, and I really feel that that is what Panerai is principally about within the first place anyway. I didn’t care about it once they had the hand-wound Unitas actions, and I don’t do now. When a motion is of significance to you, this watch may not be for you then.
Probably not bothered by it
However apart from the motion, and within the case of Panerai, the P.900 caliber shouldn’t be one thing I’m really bothered by anyway. I merely love the appears of this watch. I do really feel the worth tag of €9,200 is a bit steep, however purely based mostly on aesthetics, this was a pleasant shock for me from the Florentine model. Throughout Watches And Wonders, we (our group) joked that just about every thing there had a price ticket of at the very least 5 digits. Immediately, €9,200 seemed like a discount.
Will the PAM01226 be my re-entry to Panerai?
It’s primarily the clear white dial together with the massive case and bezel in 316L metal that makes me need to put on the PAM01226. The inexperienced rubber strap provides a little bit of that navy or utilitarian taste. The one factor I’m not certain about is the date aperture. There’s a little bit beveled step across the date window, in all probability as a result of the date disc sits deeper than on different fashions. I may have executed and not using a date altogether, however to me, it’s a minor factor and positively not a dealbreaker on this case.
Simply because the white-dialed PAM00113 pulled me in practically 20 years in the past, this white-dialed PAM01226 may be my re-entry into the Panerai model. As at all times, we’d have an interest to listen to what you consider this mannequin. Be at liberty to drop your ideas within the feedback beneath.
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