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Old 5 May 2018, 05:12 PM   #1
rootbeer7
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1st 24 hours with Panerai 233:A Review

As with my 390, I’d like to share my feelings about this watch. I’ve fallen out of love with Rolex recently and since buying the 390 have wanted a second PAM. (I still have a Tudor Big Block).

44mm is the perfect fit, large but comfortable on my wrist. I prefer manual wind as it feels more like a mechanical machine. I couldn’t get on with the Radiomirs as I felt that they looked like dinner plates on my wrist in the larger size and the smaller ones were just ‘meh’.

My 390 base dial with gold hands and polished case feels like a more ‘dressy piece’ and I started to look for an everyday Panerai. The 233 stood out for a few reasons. It was the first in-house movement (I think), has 44mm 1950 case in brushed steel, sandwich dial and great complications. There are 2 versions; early dot-dial and later and still current am/pm dial. I looked for and got the dot-dial.

First impressions on putting it on are amazing. The exhibition back is slightly more curved than the flat case-back on my 390 and is even more comfortable. The strap, original and unworn is soft and pliable. The dial is extraordinary and made more so by the domed sapphire. What a dome! It is just beautiful and in fact makes the watch look smaller than its 44mm. The way it distorts the dial at the edges is just incredible and a real nod to vintage diving watches of the past.
The lume of course is amazing.

Timekeeping? Who knows or cares after 24 hours! I’ll let you know.

A big thumbs up to Ruud Van Driver. You were spot on China!

I’ll update after a few weeks, but in the meantime some photos.
Attached Images
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Old 5 May 2018, 06:06 PM   #2
dualcarb
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Beautiful watch. Congrats and thank you for the review...


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Old 5 May 2018, 06:09 PM   #3
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Great pics and congratulations on the 233! Panerai really has something special in the sandwich dials and 8 day power reserve movements.
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Old 5 May 2018, 08:10 PM   #4
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Congratulations and a great choice on its own or as a collection.

233 was my first Panerai keeper, and it's been a slippery slope since both with more PAMs and straps!

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Old 5 May 2018, 09:13 PM   #5
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Great review my friend, the 390 and the 233 goes along very well together.
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Old 5 May 2018, 10:11 PM   #6
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enjoy....my first was also a 1950 case, she’s been with me for 8 years and has traveled the globe
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Old 5 May 2018, 11:27 PM   #7
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Appreciate the post, I’ve been considering one myself but concerned it may be too large for me. What is your wrist size?
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Old 5 May 2018, 11:27 PM   #8
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Well done Congratulations on a beautiful piece!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 5 May 2018, 11:37 PM   #9
rootbeer7
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Appreciate the post, I’ve been considering one myself but concerned it may be too large for me. What is your wrist size?
Certainly not large maybe 6.5”.
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Old 5 May 2018, 11:38 PM   #10
rootbeer7
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Great review my friend, the 390 and the 233 goes along very well together.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fullcourt View Post
enjoy....my first was also a 1950 case, she’s been with me for 8 years and has traveled the globe
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Well done Congratulations on a beautiful piece!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Originally Posted by Bushido View Post
Great pics and congratulations on the 233! Panerai really has something special in the sandwich dials and 8 day power reserve movements.
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Beautiful watch. Congrats and thank you for the review...


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Congratulations and a great choice on its own or as a collection.

233 was my first Panerai keeper, and it's been a slippery slope since both with more PAMs and straps!

Thank you for the kind words
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Old 6 May 2018, 12:11 AM   #11
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the 233 is the most versatile Panerai ever! You can dress up or down pending which strap you put on and the 233 matches so many so well. Have you ever looked at Martin W old watch blog on "20 straps with the 233" ? Great pair with your 390 (also my favorite base... It's the closest thing to a 372 in 44). I typically hid the gmt hand when wearing and the sapphire dome and dot "complication" are two of my favorite features on the 233. The fang is cool too; but my favorite PR indicator is in the 2002/9 movt (ie. 346, 368). I ultimately even went bigger and settled for a 368 as I was wearing the 233 on weekends and felt I didn't need a date anymore.
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Old 6 May 2018, 02:54 AM   #12
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233 is one of the best and makes for a great duo with the 390!

What's next? A submersible could make for a solid trio.
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Old 6 May 2018, 10:05 AM   #13
rootbeer7
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233 is one of the best and makes for a great duo with the 390!

What's next? A submersible could make for a solid trio.
Probably a second divorce
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Old 7 May 2018, 01:27 AM   #14
Ruud Van Driver
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Huge congrats on a great pick up, China.

Interesting you mention the distortion that the domed crystal distorts the dial around the edges. When I first tries a 233, I thought it was something that I wouldn’t be able to live with until I picked up my 737.

Great review
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Old 7 May 2018, 01:53 AM   #15
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233 is fantastic! I just can't do the fang.
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Old 7 May 2018, 02:09 AM   #16
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Certainly not large maybe 6.5”.
Thanks
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Old 7 May 2018, 02:47 AM   #17
rootbeer7
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[QUOTE=Ruud Van Driver;8553756]Huge congrats on a great pick up, China.

Interesting you mention the distortion that the domed crystal distorts the dial around the edges. When I first tries a 233, I thought it was something that I wouldn’t be able to live with until I picked up my 737.

Great review [/QUOTE

Thanks Paul

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233 is fantastic! I just can't do the fang.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
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Old 7 May 2018, 05:10 AM   #18
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Best PAM out there. I have the same dot version.

The tunnel strap that used to come with it is also my favourite, I'm on my second one.
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Old 7 May 2018, 05:22 AM   #19
Fabrice M
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Congrats on a great piece. Have a dot as well, love it. The AM/PM doesn’t do it for me.
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Old 7 May 2018, 06:46 AM   #20
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Nice review the 233 is perhaps my most favorite Pam
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Old 7 May 2018, 07:05 AM   #21
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Great review and once again, congratulations That distortion factor is awesome. My 690 does the same
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Old 7 May 2018, 05:47 PM   #22
rootbeer7
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Best PAM out there. I have the same dot version.


The tunnel strap that used to come with it is also my favourite, I'm on my second one.
Very soft and comfortable. Just swapped for rubber as the UK is having its annual heatwave (2 days )

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Congrats on a great piece. Have a dot as well, love it. The AM/PM doesn’t do it for me.


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Nice review the 233 is perhaps my most favorite Pam
It’s mine now

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Great review and once again, congratulations That distortion factor is awesome. My 690 does the same
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Old 11 May 2018, 03:06 AM   #23
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Congrats and welcome to the club!
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Old 11 May 2018, 09:39 AM   #24
edyu
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I love 233 and thank you for the review.

Does the watch shift around on your wrist? And may I ask how big is your wrist? Thanks.
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Old 11 May 2018, 11:40 AM   #25
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Congratulations and a great choice on its own or as a collection.

233 was my first Panerai keeper, and it's been a slippery slope since both with more PAMs and straps!

Hi,

Awesome collection of straps, Can I ask you where did you get that pouch for your straps?

Thanks.
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Old 11 May 2018, 03:41 PM   #26
rootbeer7
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Congrats and welcome to the club!


Quote:
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I love 233 and thank you for the review.

Does the watch shift around on your wrist? And may I ask how big is your wrist? Thanks.
I think my wrist is around 6.5. It fits perfectly. The straps start out hard but after a few days soften up and hug the wrist
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Old 12 May 2018, 04:03 AM   #27
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How dare you post such a thing!! Now I want one :)

Looks great man, congrats on a nice piece
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Old 12 May 2018, 06:39 AM   #28
rootbeer7
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How dare you post such a thing!! Now I want one :)

Looks great man, congrats on a nice piece
Thank you my friend. It’s just beautiful. Definitely a piece worth having (although with your wrists I’d definitely look at a 47!!)
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Old 12 May 2018, 09:05 AM   #29
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Thank you my friend. It’s just beautiful. Definitely a piece worth having (although with your wrists I’d definitely look at a 47!!)


I have considered that as well. Just shy of 9 inches the 000 looks good but I think I could pull off the 47 without a problem


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Old 16 May 2018, 01:03 PM   #30
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Hi,

Awesome collection of straps, Can I ask you where did you get that pouch for your straps?

Thanks.

Beautiful watch...

Sorry to highjack... but I would like to know the same. Gorgeous case!
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