Base Panerai Recommendations

[fullofboats]

Hi all, I'm looking to jump back into Panerai for the third time looking for as simple of a Radiomir/Luminor as possible. I had a 754 and 643 in the past and moved on from them.

I'd like to confirm with the knowledgeable members here if I've left any references out given my requirements below.

45mm Radiomir//44mm Luminor; manual; two hander only; sandwich dial; no snap-on case backs; as little text as possible

Radiomir:
PAM210
PAM610
PAM231 (??)

Luminor:
PAM112
PAM560Q

I also really like the SLC dials on the 425 and 449 but this design never made it onto a 45mm Radiomir correct?

Thanks

[CanPam]

Do you mean the Baton dial? There is only the special version of the 292 in 45mm with an Pig/SLC on the dial..

[emtee]

390

[subtona]

111

[Cru Jones]

000, 112, 176, 210, 390

But, if a base Rad, personally, I would stretch, size wise, to 232. The best.

[Fredrik]

As above, try a 232 if you have the opportunity. Otherwise the 210.

[fullofboats]

I keep seeing the 232 being recommended over the years here. Can anyone elaborate as to why? Is it the SE or a historical accuracy factor? Or is it wearability? Is it that much thinner than the 210? I haven’t tried one on before but I’ve tried a 425 and while the lug to lug is just barely wearable the thickness made me feel like I was wearing a baseball on my wrist.

[The OG Beef]

The slim profile of the 232 makes it all the more wearable. Night and day difference between it and the 425. ~2.6mm to be precise.


all_in_the_pamily

[Gargamel]

Pam685

[CanPam]

Some 232 fans here. I've had it 2x and both times I've sold after some weeks because on my 18.5cm wrist it wasn't comfortable with the crown at the back of the hand. I prefer the cases with the P3000, much more comfortable with larger wrists IMHO...

[fullofboats]

Thanks all for the recommendations. I found a 232 to try on and it's not for me. 47mm rads don't suit me. The 390 is cool, but really prefer a sandwich for a luminor and price seems high vs. alternatives. Not feeling the 685 text on the bezel

I bought a 111 which wasn't on my list but has everything else I'm looking for. I don't mind the seconds sub-dial given the price I paid. The 176 looks cool, but only one for sale in HK is asking +$5k

Still thinking about picking up a rad. Unfortunately not many 210s around though I found a 610 asking below $4k so I might pull the trigger to get a base rad, even if it's a sausage dial.

[WalterE]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

Hi all, I'm looking to jump back into Panerai for the third time looking for as simple of a Radiomir/Luminor as possible.

[...]

45mm Radiomir//44mm Luminor; manual; two hander only; sandwich dial; no snap-on case backs; as little text as possible

[...]

Luminor:
PAM112
PAM560Q

I am in love with my own PAM560Q

Love its simple and clean design. The enjoy the depth of the Sandwich Dial. I also love its versatility, how easily it transforms depending on the strap. (Don't want to even roughly think about how much I have "indulged" in custom-made straps)

I know the English writing "8-Days" annoys some purists (who'd much prefer the Italian "8 giorni") but it does not bother me. The functionality certainly is handy! I wind my watch on Saturdays and forget.

There's still some banking in the p.5000 when at max load, so I wait 30 min after charging to set the time and it keeps perfect time the whole week.

[WalterE]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

Thanks all for the recommendations.

[...]

I bought a 111 which wasn't on my list but has everything else I'm looking for. I don't mind the seconds sub-dial given the price I paid. The 176 looks cool, but only one for sale in HK is asking +$5k

I had not realised you had already bought a 111. Congratulations and hope you enjoy it in good health!

At the time of purchase I had trouble choosing between the PAM000, 112 and 560. Any of them would have been good choices, for different reasons. I don't regret mine one bit.

[fullofboats]

Originally Posted by WalterE

I had not realised you had already bought a 111. Congratulations and hope you enjoy it in good health!

At the time of purchase I had trouble choosing between the PAM000, 112 and 560. Any of them would have been good choices, for different reasons. I don't regret mine one bit.

The 560Q is quite hard to find nowadays and command a small premium to the 560. Price aside though, I think I prefer it to the 112 just for the 8 days power reserve

[WalterE]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

The 560Q is quite hard to find nowadays and command a small premium to the 560. Price aside though, I think I prefer it to the 112 just for the 8 days power reserve

I definitively prefer the sandwich dial to the painted and sausage dials. It looks far more interesting and premium to me, with more depth and pure Panerai DNA. I am sure you will enjoy the 111.

The 8 days power reserve is brilliant. It means I can pick up another watch during the week if I feel like it with ease of mind, knowing the PAM will be still ticking and keeping excellent time when I come back to it. No need to think about when it was I wounded it last.

[stockae92]

44mm Luminor; manual; two hander only; sandwich dial; no snap-on case backs; as little text as possible

Base on this, I say 112.

[nwalker001]

I had a 112 awhile back and currently have a 560Q. Having the 8 day power reserve is a huge advantage: it's nice to not have to wind the watch every other day.

Why does the 560Q command a premium over other 560 models? Is it because of the sandwich dial? Was the Q version the only one that had a sandwich dial? I know that the later ones switched to painted one.

[WalterE]

Originally Posted by nwalker001

Why does the 560Q command a premium over other 560 models? Is it because of the sandwich dial? Was the Q version the only one that had a sandwich dial? I know that the later ones switched to painted one.

If I am not mistaken (other Paneristi are far wiser than me), the Q series was the only one to keep the sandwich dial. It's more expensive to produce.

[PossumDixon]

210 is a great looking watch

[mps354]

I recently picked up a 210 and have really been enjoying it. Might be the first panerai to stick in my collection