Panerai 312

[jay1988]

I was a few minutes away from buying this watch today. Everything about it seemed so right for me.

Then I realised that it had a mineral crystal back. Now the last watch I had with a mineral crystal was given to me at a hotel and had the hotel crest on it. The glass broke after knocking it against a door.

I don't understand why Panerai have done this. Especially considering if something breaks back there the chances of it landing in the movement are quite high.

Can someone clear this up for me ? Maybe I'm getting something wrong here ? Is mineral crystal that much "weaker" than saphire ?

If not can someone recommend me an alternative ? Something that looks a bit like a 312 but has a Saphire case back ? And the Panerai in house movements.

[Cru Jones]

unless panerai's website is wrong (click here), the crystal on the back is sapphire, not mineral.




Movement: automatic mechanical, Panerai P. 9000 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13 ¾ lignes, 7.9 mm thick, 28 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. Power reserve 3 days, two barrels. Incabloc® anti-shock device.
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date.
Case: diameter 44 mm, AISI 316L brushed steel, or polished steel, or brushed titanium.
Bezel: polished steel or polished titanium.
Back: see-through sapphire crystal.
Device protecting the crown: (protected as a Trademark) brushed steel or brushed titanium.
Crystal: sapphire, made from corundum, 2.6mm thick. Anti-reflective coating.
Water-resistance: 30 bar (~300 metres).
Strap: PANERAI personalised leather or alligator strap and large-size brushed steel or titanium buckle, or PANERAI personalised metal bracelet with vertical brushed finishing and polished surface between the links.

[mfer]

You are mistaken. The caseback material for a 312 is sapphire.

Per the official website.








Movement: automatic mechanical, Panerai P. 9000 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13 ¾ lignes, 7.9 mm thick, 28 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. Power reserve 3 days, two barrels. Incabloc® anti-shock device.
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date.
Case: diameter 44 mm, AISI 316L brushed steel, or polished steel, or brushed titanium.
Bezel: polished steel or polished titanium.
Back: see-through sapphire crystal.
Device protecting the crown: (protected as a Trademark) brushed steel or brushed titanium.
Crystal: sapphire, made from corundum, 2.6mm thick. Anti-reflective coating.
Water-resistance: 30 bar (~300 metres).
Strap: PANERAI personalised leather or alligator strap and large-size brushed steel or titanium buckle, or PANERAI personalised metal bracelet with vertical brushed finishing and polished surface between the links.



http://www.panerai.com/s_page.xpd?id...categoria=8994

[mfer]

Ha, Cru beat me to it. To my knowledge Panerai has never used mineral crystal. Only sapphire and plexi.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by mfer

Ha, Cru beat me to it. To my knowledge Panerai has never used mineral crystal. Only sapphire and plexi.

ya gotta move fast!

[jay1988]

Wow apologies guys.

I'm from the UK and Blowers jewelers are one of the biggest used watch places in the country and they list "mineral glass see through back" on all their 312 models. Never seen them make a mistake like this.

Sorry guys was uninformed. Looks like I might have to make a purchase ...

[wingku]

Pull the trigger already! And let's see some pics!

[kilyung]

If that's you're only concern then it's all resolved now! Only sapphire crystals. Congrats in advance!

[toulouse]

buy buy buy!!!! Then snaps some pics

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by jay1988

Looks like I might have to make a purchase ...

[chris nyc]

Originally Posted by jay1988

Wow apologies guys.

I'm from the UK and Blowers jewelers are one of the biggest used watch places in the country and they list "mineral glass see through back" on all their 312 models. Never seen them make a mistake like this.

How ironic...misinformation from "Blowers" jewelers.

[Psmith]

Purchase watch... post pictures here (please)... enjoy

[nauticajoe]

As mentioned, the caseback is sapphire. Got for it!

[SeanLandsnaes]

Caseback is definitely sapphire! good luck with your decision!

[Auto16610]

How do you hit the back of a watch against a door? Isn't the back safe next to your wrist?

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by Auto16610

How do you hit the back of a watch against a door? Isn't the back safe next to your wrist?

He didn't say his old watch had a mineral back.

[Auto16610]

Originally Posted by kilyung

He didn't say his old watch had a mineral back.

"Now the last watch I had with a mineral crystal"

Is what he wrote. Where did I go wrong?
Oh, I just re-read it. I guess the front was mineral. Oh well. Still, how would the back get cracked anyhow!?

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by Auto16610

"Now the last watch I had with a mineral crystal"

Is what he wrote. Where did I go wrong?
Oh, I just re-read it. I guess the front was mineral. Oh well. Still, how would the back get cracked anyhow!?

He was saying he cracked the mineral crystal on the front by hitting a door and extrapolated that to mean a mineral crystal back was risky even though you really wouldn't be able to damage the back when wearing it.