PANERAI PAM000 ON CHEERGIANT STRAP

After wearing my PAM000 on Gunny Saree straps for sometime, decided to change it to another strap that I got from George of Cheergiant.

Ultrasoft brown calf strap.

Remember on my previous posting on Gunny Saree strap that I mentioned about 3 layered straps being thinner on the lug ends compared to 2 layers?

This is the comparison picture.

Top is Gunny Saree Strap and bottom is the Cheergiant calf strap.

The Cheergiant strap have been edge sealed so it is smoother than the rough and raw edges of the Gunny strap.

I liked both equally.

Just personal preference for some.

No advantages of one over the other, just cosmetically more pleasing. 

Remember to use the tubes supplied with the watch... it will protect your screw bars in the long term.

My watch did not come with any tubes.

Fortunately a good friend of mine gave me a pair as a gift.

It was thoughtful of him.

As the strap is thicker at the lug ends, once mounted, there are no gaps on the lugs.

Now THIS I like very much.

As Cheergiant does not have any sew in buckles, I ordered this strap without a buckle and decided to mount the OEM buckle instead. Perfect fit as usual.

Looks really good.

Straps are comfortable and looks really good.

Stitching work is top notch as usual.

I am happy that the threads for this strap is well waxed and it's not hairy like the strap for my Seiko Dracula.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with the strap.

For the price, there are no complaints and there's nothing more than I can ask for.

I have bought 5 straps so far from Cheergiant and each one have been excellent to say the least.

I can see myself being a long term customer of Cheergiant... :-)

SAREE SERIES STRAP BY GUNNY

Once I got my PAM000, the 1st strap that I purchased was from Peter Gunny.

The Saree Series strap in Taupe colour and black stitching.

Thick and soft.

Raw and rough edges... I like this look.
Strap is 4mm thick in 3 layers.
Meaning the outer layer (Taupe colour) is a rather thin leather sandwiching a thicker middle layer.

Which makes the lug end of the strap thin.
This is the picture with the tubes installed.

And when mounted, there will be gaps on the lugs.
I don't really like that... But that's just me.
From now on, I will stick to 4mm thick straps but only 2 layers.
Lesson learned, moving on.

Sewn in flat buckle.

Straps are really comfortable.
The supple and soft leather does not exude any pressure when wearing.
After wearing a couple of times, it will sort of mould it's curve to your wrist.

Despite the things that I don't like, it remains a very nice strap and I really like it.
I have been wearing the watch with this strap for over 3 weeks now and it's comfortable.
This is my 1st nice strap and I believe there will be more that I will purchase from Peter Gunny.
I also got one B42 waterproof strap for my Brother in Law as a Xmas present and I can't review that because I did not have any usage experience with it.
Overall, I am satisfied with this strap.

PANERAI LUMINOR BASE LOGO PAM000

This is the last watch for me this year... I think.
I like this one more than the PAM005 earlier.
This is more true to the heritage of Panerai watches.

The Panerai Luminor Base Logo PAM000.
Watch is as bare bones as they come.
Only 2 hands... hours and minutes.

Huge 3,6,9,12 sausage style painted numerals.
Legibility is 2nd to none I would suspect.

Case is 44mm and comes with Panerai's famous patented crown guard which locks the crown in place providing a guaranteed water resistance rating of 300m.

I really like the Logo on the dial.
It wouldn't be complete if a base Panerai watch does not have a logo.
The logo itself is stylized OP (Officine Panerai) with arrows pointing up and down means that Panerai watches are made to conquer the highest skies and the deepest depths of the seas... Funny thing is there is no Panerai Pilot's Watch... :-)

Part of the charm of owning a Panerai is the watch's uncanny ability to look good with a variety of straps and colours.
I have the watch currently mounted on a Gunny Saree series strap.
(Will review the strap in a separate post)

I find the watch big and brash.
Well made and well built tool watch.
Movement is of course nothing much to shout about.
Manual winding. Just give it a few twirls, set the time and go.
It does look the part of a tough watch... and also feels like a tough watch.
Alot of complaints are on Panerai pricing strategy... but I think an entry level piece like this is enough.
Let the hardcores deal with the Special Editions and Limited Editions.
I find myself wearing this one when I couldn't care less about having to be careful of scratching it.

PRE-JUDGING WATCHES

I seem to get myself into uncharted territories nowadays.

Today, let's talk about pre-judging watches.

A term that my good friend shared with me.

I admit, in my journey, I have countless times pre-judge watches before I know them personally.

Be it the design, things I have heard about the people that have worn them, or things that I have personally experienced.

When I was in my early 20s... I despise Rolex watches.

Yes I do. I find them boring... overpriced... and most importantly pretentious.

People wearing Rolex watches seems to only want to send a message... that they've made it.

That they have arrived big time.

And being in my line of work, can't help it that another image of Rolex watches that are being portrayed is that they're liquid.

You need money? Any pawn shop will take it. Simple as that.

I have even posted on a few forums on my disdain of Rolex... and the repercussions were... well... understandable.

But then, someone which I have never met in my entire life, messaged me as he is coming down to town and wanted to meet up.

A fellow WIS. Cool, I thought... doesn't hurt to expand my circle of friends.

We talked at a local coffee house and he taught me alot about Rolex watches.

And it is him that I jumped in and bought my 1st one, a Rolex Polar Explorer II ref:16570... actually it was for my Dad.

And I was changed, I find them really well made and most importantly, reliable.

So, I ate my own words... no big deal.

We learn during the journey.

Now recently,

I hate Panerai watches. Yes I do.

I find that their watches are stale, big, bold and brash.

Just like their owners.

I have met people that called themselves "Ristis" or "Paneristis", which is an endearing term for something like a brotherhood of Panerai lovers... a very passionate bunch.

But the problem is, they adore Panerai so much that it is beyond criticism. Any criticism that you spot on any watch forum, and they will come in droves to support their brand.

Supporting a brand is the norm, it's like saying which carmaker is your favourite, but it doesn't make the other carmakers bad right?

But I have been ridiculed... yes... by Ristis no less... they said that at this day, no watches are worth collecting but Panerai.

Other watches are just a waste of time and money.

So, it is only natural that it adds to my hate for the brand.

It is also in this time that I met an ultra WIS... he taught me even more about Panerai watches and their history.

I was about 75% sold... his patience, knowledge and perspective of the brand really opened up my mind.

He owns over 10 Panerai watches, and still he does not consider himself a Risti. Why? Well, let's just say he knows the stigma of term "Risti"... Some owners just do not want to automatically be called a Risti just because he owns a Panerai watch.

After sharing his collection with me, suddenly I felt that Panerai watches ain't THAT bad... it's the portrayal of some hardcores that's making it LOOK bad. Pretty well built actually.

So, a friend of mine wanted to sell an old beaten up PAM005 and I decided what the hell, maybe it's time I got one.

And I did.

Again, the same thing happened to me.

I was voicing my disdain for Ristis (based on my own experiences) at local foras.

I even shared some nasty back and forth with a fellow Risti that he decided to send me a private messages asking what is bugging me?

Needless to say, he is a Risti of my local Malaysian chapter.

He is adamant that I joined in the local Risti scene.

Shared with me the passion and camaraderie.

It was good for a moment.

Until I decided to post at their "home" site what I thought was a legitimate question and concerns and I was labelled a "troll"... by a fellow Malaysian who decided that it is ok to do some selective reading to what I have previously posted.

Ouch... yes I was disappointed to say the least. But it's OK. I am used to eating my own words.

So now... back to my conundrum... I have a Panerai watch, but I am being cast into Pariah-zone...

Since the watch that I bought is an old beaten up watch that doesn't come with a nice leather strap (it was badly used), I am wearing it on OEM rubber strap.

I ordered some straps from some well known makers (I think) and I am just starting the Panerai journey and brotherhood.

And as fast as I am in... I am now out.

It really is a tough community to break into... one which I will not try again.

Now I am sitting at my office. Exact pose as the above picture... Deep in thought, thinking maybe this Panerai thing and me is just not meant to be.

But hey, I am used to eating my own words :-)

Point is there are ristis and there are RISTIS.

There are wis and there are WIS.

There are collectors and there are COLLECTORS.

Day after day, the line gets blurred, then everything is lumped altogether.

So, in your journey... I do hope you meet some hardcores every now and then, so that you will recognize the real deal and treasure it more.

I did.