Victoria

Wow V, I am impressed, you certainly have a passion for the Pams.

I like to think I helped a little, ((maybe?) with my post of different sized watches on my 6.5" wrist.

Good for you, and wear them proudly.

Thanks, Rima! And may I just say that YOU and Maciek's girlfriend were the single reason I decided to try out my first PAM. That's it. Both your photo series.

If not for your photos, I would still be emailing Paul about "Where is my Calatrava, beeatch!".

I owe you, big time.

P.S.: Haha, Cornerstone. It so happens my bf is a very confident man. He doesn't need a big ole Fiddy to compensate for certain, ahem, shortcomings that certain, ahem, men have here, okay! Anyway, everyone knows the mama rules the roost in Italian households. I'm set for life.

@swidad: It gets worse???? Dear Baby Jesus on Swiss Cheese!

Well guys i am new to this hobby and i bought my first rep a (beginmariner) from Josh. And now i am wanting a starter Panerai. What is a good one that really doesnt need mods for it look really close to the real deal and that is in a moderate price range ( $100 - $200 for me) any suggestions?

WAFFLES! What happened?? I thought you were going to cancel your order with Joshua, and flee the country before the Feds got unto you?!

Obviously, just yankin' your Waffle-chain. I'm glad your Noobmariner deal went through, and all is well.

Just let me say, I was you exactly one month ago. And look at me now!

So, as a person who JUST started her PAM career, I would say pay CLOSE attention to the suggestions of the Panerai veterans here, who will give you excellent advice.

I went for a Fantasy Mini-Fiddy for my very first PAM, and it so happens it's been my most problematic, least-liked PAM ever. I hate "fantasy" watches with a passion, not because I want to pass off my watches as gens (although, let's be honest, a little part of one wouldn't like to be called out as wearing a rep, either), but because they're usually badly-made.

I also suspect that the Chinese rep dealers had a bad batch project they were working on, and decided to create FrankenPAMs out of the spare parts. Whatever reason, I would suggest:

1- NO Fantasy Panerais

2- NO super cheapo movements (AJ21s)

3- Stay away from Asian Automatics, and go for the Handwind variety

4- Know the first rule a PAM rep owner learns, "The Rep strap is crap" so figure into your $200 at least a NICE $60 strap. Trust me, if you see the rep strap you will die laughing, and people will laugh at you.

5- Followup of #4: There are three custom-makers of straps on these boards, V from here but who is busy at the moment. Plus Tootall and Savage over at RWI. They can make you BEAUTIFUL straps in all shades for under $100, but are frequently busy. Email them.

6- People told me to go for the rite-of-passage 111h first, and did I listen? No. But my second PAM was the 111h and I simply adore it. So much so, I ordered another, on its way as we speak, from Andrew.

The one I ordered (x2): http://www.ttwristwatch.com/index.php?main...;products_id=94 ($158, not including S/H)

7- A member counselled to go for the 112 first. I suspect that's because it's the base, and less repped than the 111h. Sounds good to me, though as I said, I love the 111 model.

8- The Asian Unitas are very good movements, and don't feel badly if you can't immediately get a Swiss ETA (x2 the cost). However, should you get a windfall in the next few weeks, try for a DAVIDSEN model, especially the Fiddy, an enormous but utterly sexy Panerai which all sentient beings should own. Not that I'm biased or anything.

9- Figure into your later budget the modding your PAM WILL need, like cannon pin fix, lume job, swan neck, etc. There are great modders here, like Vacuum, The Zigmeisterzumba, Flavor Flav, and others. Check them out.

10- STAY AWAY FROM THE LOW-END DEALERS. PM me in case you need info. I don't want to malign anyone's reputation, but really, you're best off buying from certain dealers only.

10a- If this and other rep watch forums are of help to you, please consider upgrading your account to the VIP level. It really helps this community provide you with all these pieces of advice, which normally would take you months and lots of heartache to do on your own.

Good luck! Remember what I said in that thread of my collection:

Owning a Panerai is like...

...eating M&Ms.

...munching Fritos

...snacking on peanuts

...owning Jimmy Choos

You CANNOT have just one.

Dear me, I'm afraid I read a wee bit too much into the title of this topic. My record is far more than twice, and it did emphatically not happen with a postman.

I see the rumours of your untimely passing were greatly exaggerated, Miss Understood. And let me just say, "I hear ya, girlfriend".

I prefer the milkman too.

I got it!

There is a cellphone in one of the bags!

Cellphones aint related to our hobby right?

Ahh, actually that's not correct, and I'm sure I don't need to reveal why (you can PM me to find out, if you really want to know!).

Hint, Manuel: It's way down deep in the pile. And has nothing to do with our hobby, unless they went from selling Joan Rivers products to PAM watches.

Everything about the upgrade is good, but I am strongly against this new promotion of sex and sex imagery. The internet is full of sex; I get it in e-mails, popups, banner ads, you name it. RWG is where I go to talk with good friends about good watches, not to unleash my deepest desires of romance and bikini contests. Granted, I know there are members who will want a section like this, but I personally do not see a need.

Oh well.

Congratulations on a successful update and "environmentally conscious" green design!

Ooh, lots of contradictions covered here, Corgi. A prudish environmentalist who likes change but hates being harangued with advertisement. Dr. Freud would've had a field day with you!

For the record, green is not my favourite colour. I much prefer blue. Or purple, the colour of royalty and hangovers.

LOL! Must've been composing my post as you posted this, Andrew. Mods, if you like please delete my thread.

UPDATE: Thanks for taking care of the dupe thread! But I'm still curious what watches our collectors wear, themselves! Imagine having all those watches at one's disposal.

vbarrett... I haven't pee'd myself in ages.

Aww, thanks, X!

I am very gratified as to the replies, and what they said. I know it takes A LOT to impress members of this high-calibre board so I am doubly honoured.

By the way, Fitmic, as mentioned in one of my 600+ posts , my boyfriend is not into watches at all. I will try to change that in time.

(Off for the night. See you guys tomorrow!)

You sure your name isn't PAM?

That's my middle name!

Nice collection you have there...your second addiction will probably be "straps"!

Thanks, Maikel.

I figure that buying 15 reps and 50 straps is better than buying 1 gen, and having money left over for MAYBE 5 straps.

Though I am cash-strapped (groan) at the moment, at least I have loads of goodies to look at it for years to come.

Awesome watches, and excellent choice in movies, although I must confess that I prefer Ludlums novels to the Liman movies...

I can safely say that Ferris, The Simpsons, and the Jason Bourne series are all our generation's classics.

And RE my mention of the VC Overseas, I've changed my mind. I put the bracelet back on, then decided I'd rather wear my SMP out. I really don't like the VCO much at all... I keep telling myself that it'll get worn for a 'special occasion', but something tells me that's just not going to happen...

Man, that really sucks, TeeJay. Maybe, who knows, I'll buy it off of you for my dad...he's got plenty of black-tie events where his new Omega SMP just won't look well with those dinner jackets he hates (and the unfussy Pateks he favours are so plain...).

@Chris5264 below: Wow, awesome pic! Love how the Seiko hands compliment the photo below.

Saturday: Big Pilot

EDIT: NICE, Robert! Love the Big Pilot now. I could've PMed, but I decided to be naughty.

I like it. Good job....and thanks!

Just in case people wonder, no I didn't lose a year off my age after our change. I didn't downgrade during the upgrade.

I usually register on sites not using my real birthday, even if I stupidly did here using my real birth YEAR (ugh, I hate this, and no matter what I do, it won't go to "N/A").

So, I went from 31 to 32 because my birthday is coming up on August 7. *g*

Very impressive. I predict that within the next few months you will give in and buy a gen as well.

Kruzer, it's like you KNOW me. I've already made discreet inquiries...

I am using the MeanGreen skin and think it is great.

I went with Mean Green for a while, but now I'm on WorkSafe (boring, no avatars). I PREFER BLUE!

T, please add a MeanBlue skin, plllllllease.

WELCOME BACK, RWG'ers!! Whew, now I know what a junkie feels like.

FRIDAY

Debuting here is my new PAM 217h from The Watch Prince with custom-made Kostas/V strap which has to be smelt, to be believed. Its fragrance is a cross between a Romanov hunting lodge, and a Greek taverna enveloped by the smell of old Turkish cigarrettes. I'd buy it again for the odour alone!

Detail of his handiwork. Check out the thickness. The PVD buckle was the only one of my 24mms which fit it!

And since V did a Louis Vuitton hommage for me, with special yellow thread, I thought it only fitting that it be photographed next to a real LV bag. The watch itself is fantastic. If TWP posts another, I may buy it!

SATURDAY

Have to continue on my PAM run, after posting my entire PAM collection earlier. Going shopping today, showing off my favourite of the Radios I purchased -- the 190, so-called "8-days" with gold hands. It'll be a hit! As Ferris Buehler put it, the Radiomir is "Very choice".

SUNDAY

Sunday is my "relax" day, most times. Going to watch the Bourne Ultimatum in Palm Beach, wearing one of my favourite gens -- my Mickey Mouse watch on Red-White-Blue grosgrain strap! You can't get more American than this.

...and a big "screw you!" to Matt Groenig in the Simpsons Movie for calling Mickey "the stupid mascot of an evil corporation". Shut up, hippie!

To my fellow OCD PAM Freak: you are one cool Bird. Wear them all in good health!

Bless you, my son!

Yes, one cannot be a true collector and not be the tiniest bit obsessive-compulsive. That's why I am up at 2:33 AM awaiting an email reply from a Chinese collector...damn these timezones.

Lookin' good!

Mercy boku, Cornerstone.

I know I have a lot of cheapie versions, but that's okay. There are a few that are not my cuppa, and if I had paid more than what I did, I would've been upset.

And would've had less cash on hand to buy MORE.

MORE MORE MORE! That's my by-word.

I am Capitalism walking in high-heels.

Wow!

A "died in the wool" Panerai addict!

Great collection.

HEY! How did you know I dyed my hair?

Robert, you couldn't have made me happier with your comment!

Wow, a trip to the Doctor for some medication for that Paneraitis!

Owning a Panerai is like...

...eating M&Ms.

...munching Fritos

...snacking on peanuts

...owning Jimmy Choos

You CANNOT have just one.

To accumulate such a wonderful collection of Pam's in that timescale is nothing short of a miracle! Beautiful collection!

THANKS TOO!

I am very proud. Of my collection, but also, a little proud of myself. *g*

I just wrote a really witty post about your collection...

I do that all the time, then my power goes off, or I press delete by mistake, and all my witty retorts evaporate before my very eyes. Just so that you know, I'm hilarious.

Except for HOLY SH%^!!!! Thats one hell of a collection!!! Wear each and every one of them in good health!

THANK YOU, CARLSBADROLEX!!

God willing, I will, and with the knowledge accrued here, I will improve the collection incrementally every day.

...well, so far.

Left to Right:

PAM 217h (TWP). Strap by Tootall, RWI forum member, custom-made model B2 vintage.

PAM 127 (Forum Member): Rep strap. Buckle momentarily being used on above.

PAM 199 (Paul): Strap by Greg Stevens Design, custom-made Crazy Horse in black stitch.

PAM 183h (TWP): OEM calf strap. PVD Buckle by TWP.

Left to Right:

PAM 210 (TWP). Rep strap. But ordered a custom-made StrapCulture Rad Historic #2 for it, already.

PAM 190 (TWP): Strap, the Metta Catherina -- made of 200+ year-old Russian leather hide salvaged from a shipwrecked Danish ship, via Risti.

PAM 118 (Forum Member): Strap, PAV 91 via Timeconnection.biz. The Holy Grail of Panerai straps.

Fantasy Mini-Fiddy (Paul): Strap by Officine Firenze by Mario Paci, "Medici, Vecchia Sella in Noce" via Timeconnection.biz.

Left to Right:

REDUX

PAM 111h (Andrew). Strap by "V", forum member, custom strapmaker, made of select Greek hide.

PAM 154 (Toro Bravo, Repgeeks in-house Collector): OEM "waffle" black strap. Have bought two OEM buckles on eBay, which are on their way.

PAM 076 (Forum Member): Strap, PAV 99 via Timeconnection.biz.

STILL TO ARRIVE: PAM 111h, PAM 177h, PAM 113 (Andrew). Lumed/ARed PAM 005 (TWP). Have bought 31 straps, with well over 25 on their way, including StrapWorks, PawMarker, Simona, Zeugma, etc. and also two by Savage of RWI fame.

NOTE: The OEM straps above, especially the waffle pattern, I have been reliably informed are almost certainly not OEMs. Ah well.

Comments not only sought, but welcomed.

That's a great shot! Your standards must be very high, carlsbadrollie.

One of the best things about owning a Panerai is the appreciation one feels for the watch, from random people one meets. The other day I was in a restaurant, when the manager (an Italian) stopped dead in his tracks when he saw my PAM 111h on a PAV 91 strap. His eyes said it all. He knew.

I'm still waiting for that oft-mentioned gesture watch collectors have, though, when they see a fellow marque-wearer and they raise their wrists to one another, with big grins, in salutation.

P.S.: Okay, I was saving this for the weekend, but I'll post my own small Panerai collection tonight. "Watch" for it. (groan)

Looks like he's still a big fan. If I'm not mistaken, he looks like he's wearing another PAM in this shot from his new Rambo film.

Good catch. But what model? For a second it looked like a 089, and though it's Titanium, it's not got GMT, or anything. I can't place the model at all...could it be a fantasy rep? *g*

Delicious photo...I want one...

Seiko SKX-007K or my trusty Marathon steel Navigator or it's black composite brother do just fine.

Does it follow that diving watches would be able to sustain the beating of a firing range (as they are known in the US)? Not questioning, I genuinely am interested.

Turns out that if I don't bring dad along, I can't shoot his pistols in that range I mentioned. They have to be licensed to me.

Just means I'll have to get my first Handgun! Woo!