WOW, what a year this has been for me, WIStorically! From a collection of 95 watches, dominated by 60+ Zodiacs, now down to just 16 and only 8 Zodiacs remaining. But oh yes, there is a Breitling and a Panerai in my watch box now!
First the Breitling...
Buying this watch was almost no fun. Making sure I was going after an authentic one, getting one in good condition, the getting so close only to find SOMETHING in the transaction that made me back away. But then finally found a guy who had a watch in great condition, answered all my questions, sent me TONS of pics, and the clincher, had the number of the AD where it was purchased so I could call and verify the serial number. The watch was only 3 months old and I got it at a SUBSTANTIAL discount. When it got here, I was almost afraid to open it, what SCRATCH or DING didn't show up in the pics? Much to my delight, the watch was flawless save a MINOR scratch on the case back from the bracelet. The extra links were missing the screws, but I won't be putting them back in anyway, and a local AD said they could get them for me if I ever need them.
3,000m Diver, COSC, Heavy as a brick, I love it, when you have this watch on, you know it!
As other owners have stated, the LUME is not the best by any stretch and were it ME, I would not put AR on the outside of the crystal, I dread the day I get my first scratch in it. Another area that I don't quite get are the polished edges when the rest of the watch is brushed but so far, nothing too deep damage wise that a Cape Cod cloth hasn't been able to handle. When Trevor brushes out his edges, I may see how it looks...
The BEZEL is what really draws me to this watch, liked it from the very first time I saw one, one of the most distinctive on the market. I really like the "stenciled" numbers too, gives it a nice TOOL look.
Yes, this one is a keeper!
Well after the Breitling purchase, I STILL had way too many watches and wanted to again go for "quality over quantity," I started leaning toward a Sinn U1 or a 45mm Omega Planet Ocean. I had read nothing but good things about both and had found some good deals on each but...just wasn't COMPELLED to "lay the money down." I went and tried on the PO and it seemed glaringly thin compared to the Seawolf. I came home not to thrilled and my wife noticed. She stated, why are you so hot about an Omega, all I have ever heard you talk about from DAY 1 of this addiction was wanting a Panerai. I was like, wow, did she really just go there? I was looking at $2500 for a new PO but every Panerai I saw was at least $4500 online, most 2nd hand or grey market. Again my wife said, if that is what you REALLY want, keep selling your watches and get it! Well with every 5 or so watches sold, I was getting closer and closer to a realistic amount of money to buy a Panerai but still was leary of the whole, "making sure it's a real one" process again. I called my dad and told him how much I had saved up. He told me to go to an AD, tell them you have X-Amount in CASH and see what happens...he was right, MONEY TALKS! The AD and I agreed on price but the 112 he had in the case had some lug scratches on it. He looked under a loop and said HIS GUY could polish them out. He would let me see the end result, if I like it great, if not he would order me a new one. I went back the next day and though the scratches were gone, you could TELL it had been polished, thinking he might be upset, I kinda mumbled, I'm not happy with how it looks. His reply...no problem , I'll order you a new one and call you when it gets here. Well about a week later he calls and says, It's here, I'm not opening it til you get here! I arrive, he pulls out the box, I open it, rubber guard still on it, plastic tag still in strap...it's MINT! In addition to the black leather and rubber strap that it comes with, he also gave me an aviator brown official Panerai leather strap and a really nice Panerai key-chain.
Though both watches quote measurements of 44mm, the Panerai seems to wear bigger, probably because of having no bezel per se and the locking crown guard (which is just too freakin' cool). The sandwich dial TOTALLY rocks and the LUME, just freakin' crazy, as good or better than SEIKO's and last a good long time!
I only had it for a couple of hours when I KNEW I wanted the Officine Panerai rubber strap on it, but had read all the horror stories of scratching lugs when changing out straps. Screw that, I decided to man up, trust the screw driver that came with the watch and go for it! Ten minutes later, no scratches and the "rubber hit the road!"
So, how do the watches compare? They are both great in their own unique ways! Checking the time on the Breitling after 4 hours and seeing the second hand is still dead on to the atomic clock is GREAT! Going to get the mail with the Panerai on to have it lume NUCLEAR when I get back inside forever totally ROCKS! Having a guy comment on the Breitling at a sporting goods store, rare WIS moment! The simplicity of the Panerai, speaks for itself...
All this said, and not trying to sound braggadocios or anything, this has been a great WIS year for me and I am experiencing what is seemingly a rare sensation among those of us who share this addiction...contentment.
So what is next? I LITERALLY don't have another watch on my WANT list. As cheezy as this will read, THIS PLACE, you guys, the fun we have here is what my addiction is all about now, having a place that is open, honest, and fun to see and talk about watches!
Thanks to everyone here!
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Subject: Breitling Versus Panerai... 
Fri Dec 18, 2009 3:27 pm
That was what
I'm really
Watches and the hobby
