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Panerai PAM 358 Chronopassion Limited Edition Watch Available On James List

By on June 20, 2010 in Panerai

Panerai PAM 358 Chronopassion Limited Edition Watch Available On James List panerai

In the world of limited edition Panerai watches there are cool ones and boring ones. This is one of the really cool ones. I also love that they all (limited to 100 pieces) sold out within one hour of being released. This is the Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM 358, and was specially made for the Parisian high-end watch store Chronopassion. The PAM 358 is a pretty crazy watch. Water resistant to 2500 meters (over 8,000 feet), the watch is shaped like a diving vessel with a large rounded bottom. It is known as a "destro" model, or lefty model, because the crown is on the left side of the watch. It is really thick as well - even by Panerai standard. The case is 47mm wide in titanium with a special rotating diver's bezel that is in steel. This is one of the most coveted, ultimate Panerai dive watches out there.

For more pics, you can check out this post on WatchUSeek where a lucky member shows off his PAM 358. There you can see the interesting chunky curves of this PAM-beast, with its titanium 1950 style case and built in helium escape valve. Dial is pretty standard with the typical Pamerai sub watch look. I think the inner bezel with the diver's scale is an interesting touch. Hands are too stubby though. Does someone actually like stubby hands? Or am I one of the few people who notice these things? Still legible though. Inside the watch is a Swiss Valjoux 7750 automatic movement that has been modified and turned around. The chronograph has been removed, and flipping the watch movement around placed the subsidiary seconds dial on the right side of the case, and the crown on the right. Came on a light brown leather strap. Chronopassion made a good choice with this special piece. These are very hard to find, and with just 100 around, you are lucky to ever get one. There is one now on James List for just under $15,000.

See this Panerai PAM 358 limited edition watch available on James List here.

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Owner & Editor-In-Chief of aBlogtoWatch (formerly known as aBlogtoRead.com) - the world's largest and most popular wrist watch blog. Ariel Adams also regularly contributes to other important media such as Forbes, Departures, Centurion, Tech Crunch, and more.
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Lin
Lin

I've never understood the appeal of Panerai, but this one is more incomprehensible than usual. Absurdly giant cases - fine. But a corner-cutting, entry-level, wobbly, uni-directionally winding, chronograph movement in a limited edition $15K non-chrono watch? What the hell? I realize that subsidiary seconds is kind of their thing, doesn't Panerai usually use one of their nicely decorated 6497s for that? If they wanted automatic, surely they could have gone with any number of higher quality uncomplicated movements with sub seconds or added the sub seconds as an additional complication (as Oris with their 644). I'm sure overall fit and finish is top notch and the titanium used in that enormous case is enough for a golf bag full of drivers, but movement choice still seems incredible.

Scott
Scott

I agree with your sentiments.

I have been lukewarm towards Panerai for several years and recently thought to myself that I may want to take the plunge. After speaking to my authorized dealer and looking at models, comparing prices, etc. -- I've decided that there is little price to value.

Furthermore, I was aghast at the idea of the IWC Portuguese Chronograph using a "heavily modified by IWC" ETA 7750 with a list price of now $7400. I guess it's the sign of the times though, as Hublot uses a "heavily modified by Hublot" ETA 7750 in their $15,000 Big Bangs. Perhaps Panerai looked at Hublot and said, "we're both trendy - why can't we throw in a $500 movement and charge the big bucks."

Alas, swiss watches are becoming too rich for my blood. For $5,000 to $10,000, you used to be able to get a ton of great watches, now I'm on the BOTTOM END.

Cheers, Scott
:)

This comment has been deleted

Scott
Scott

I agree with your sentiments. I have been lukewarm towards Panerai for several years and recently thought to myself that I may want to take the plunge. After speaking to my authorized dealer and looking at models, comparing prices, etc. -- I've decided that there is little price to value. Furthermore, I was aghast at the idea of the IWC Portuguese Chronograph using a "heavily modified by IWC" ETA 7750 with a list price of now $7400. I guess it's the sign of the times though, as Hublot uses a "heavily modified by Hublot" ETA 7750 in their $15,000 Big Bangs. Perhaps Panerai looked at Hublot and said, "we're both trendy - why can't we throw in a $500 movement and charge the big bucks." Alas, swiss watches are becoming too rich for my blood. For $5,000 to $10,000, you used to be able to get a ton of great watches, now I'm on the BOTTOM END. Cheers, Scott :)