Did you keep your first love and why was it the one for you..?

[Priester]

This morning I pulled my 088 out of the box and changed the strap to wear it for the day - while doing so I remembered that it was my first Panerai and I started to think about why I chose it as my initial dip into the brand I wear almost exclusively today.

Prior to Panerai I was very much into smaller watches - mostly mechanical 60's and 70's chronographs from Heuer, LeJour, GP etc and in the 38-40mm size range and the ubiquitous Rolex sub. I had always admired Panerai watches for their design aesthetic and solid looking construction but dismissed them thinking that their size was just too large and foreign to what I had grown used to (and I'm 6'5"...).

A friend of mine had purchased a 104 which enabled me to really understand how the 44mm Bettarini case fits/feels on the wrist and I quite quickly made the decision to buy a Panerai. I realized that I had initially decided that I wanted to add a Panerai to my collection rather than a specific Panerai reference that caught my eye and 'I just had to have it'. Which model to choose was a bit daunting, though because I was so familiar with quite busy / crowded dials with sub dials / tachys etc from my chronos I was drawn to the dial of the 088. I think the silver seconds sub dial and the open hands shape were the most appealing elements for me and I also liked the GMT feature.

Needless to say it wasn't difficult to find a mint pre-owned 088 at a decent price and before long I couldn't even wear the majority of my other watches because they just felt tiny. I gave the Sub to my father but still have most of the others as I still enjoy looking at them from time to time.

Of course, as most of you know once you have one Panerai and delve in to the history a little deeper through great sites like Perezscope. Never thought for a minute that I would EVER wear a 47mm watch - now I have a few... Never thought I liked the wire lug Rads - now I own a couple and love them. Actually all of the case styles of 44mm and above are beautiful to my eye now. Thankfully I'm able to add pieces to my collection without needing to sell others to do so and I have my eye on a couple more.

I definitely still enjoy my 088 and it's most certainly staying with me - even if my tastes for Panerai watches has 'matured' to the simpler dials. It's been bullet proof, reliable and quite versatile. It also still receives a pleasant compliment every once in a while. Can't imagine not having it now...

Curious to know who else still has their first Panerai and what mat you buy that model to begin your Panerai journey...

[997targa]

My first as a 1086 was only a few of years ago, and I don’t see it going anywhere. A Panerai was something I had wanted for some time after seeing one I’m a business meeting some years ago. I like simple design aesthetics and this clearly fits that, along with being different. Since that one I have had the luck of adding a couple more, and have a total of 4 more on the “list”, of which an 088 is one of those!

[Don Philbino]

I didn't buy my first love, but I still have my first PAM. I discovered Panerai in the Transporter movies. Fell in love with Statham's 00196. When I had the itch so bad I couldn't think about anything else and went looking, I couldn't find a decent one anywhere at a decent price. I stumbled upon the 00162, which was more rare, came in a better set and seemed slightly more interesting, and at that point was significantly more affordable. I figured it was close enough and bought one. I like it a lot, but it isn't what I wanted and it isn't close enough. And what do you know, a few months later 196's started popping up for thousands less than they had been when I was looking, less than I paid for the 162. So it goes.

[Sevykor]

The one that started it all. A gift from my father. Took a look inside and that’s when the fascination took hold.

[Tsunamiboy2000]

Of course. My first was very non-typical for Paneisti, the 140. When I was looking for Panerai in 2007, dealers did not have much in stock (maybe a 212, 213 and some Ferrari). I saw the 140 at Cellini in NY and fell absolutely in love and pulled the trigger when I got back home. Still wear it at least once per week and have it on today.

[Flyfishtahoe]

Fell in love with Panerai in the early 2000’s. Lusted after one for years. Took me a minute to finally be able to pull the trigger but I will never let her go……ever. All my Panerai’s are special but the first one will always be my favorite. This 111 will be proudly worn by my son when I leave this earth as will the rest of them

[aloulouky]

MY first pam was a 00024 tritium dial ,still have it and still love it .I believe that these older pams had a more reel feeling to them ,they were more durable and more sporty.Besides these are the watches that made us Paneristi after all. My first watch ever was a Casio in the age of 10 if i remember.

[DONAG1]

If talking about Pams. Still have my 9BT. Going on 22 years. I actually needed a watch to test my straps and others passed as it wasn’t a safe queen. I didn’t care

[Bibikatché]

My first Panerai love is the 177. Still wearing it almost every day after more than 12 years, still watching it more for the watch itself than for the time... I thought this would slowly disappear but obviously it's not and that's great !
I chose this model for personal preferences : 44mm perfect size, sandwich dial so original and nice to play with the light, small seconds on the left that balance crown guard on the right, black for readibility, titanium more discreet than polished steel of the 111, sapphire see through glass at the black...all of these features were the Graal for me then, even if brushed steel would have been even better (slightly brighter than titanium and easier to coordinate with dark straps) !
You never know what can happen, but selling this one sounds impossible to me...

[Taglio]

I was in love with the brand for more than 15 years when I finally jumped in. Bought a 104 5 years ago for my 1st son's birth... And obviously I won't sell it, cause I intend to give him this watch when he'll be a man.

[peezie]

First PAM was a 112, didn't hang onto it because the previous owner wasn't the most careful with it and there were a couple things that annoyed me. The one I overthought and wish I hung onto was a 176 I picked up in 2015. Didn't embrace the Ti like I wanted to, but I'd love to have one in the rotation again.