The Breitling Watch Source Forums

It is very difficult to believe that I have owned this watch for over ten years now! It’s as if it was yesterday when I was a relative newbie to all things Panerai, it was my second love after Breitling at the time, I remember I had the Logo model and a basic Radiomere, both of which gave me great pleasure but I had coveted the 233 ever since it came out. It represented everything I loved about the brand and with a truly great in house movement, one of their first, and put Panerai on the map as a brand to watch out for.

Time sure does fly. The 233 is one of very few models, alongside the Navitimer, Royal Oak, and Nautilus, that I have never tired of.

I have not worn it for a while, but I am on a leisurely trip to Amsterdam with the fiancé and decided I wanted to take only one watch for me, the 233 was a winning choice! This trip has reminded me of why I loved this watch so much.



I could go on waxing lyrical on the many things I like about the 233, suffice it to say that the watch offers an amalgamation if features that make it ideal for a leisurely vacation; a robust yet elegant sporty case house a formidable movement sure to keep your horological senses satisfied, time and date are extremely legible in all conditions, dual time helps keep track of home, clever am/pm indicator is a joy personally, superb quick change strap system takes the watch from a dressy black crocodile dinner setting to a rubber scuba diving watch if need be, not to mention its large crystal and side profile differentiate it enough to keep your interest. Just a superb value and I can’t recommend it enough!

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Certified watch nut.

By the way you will notice that is a Breitling strap on the 233. I have spent a small fortune on Panerai straps over the years, but nothing comes close to what a Breitling strap can do to the overall impact of a Panerai!

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Certified watch nut.

If I ever get another Panerai, I think it has to be the 233. I just love the domed crystal and the sandwich dial.

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Justin
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The 233 is a superb watch and actually probably the only Panerai I'd own now. I had 253 for a while, but I moved that on with the intention of either buying a 233 or a 270. Looking back I can't believe I was really considering the thicker (and slightly less attractive) 270 at all(!), but that was then. I'd still like a 233, but I'd need the dot dial version like yours Altair, which means second-hand....and quite old second-hand (for me at least! ) now.

Beautiful, classic watch. And I agree it looks great on that Breitling strap.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

It's nice to see an old "friend" rediscovered and appreciated -- a piece that has stood the test of time in your collection. Excellent!

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Cheers,
Jim

the 233 has been on my list since you got that one altair and put it there for me!!

i have always preferred the am/pm indicator version since its release though.