The Breitling Watch Source Forums

...and yet, Santa still brings me presents. (He just makes me pay for them).

Last October I told myself: "Mofongo," I said, "I think it's time you stop buying watches for awhile. The wife is going back to school, we just bought a new house and it still needs some things done to the yard. Let's let the old bank account build up again for a year or so, and then you can go out and get another model you've been lusting after." So that was my plan (with the exception of <$1000 watches...that was still OK in moderation). And it was a good plan. I was happy with it. I had all the watches I had been dying for, and the few more I was lusting after were all still in production, and I could wait.

I also never really warmed up to Panerai. I can appreciate the quality and ruggedness from an intellectual standpoint, but emotionally I just never really bonded. Except for a few models, anyway. In the list of 10 watches I want to purchase next, Pam is not on that list.

And then, an opportunity to get an awesome price on a new one came up. And of course, it had to be my favorite model of the entire line! The price is not too good to be true (I doubt I would be able to make any money off if it), but the timing just happened to be right price-wise. This is brand new with the 2 year Panerai warranty. Not grey-market. AAAGGGHHH!!! The agony! So although was not going to get a Pam for several years at least, if I ever got one this would be the model.

So I did it! I bit the bullet and it will be arriving tomorrow. I didn't even make it to the new year with my new year's resolution. I'm a fraud. A sham. I am practically a member of Congress. Heck, I could almost be the CEO of a major investment banking corporation. I will not be able to look myself in the eye in the mirror again.....but mostly because I'll be staring at my watch.

I should add that Mrs. Mofongo supported me in this decision. She told me she didn't want to listen to me complain all the way though 2010 about the Panerai I should have bought. We still have the money to do everything we need to do next year, and then some (I wouldn't really cause financial hardship just for a watch)...it's just that I had reached a point with watches that I thought I should be satisfied for awhile, and I really just wanted to see the bank account grow some. Then, poof a brand I have not even been thinking about appears out of the woodwork and I drop more money than I ever have on a single timepiece.

So to all of you out there, does anyone else want to share your similar stories of snap purchase decisions out of left field? It will make me feel better.

And if you do, I'll post pictures.

Happy holidays!

///M

P.S. I am still not completely sure I want this watch, but I have the opportunity to return it if I do not like it after I see it in person.

_________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

Well... the suspense is killing me. Which one did you get???

_________________
Breitling Hercules White Dial
Breitling Super Avenger Blue Dial
Tag Grand Carrera Calibre 17 Silver Dial
Mont Blanc Timewalker Silver Dial
U-Boat Flight Deck 50MM Black Dial
Boschett Cave Dweller Black Dial
Seiko Orange Monster
Casio G-Shock

Nice work, I think you're going to love it. So yeah, which model?

When I bought my Panerai it was almost a snap decision, I went from not being hugely interested in the brand to having it on my wrist within the space of a few days. No regrets. Also in the "snap decision" category, today I'm thinking about buying a watch which didn't feature in the wish list I posted less than 24hrs ago, because I saw it after posting that...

Hope it gets there soon. Now get back to running that bank!

Congratulations once again Mofongo, you've been busy. Good to get the wife on board as well, always helps

Hope you like it in person.


Which one now Otto? Exciting times indeed.

_________________
Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

Probably from my description, those very familiar with Panerai might be able to make a rough guess, already.

Let me just add that while many Paneristis would not necessarily agree with my taste, it is, IMHO as a Panerai outsider, the nicest-looking model they make. There is also a very good chance it will not continue production next year (i.e. they will not make another series of it), hence my decision to get it now.

I'll post complete details Thursday night after it arrives (I don't like jinxing them before they arrive). I am thinking of not opening it up until Christmas morning, just to flagellate myself some more for my transgressions. I can open this and my Steinhardt LE for Christmas!

Soon after that, I will post pics.

///M

_________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

That's what I like to hear! I think it's safe to say that if a watch-man has actually managed to convince a woman to marry or even move in with him, she must be a woman of exceptional quality and/or he must be a man of exceptional skills.

And so for you, Mofongo, whether it is one, the other, or both: Congratulations.

_________________
Follow me through my Journalism degree

This Paneraitis is becoming an epidemic around here.

I think I need to talk to admin and get this place sanitized before any more of you get infected

Oh yeah, and congrats Mofongo, I suppose.

I hope you enjoy it. I sold off all my PAMs except the 176. I like the base dial. Just something about it. But aside from that, they can get pretty boring. I suggest buying at least 2 or 3 extra straps from some of the strapmakers (Ted Su, Rob Montana, Heroic18, etc). That really makes them a whole new watch.

_________________
Mmmmm

I could be way off, but I'm going to guess 088.

Good point. So, theoretically, if I could get a prescription for this affliction, then I would only have a $25 copay. I wonder if my insurance also covers chronographs.....


I totally agree! (Even though it's too late for me, apparently). At least admin should put up a banner: All members must wash hands before posting.


Yeah, "I suppose" is right. The funny thing is I am more nervous about this purchase than any of my other ones (which I have all been ecstatic about). I really like the watch...but I would have preferred to get other watches on my wishlist before this one. So that means getting this one means a delay for the others.

Now that it has finally arrived, I will tell you what it is. In fact, I realize I should not have put "Pam coming" in the thread, because technically this is a FER not a PAM. A FER00010 to be exact (Scuderia Rattrapante). I realize the dyed-in-the-wool Panaristis do not favor the Ferrari line, but I happen to think that some of them look fantastic. And the 010 is, IMHO, the best looking one with the exception of 1 or 2 of the special editions.

So the reason for getting the price I did (over 60% off list) was that the whole Ferrari line is selling at huge discounts, especially for Panerai. But this price was even more insanely discounted than current market prices. Basically, slightly used ones are going for this price on Ebay. So I don't plan on making any money with it, but neither do I really expect to take any depreciation hit. When you consider that any other Pam with this exact same movement would cost over $5000 more even from a grey market dealer, this is one heck of a deal. It's still a Panerai...same built quality, same movement, same case (with some minor style variations), just a different dial. So really, it's great that I get to save a pile of money because the version I like happens to be unpopular.

Since the deal I got was with the full knowledge and permission of Panerai, I am assuming this means that they are dumping the Ferrari line. The original contract with Ferrari ends in 2010. It could be renewed, but in my opinion current data suggests that it will not. I suppose there is a chance that the whole Ferrari line will become a cult classic once they stop making it, but even if that were to happen I doubt it would be for awhile (I'm not holding my breath). But really, I figured that if I want to own a Ferrari, the time to buy is now, because my bet is that it won't be around much longer. So that is the reason I went ahead and took advantage of this deal, even though I was not strictly ready for it.

Any of you experts out there have any opinions on what will become of the Ferrari line? Will the bottom fall out even more (I still have time to return it )

///M

_________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

very nice choice! my dad is getting the exact one in about a month or so!

_________________
Pain is only weakness leaving the body.

So in the end, I decided that even though I loved the watch, I just could deal with the mental anguish of having a timepiece that Roff did not approve of. So I got rid of it.



Just kidding! I did decide for myself, though, that even though the model is one of my favorites from Il Officine, the Ferrari just didn't speak to me enough for a watch in that price range. I really liked it, but I just didn't like it enough to not spend those same dollars on another watch at the top of my wish list. Even with the discount, at that price I should still be totally ga ga speechless over it. So I guess I am still with Roff on the subject of Pams...I have not yet drunk enough of the cool-aid to really get into them (although presumably if I had drunk more, I would have thumbed my nose at the Ferrari line).

Instead of returning it, however, I managed to find another buyer at a price where I will break even (after all shipping and fees) plus a few bucks. So the watch is going to a good home where it can make somebody else very happy.

In the meantime, I'm taking the money from that watch and lining up another purchase. This one has been on the wish list for a while, and I am definitely excited about it.

And, Roff, I am absolutely certain you will approve of it, too.

///M

_________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

Good boy, you'll go far!