Interesting trip to my watchmaker's today....

[muttley]

I dropped in to say hi and to leave a watch with him for a clean up.
He knows I'm 'into' watches and grabbed a bag for me to look at - within was what I think was a PAM 250 (Daylight) but I'm not 100% sure because I'm positive the engraving on the caseback had a fish, but the Panerai website picture does not show one. It was on a Panerai stamped rubber strap with a Panerai engraved deployant. It felt solid and looked exceptionally well made (as I would expect from a Panerai). Unfortunately the watchmaker had not yet opened it up and so was unable to confirm I was looking at the real deal.
I think I will have to go back with my camera and put some pics up here, because I would hate to be getting excited over something that says it is what it isn't (you know the word...).
Unless anyone knows about the engraved fish on the caseback, I'll update this with some pics when I can.

On a side-note, he showed me a Raymond Weil 'tank' style watch in solid 18K gold, with a smashed crystal. He had already replaced/repaired the damaged crown stem but wasn't able to get an AR coated crystal (as the original is) so has put the job on hold until he can get something made. Boy that watch 'breathed' class, but to be honest, I'd still prefer the PAM

Update: A quick Youtube search shows the caseback with the small fish engraved next to '100m' to show the level of WR for this model, so no problems there after all.

[pog760]

I had a Daylight before and its one of the watches I regeret letting go But, does he have box and papers for it? To be honest, if you can't trust your watchmaker if he's selling you the real thing, I'd be running the opposite way. Goodluck and be very careful.

Here's some pics of mine that hopefully you can compare it to:







Lume shot

[muttley]

Thanks for the pics, Gene .
Sorry if I wasn't clear in my first post. My watchmaker has the Panerai in for some service work (don't know what) - he showed it to me as he knows I love watches and would be interested in something a bit different from what I would normally see around these parts. I don't doubt his integrity, and the watch is not for sale, to my knowledge - although, it never hurts to put the feelers out and let the owner know there's an interested party if they are thinking of selling.
As mentioned, I rarely get to see these watches in the wild, and probably just overreacted (sorry ). Fantastic looking watch, nonetheless, and sorry to hear you're missing yours...
Cheers,
Shayne.