Which one to buy? PAM 000/005/111/112

[stilo]

Hello my fellow Watch u Seeker's,

I'm looking to get my first Panerai. I've always admired the watch and I think it's time to now add one to my collection. My choices are the 000, 005, 111, or the 112.

Which one should I buy? Sausage dial vs sandwich dial? Second hand vs plain dial?

So many choices!!

Please state reasons why for each choice.

Thank you,
Nick

[jadamo]

gotta have the seconds and it's gotta be steel for me
jja

[bottom of the ninth]

111 reason it's a classic

[harryd3333]

Is it my imagination or does the PAM 111 and 112 have a sandwich dial and the PAM 000 and 005 have the numbers painted on the dial. It seems like the luminous dial is "deeper" on the PAM 111 and 112 and the gap is really prevalent between the dials. One other question. Do the Panerai watches with sandwich dials provide more lumination than the Panerai watches with painted numbers?

[handwound]

Is it my imagination or does the PAM 111 and 112 have a sandwich dial and the PAM 000 and 005 have the numbers painted on the dial. It seems like the luminous dial is "deeper" on the PAM 111 and 112 and the gap is really prevalent between the dials. One other question. Do the Panerai watches with sandwich dials provide more lumination than the Panerai watches with painted numbers?

No, it is not your imagination. Yes, the overall consensus is that sandwich dials have slightly superior lume.

I vote 000, since that's what I bought! I gotta have base dials and I LOVE the logo...

[Watch_guy]

Another vote for the 000
Solid caseback, Painted dial, classic logo! I think Panerai is the only brand where I think their least expensive model is one of the nicest.
All of the choices are great and you will enjoy any of them.

[Psmith.]

Easy... get the 111




Cheers

[stilo]

I've been looking but I can't find a right answer, but does anyone know which one is most true to the historic Panerai?

[handwound]

IMHO, one of the base Radiomirs like the PAM210 or the PAM232 would be the most "true to the original" Panerai - since the first Panerai wristwatches used "Oyster" cases (and movements) sourced from Rolex. The 210 and 232 are the closest modern day representations of the 3646, IMO.

[esm]

PAM000 (on OEM croc) is a perfect first Panerai (imo)