What Do You Need to Know About the PAM 111 Watch?

The PAM 111 timepiece is encased in steel and measures at 44 mm, making it one of the larger watches on the market in terms of luxury sports watches. However, Panerai has always tended to make their watches slightly larger than the market average, and it certainly does not feel overly heavy when you wear it on your wrist – sturdy, but not heavy, and there is an important distinction between the two.

The movement is mechanically wound and manual, which is another way that this watch is distinct from other luxury timepieces, as the majority of them have automatic movements. It should also be noted that this is a 3^rd party movement and not manufactured in-house by Panerai. It has a power reserve of 17 hours and is comprised of 17 jewels. It is also water-resistant for up to 30 ATM, which is fitting, as Panerai is well-known for manufacturing diving watches.

In terms of its look, this timepiece honors Panerai’s legacy of manufacturing watches for the Italian military by giving it an aesthetic that could be best described as efficient, cool, and polished.
One of the most immediately recognizable things about the PAM 111 is its dial, which has a solid black background. Like many other Panerai watches, this one has a very minimal dial, only showing hours and minutes, with a smaller dial for seconds at 9 o’clock. The numerals and hash marks for non-numerals are large and very easy to read, ensuring that even in less than ideal conditions, the PAM 111 is still legible.  

For those who want to purchase a Panerai watch but aren’t sure where to begin, the PAM 111 is a great place to start from. There are several reasons for this – the first is that, in terms of luxury sports watches, this is a very affordable piece. In most instances, it will cost under $5,000, which is, realistically, about as cheap as you can get a luxury sports watch for, even on the gray market.
The other is its relative ubiquity. Even though the PAM 111 has since been discontinued, it was one of the more popular timepieces from Panerai when they were still producing it, so it is relatively easy to locate one with a minimal amount of research. As always, please do your due diligence and thoroughly research both the timepiece and the vendor before making any kind of purchase, especially if you are doing so online.

Because of its design and coloring, you are likely going to want to replace the default black rubber strap with another black rubber strap, as overly bright colors, or even brown, would look somewhat gauche with the coloring of the dial.