Re: Panerai option

The watch pictured doesn't look much like a Panerai. It is a cushion case watch with a black dial, and that's about all. The shape of the hands and the placement of the sub seconds dial identifies the Panerai as much as the cushion case, and the defining attribute is the sandwich dial. The sub-seconds dial is at the nine position, not the six position. The sub dial hands are oveate leaf in shape (dunno what the technical name is).

There are any number of Panerai "homages" out there, (almost?) none of which have the sandwich dial so far as I know. However, as near as I can tell, there are very few decent ones for much under about $300.00US. So you need to ascertain more exactly what is important to you. If it's a cushion case alone that provides the look you seek, there are more options, but the more items of similarity you want, the more it will cost.

And, yeah, I'm getting to like the Panerai look myself. I'm thinking about getting one of those Alpha 1993 chronographs, making up a sandwich dial and simply ignoring the hour follower at the six position. The ST19 chronograph movement is a copy of the old Venus 175, IIRC, and is a real column wheel movement although it's only a two register (seconds and thirty minutes). For $115.00US and a bit of work, it would make a cool watch!

So there is some info and an example of an option. Hope it helps.

wtallman