OP SIHH 2012

[dukerules]

A big sigh of relief from me, as nothing moves me like at least three 2011 releases did. Big winners for me are the 425 (the SS version of the 373 many were predicting except no perfection because no plexi) and the 449 (same dial, blue hands, plexi, 500-piece SE so mere mortals will never get one). The 399 is intriguing, as it's the first time OP has a crown-guardless case with regular luminor lugs, but it would have been much, much better as a base (and it's an ultra-limited 100-piece SE). The 372 variants (422 and 423) are way off IMO, and just make me realize how much I love the 372.

All pics obviously taken from Paneristi.com

425:


449:


399:


422 and 423:



What do you think?

[dshap]

Why the fuq can't they make a 44mm watch?


The 399 is cool, but too big and only 100 pieces.

[craniotes]

They really need to chill with the patina'd lume.

And yeah, aside from the 399 (mere mortals need not apply, unless they're giving free handies to St. Bonati), there's nothing here that reaches the Olympian heights of the 372 and 382, both of which are game-changers in their own way.

All I can say is, "phew."

Regards,
Adam

[CGSshorty]

A ho-hum year compared to 2011, but what could have topped that? The 325 is right up my alley and I love the 44mm ceramic, except that the stupid dial actually says ceramic on it.

[matt.wu]

Yay. More 47mm watches with faux-patina.

[R@cerx]

Ho-hum is right. Many miss the mark for me, and since I'm not a Rad fan not so much for me to be interested in. I was hoping for a 1000m sub, but I guess we'll keep waiting for that.

[lilhoody]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

[toxicavenger]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

[FlyPenFly]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

Seems like they can't cheat when it's a clear back!

[matt.wu]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

You mean just in case the sapphire caseback isn't actually a sapphire caseback, but rather painted to look like a sapphire caseback?

[lilhoody]

Shows how much I know, I'll be leaving now.

[CGSshorty]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

Did you think it was a decal?

[BSears]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

Seems like they can't cheat when it's a clear back!

[FlyPenFly]

For one of the new models, did they literally take the 372 and just add a running seconds hand?

[lilhoody]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

Did you think it was a decal?

Yeah, a decal, that's it. No seriously, I had never seen a picture of the case back. I don't go to Risti and only look at the SC on TZ.

[craniotes]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

It's all good in the 'hood, amigo.

Free-sprung, variable-inertia balance wheel; double-barrels with three-day power reserve; two-position time setting w/jumping hour hand via 12-position star-wheel and spring-clutch; chamfered bevel edges on the mainplate and bridge; flawless graining; and, finally, polished jewel sinks.

Basically, this is the anti-318.

Regards,
Adam

[R@cerx]

For one of the new models, did they literally take the 372 and just add a running seconds hand?

Yes, the 422.

[toxicavenger]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

Did you think it was a decal?

[lilhoody]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

Did you think it was a decal?

Yeah, a decal, that's it. No seriously, I had never seen a picture of the case back. I don't go to Risti and only look at the SC on TZ.

[YOHOHO]

nice to see all the 47mms ... possibly a 422 if its reception is lukewarm, and the price falls down the road....

faux patina is still a bit cheezy to me....

[craniotes]

For one of the new models, did they literally take the 372 and just add a running seconds hand?

Yes, the 422.

It's okay, but the star of the show remains the 372, IMO. What is nice, however, is the power reserve on the back.

The trainwreck of the family, is the 423, which sticks the power reserve indicator on the dial. Nasty.

Regards,
Adam

[FlyPenFly]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

Did you think it was a decal?

Yeah, a decal, that's it. No seriously, I had never seen a picture of the case back. I don't go to Risti and only look at the SC on TZ.

Either way the P brand to me is forever tainted by that mess.

[CGSshorty]

I'd rock the 424

I hate the date window.

[toxicavenger]

The only thing I'm waiting for in 2012 is one of you guys to pop open your 372's and show us what's inside.

Did you think it was a decal?

Yeah, a decal, that's it. No seriously, I had never seen a picture of the case back. I don't go to Risti and only look at the SC on TZ.

Either way the P brand to me is forever tainted by that mess.

it would taint the brand if I liked their offering but they all tend to look the same with only a few things done each time there is a new release.

I will let the hipsters pimp them out at OWC.

[dukerules]

The faux patina thing is officially overdone. Every damn OP piece announced this year has it.

All the cool pieces this year are SEs. The 425 isn't, but I so wish they had put a plexi on it.

47mm really is the new 44mm for OP.

Panerai is going to piss off a lot of 249 owners with the 448. I don't think we'll have to wait much longer for an "updated" 232, probably with faux patina, P.3000, and maybe a plexi. Then OP will be able to piss off both 232 and 294 owners.

A 44mm "Fiddy Base" might be coming, but then again it might not.

Glad I have a 372, which to me is Panerai perfection, and even the atrocity that is the 423 can't change that.

OP really needs to breathe life into the Submersible line. No 1000M replacement for the 243 seems wrong to me. I like the 305, but a new hardcore diver with a solid caseback would be nice. Maybe next year.