Ownership Review: Panerai Luminor eSteel 44mm
You know you’ve got a winner when your non-enthusiast wife unexpectedly nicknames your watch. Meet ‘Esmeralda’.
My journey to owning a Panerai, specifically a 1950 Luminor, has been a convoluted one that began with with my love for Rolex and thus eventually learning the joint history behind them and the Radiomir / Luminor in a roundabout way. A little more than a decade after first having my interest sparked (and through Richemont’s many exhausting missteps with the brand) this bad boy recently joined my shrinking collection and I couldn’t be more pleased with its understated yet in-your-face badass vintage charm.
Richemont’s movement downgrades suck for a watch at this price point, but one doesn’t add a watch like this to a collection solely for its technical prowess, more for its charm…and boy, it is a charmer. If you have at least a 6.75” wrist, don’t be put off by the 44mm case size: the downward curving lugs of the 1950 case make it surprisingly wearable (though the discontinued 42mm Luminors were an absolutely perfect fit for that wrist size). And of course, shop the secondary market for much better pricing — however I chose to go the boutique route for the exemplary service that did not disappoint, and also to get the full 8-year warranty (a discretionary discount and extra straps didn’t hurt either 🙂).
I had also been considering a Speedmaster 57 in green and a Cartier Santos Large in blue; things which pipped it for the PAM were primarily the quirky charm of not knowing exactly what time it is due to a lack of minute markers (this is a thing), the crown guard mechanism/makeshift fidget-spinner to help you get through those tedious meetings (this is also a thing), and the sandwich dial with lume for days! When it comes to character and charm, the 1356 has it in spades — especially when paired with the right strap — and I couldn’t recommend it more.
Just be sure you get a good discount on it 😉
Ownership Review: Panerai Luminor eSteel 44mm
Yes
No
- Long lasting lume
- Deep inky lacquered dial that’s much better seen in person
- Quirky charm and vintage styling
- 3-Day Power Reserve
- Strap monster
- Iconic heritage, iconic design
- Movement downgrades: too many to list, from removing decorations to removing hacking functionality and automatic seconds-reset when the crown is engaged. It’s still a good movement, just not for the price in my opinion
- Retail price, especially given the movement (it’s a downgraded Baumatic).
- You need at least about a 6.8” to 7” wrist to pull this off
Love that dial paired with that strap, really sharp!
Love that dial paired with that strap, really sharp!
Thank you brother! I’ve not really been a strap guy but this watch might be changing that!
Thank you brother! I’ve not really been a strap guy but this watch might be changing that!
Oh, strap swapping can bring a whole new level of fun and satisfaction with your collection! Consider this Railmaster from my collection. I’ll post several pictures of it on different straps. All of the straps are quick change, and so the watch can go from the beach to dressy in seconds.
Oh, strap swapping can bring a whole new level of fun and satisfaction with your collection! Consider this Railmaster from my collection. I’ll post several pictures of it on different straps. All of the straps are quick change, and so the watch can go from the beach to dressy in seconds.
Beautiful straps! I currently have a couple of Bosphorus patina straps in a basket, so the bug is definitely biting. Straps will also bring welcome variety, as I’m downsizing my collection!
Beautiful straps! I currently have a couple of Bosphorus patina straps in a basket, so the bug is definitely biting. Straps will also bring welcome variety, as I’m downsizing my collection!
Adding new straps adds functionality and variety to any collection. With a downsized collection, additional straps is even more useful.
Nice write-up. Panerai is definitely one brand that has taken some digging to find one that's just right. Still looking...
Excellent review. I especially appreciate your thinking regarding other choices when you were thinking about getting the Panerai. I agree with you about the movement down grades. IMHO. Panerai didn’t do itself any favors by doing that. Save a buck or two. Not worth it. I’ve been a Paneresti for some time so the caliber I love is the 2000 series. First truly in house movement and one of the best they made. Congrats on your Luminor and welcome to the Paneresti community.
305 Sub 233 hand wound GMT 8 day. And a 236 Radimior hand wound 8 day
Excellent review. I especially appreciate your thinking regarding other choices when you were thinking about getting the Panerai. I agree with you about the movement down grades. IMHO. Panerai didn’t do itself any favors by doing that. Save a buck or two. Not worth it. I’ve been a Paneresti for some time so the caliber I love is the 2000 series. First truly in house movement and one of the best they made. Congrats on your Luminor and welcome to the Paneresti community.
Thank you brother! Love your PAM selection, looking forward to browsing the rest of your collection!
Thank you brother! Love your PAM selection, looking forward to browsing the rest of your collection!
Think there are better pictures of the Pam’s on the website
Think there are better pictures of the Pam’s on the website
BTW. Happy your wife likes the Pam. No empirical proof at all but in general I find women really like Pam’s.
Love that dial paired with that strap, really sharp!
Does the larger crown bother your wrist movement?