When in doubt about Panerai or IWC, get both!

Hello all -

Panerai or IWC? Panerai or IWC? What's a fellow to do? After a long period of debate, I decided to pull the trigger and get one of each last week!

This is my first post on any watch forum. My first decent watch (if we exclude the quartz Tag I bought in law school) was a Rolex Explorer II purchased in 2000. I traded it (plus a little cash) last week for a Panerai 111 G series. Combined with a Ted Tsu vintage ammo pouch strap, it is a striking daily wearer.

The other purchase was Rose Gold/Slate Face Portuguese Chrono with brown croco strap (371415). I have been in love with this watch for several years. When the opportunity presented itself to buy a "new/old stock version," I couldn't resist. The case is stamped 290XXXX, which from research dates it to one of the earliest models, circa 2002/03. By the way, anyone know what is different between the 37145 and 371482? I am having trouble finding an answer.

I also have a PAM326 purchased from an AD in Vegas last year.

I will try to post some pics soon. Looking forward to chatting with this group!

Welcome to the IWC forum!
Let me be the very first to answer your very first post.
Congratulations on your nice IWC watch. The Portugiesers are great - any of them.
I'm sure you'll enjoy this place very much.
Tilo

Congrats on both purchases. I wore a Panerai Luminor Marina before plunging into the IWC world with a Rose Gold/White Face Portugeuese Chrono I bought in Zurich at the end of 2011. This is a wonderful group of collectors on the forum as I have discovered the last several weeks. Wear your pieces in good health!

Congratulations my friend.
A warm welcome to IWC company.

Congrats on your new watch and welcome to the forum.
The slate dial is sublime!

Cheers,
Evan

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on an excellent 1st IWC watch.
Looking forward to the photos you plan to share - Ardoise is very popular here.

Congratulations and welcome! Enjoy your new timepieces and wear them in good health. Oh, and post some pictures too!

Kind regards,

Clemens

Now, that is some way to start an IWC collection (even if it is a collection of one - and I'm willing to bet it wont stay at that ONE)!

A superb IWC with clean lines - you will find it dressier and therefore probably end up giving it more wrist time than "that other watch".

Both watches are good - and I wish you well to wear them in good health.

Best regards
Mark

Welcome to the forum. I also own a blue face Luminor Marina with brown Croc. strap & a heavy duty fabric/velcro dive strap. I am also possessed by eight IWC models. You now have the IWC virus which is incurable. God speed and happy new year!

zyxtimer

Welcome!

But --when in doubt about Panerai or IWC,get TWO IWC! ;)

Seriously, they're both great brands and I've owned several Panerai, but we're biased here.

Welcome to the Forum and congratulation to your purchases.

Out of self-experience I guess that you will be continuously tempted to add additional IWCs to your collection, and though you will love your Panerai, it most probably will remain the only one;-)

Wear both in good health

Congrats and welcome - happy to see another Panerai and IWC Portuguese owner here!! I second Giovanni's statement - I still only own one of each but I can tell you I will add several IWCs to my collection before I consider another Panerai - IWC is in a different league :-)

Welcome to or Forum. Please do post pictures of the RG Ardoise Portuguese. I bet it is a real beauty.

I have owned 5 or 6 Panerais in the past, but somehow they all changed back into IWC's!

I'll look forward to seeing your pictures and hearing your comments as you enjoy your Portuguese.