amanico
[JLC Moderator]
342727
Review-Panerai: THE LOGO PRE VENDOME, THE REVIEW
In 1993, Officine Panerai Firenze decided to launch 2 monsters, charged of History, the Logo and the Mare Nostrum...
Panerai, which was known for all military equipment, as torches, compass, light systems for planes to land on ship etc, was also famous for its military watches, since 1936...With the Radiomir cases.We speak here of the 3646, California and non California dials.
In the Early 40's, Panerai decided to produce another watch, in a different case, the Luminor, which reference was 6152, and 6152/1, the first didn't have crown protection, the 2d did...
With or without small seconds at " 9 "...
This is this last watch ( without small seconds ) which was used as the model for the Logo ( reference 5218- 201/A ), in 1993.
The very interesting thing is that the Logo wasn't concieved and designed for the Military Market, as like the Marina Militare was, but for the Civil Market...
Marina Militare:
Since now, the Military Secret of this watch, well kept, was on to be shared...
I/ Specificities:
The case was for this period ( early 90's ), something big: 44mm, and even around 50 mm if you include the crown protector, and 14mm thick...!!!
Big if you compare these dimensions to the production of the moment, which was around 38/40mm, with also a lot of 36mm watches...
Well with some exceptions, as the quite simultaneous ROO AP ( 1992 ), and older Piquerez cases, like the Polaris JLC ( since 1963 ), The Sub Polerouter Universal, and the Vulcain Nautical which were produced even before the Polaris, all in 42mm diameter, and the Blancpain Fifity fathoms, which is not build from a Piquerez Case.
So, in 1993, this Logo was quite revolutionnary, as the biggest round watch in production, even judged too big, and quite unwearable...LOL, mentalities have changed a lot!
The Case is made in SS 316L with a polish finish, which contrasts greatly with the black dial.
The movement is an Unitas 6497, 17 Jewels, reworked and refinished by Panerai, reliable, solid, well nothing to complain about, especially when you have in mind that this watch , even if offered in the Civil market, has big military roots!
The accuracy is good, as for the model without seconds, like the base, the tolerance is a bit under 10 sec per day, which is very good.
The water resistance is given for 30 ATM ( 300 Meters ), but the was checked till 40 ATM.
The design of this movement is also interesting, as it's stunningly close to the design of the Rolex Cortebert which was housed by the Ancester 6152/1.
Here a pic of the Pre V brochure presenting the Logo:
The Case Back is screwed, with the engraving of the reference " 5218- 201/A ", and the number of the watch, as the Logo was produced in 2 references...201/A: 677 pieces + 10 protoypes ( protos are numbered P 001 till P 010 ), and 209/A, which was produced in 10 or 12 pieces at the end of the pre vendome era; so in early 1997.
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To read the rest of Nicolas' review in Panerai forum, please CLICK HERE
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