question on Patina & Oxidation on PAM Submersibles

[kel12]

Hi, i had noticed from the sales forum that Patina & Oxidation are found common on PAM24 & PAM25...
is this the same for most Pam Submersibles? or even other PAMs?
Or is it just common for PAM24 & 25?
does this happen like within 10 years...?

Thank you for the help...

[Ender]

Hi there,

By oxidation, you are referring to the patina (the darkening, yellowing of the lume plots of the hands and dial) or something else?

The patina comes about because of the ageing of lume material - tritium.
Therefore, the patina is not unique to Pams 24 and 25 or only to Panerai Submersibles. You will see similar patina on non Submersibles like Pams 1, 2 (those with tritium dials), relatively more recent Pam Submersibles like Pam 243i (with tritium dial) and non Pams, like a Rolex 5513, 1675 etc.
As to how long it takes for the patina to develop, other experts will weight in but I know of a watch collector who swears that his Pam developed a deep dark patina after being left in his safe for 2 weeks straight...

Adding on - not ALL Pams 24 and 25 therefore have patina because not ALL Pam 24 and 25 have tritium dials. The later series have the modern luminova lume and therefore no patina...

Ender

[kel12]

Thank you Ender!

had always like a submersible to be added to my collection, but seeing the peeling hands in sales forum had kind of like putting some brakes on...
it's not that having patina is not nice... it's just that i thought the ageing came a little too soon... or was i wrong? those tritium dials were produced more than 10years ago...?

anyway, thank you so much Ender...!
i'll read up more at the same time if other bros can advise...

[ac_wong75]

Hi Just incase you are looking out for avintage feel PAM 24, for PAM 24 that will have patina is the A,B, C serials which used tritium. Most likely to see the crack or flaking on the hands as well... PAM 24 are still in production and later series as I do recall are not tritum base but experts can chime in to correct this.
The Flaking of the hands are not necessary a problem, infact there are overseas collectors who like them like that as it gives a bit of character to the watch..

[skydweller_sg]

somehow the tritum hands just doesnt age quite as gracefully as the luminova hands

Hi Just incase you are looking out for avintage feel PAM 24, for PAM 24 that will have patina is the A,B, C serials which used tritium. Most likely to see the crack or flaking on the hands as well... PAM 24 are still in production and later series as I do recall are not tritum base but experts can chime in to correct this.
The Flaking of the hands are not necessary a problem, infact there are overseas collectors who like them like that as it gives a bit of character to the watch..

[LSL]

Unlike Rolex Panerai hands are steel instead of white gold,so oxidation
does occurs especially among the submersible series the pam 88 also has this issue within 4-5 years ,only the blacken hands of the pam 23,29 & 63 has no such problem..........

Some like it some dun ......

[azrielsc]

This is a very interesting topic! Thanks to TS and the rest for contributing!

[lefty]

Pam24 and 25 Subs had T-Dials up to approximately "F" series

Pam87 sub had T-dials all the way to "H" series before it was discontinued

Pam243 sub had T-dials up to J series

All other regular non sub pams had T-dials only for "A series" and the early "B series"

Hope this helps

[kel12]

Thanks for all the help & advices! This really helps narrow down the models to look for!

Wrinkles & laugh lines on a 37yr old man's face gives him character.... But not on a 5 yr old I think...