As a matter of fact I got back from my AD just two hours ago, here is what went down:
Although I got the watch less than two hours after it's arrival at my AD (such was my excitement) it was a J series that was apparently manufactured some time earlier (a few months was my AD's guess at the most) and he suspects the "oils have not set in yet". He asked if I had timed it and I reported that it consistently GAINS 22-25 second a day, he said he would be more than happy to send it to Panerai but would recommend that I wait a week and see if it gets any better at all. If it does then it should settle into acceptable limits within the month. I decided that I did not want to wait a month so will just see if it does any better next week though I am not 100% percent convinced by this theory. We shall see.
What does support this theory is that today it gained a "measly" 20 seconds, is this slight improvement coincidental or a sign that the watch is improving is to be seen.
I have to say that it was refreshing to actually talk to an AD who had at least a slight interest in watches, rather than just selling them as is the case with most Ads around here.
This is really putting a damper on my first Pany experience, I spent much less on Breitlings, Omegas, Rolexs and NEVER had anything similar to this happen. On the plus side I am not craving that 98 nearly as much anymore