The Panerai Source Forums

What does anyone make of this ebay representation?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Panerai-1950-old-It ... 240%3A1318

Never heard anything about an actual "original" watch like this, though I have read Panerai was a gov't supplier.

I find the claim that it was serviced at Tourneau to be interesting and suggestive of legitimacy.

Very interesting, but i wonder why he would let go of such a piece?

A "real" fiddy? hmm.. paint me skeptical..

I for one would be very sceptical about this...but then, it could be genuine...?!

Panerai have never made any 'Army Issue' watches - they did make a few for the Italian Navy, on special order, and they also made gun and torpedo sights etc.

Anyone can say they've had an item checked or repaired by a dealer - there's no way of checking this out.

And finally, if the seller really did have it checked by an AD, wouldn't he have asked what it was worth first? Putting an item like this on eBay just doesn't make sense.

An easy way to check this out (for anyone living in NYC) would simply be to ask for a face-to-face deal...

_________________
Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

An out of focus picture, the eBay norm it seems with questionable items. Feedback of 3, super rare watch

I'll re-marry my ex wife if that turned out to be genuine. As noted, if the dealers flagged it as kosher, values would have been talked about, offers possibly made even, or at least pointed in the direction of collectors. Service receipt would be pictured and a major bigging it up exercise undertaken if that was real.

Why would you put it on eBay? "Fake as a fake thing from planet fake", is what we usually conclude, here in the UK

On the skeptical side: I am thinking that if someone at Tourneau thought this was real, they would have offered him money and he'd have taken it. The reference to a "special unit" seems like a con-artist's hook. I am also interested that he mentions "box and papers," something a student of Paneristi would know, but not a simple seaman's son.

On the "want to believe" side: The son seems, well, unsophisticated in ways, what with all the spelling errors, etc. To him, this item may be just be a banged up old watch that's worth a big steak dinner at some fancy NY restaurant. Perhaps Tourneau gave him a hint of worth and he studied up enough to make a sort-of presentation on ebay.

The listing was already removed by ebay.

Wow - does that mean ebay read Panerai Source? I'm impressed...

_________________
Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

I don't think that ebay read Panerai Source. The Seller listed his transaction outside ebay and it is not allow by ebay, ebay won't get their commission.

I was joking...

_________________
Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

I finally spoke with the seller. His listing was deleted on three occasions. After each deletion he revised language that ebay, he claimed, objected to for violation of trademarks. The seller told me that Panerai was objecting. He also alleged that a Panerai exec contacted him at home (couldn't figure out how they got his number) and made a healthy offer. He also claimed that since the listing was noticed he had at least one private offer of $40K. Said he'd send me a copy of his Dad's discharge papers if I wanted for verification. Also claimed to have a second watch that was never worn, not the beater his dad wore every day. Then he offered me his family's tour guide services if I ever visit Florence (from whence he moved just 2 years ago). Altogether a mysterious conversation. I won't be offering. But he may be telling God's truth.

he sure has a rich imagination.

No doubt.. that's quite the story.. guy was offered $40K cash, and instead he decided to list it on ebay 3 times?

I wouldn't be surprised if Ebay reads some of the forums for replica info.