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There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.

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And this isn't either of them!
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The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right:
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The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only mention the highlights. First, it was a highly anticipated event and very well attended--there were numerous big spenders in the audience and several more bidding by phone. The bidding opened at one-million dollars, but the first bid cast was for ten-million dollars! That bid immediately separated the men from the boys, and not long after (mostly from phone bids) the bidding rose, with the hammer eventually falling at the record setting seventeen-point-eight-million bucks. No one actually knows (or is telling, anyway) who the winning bidder was. There were rumors from Ralph Lauren, all the way back to the Rolex company itself--but no one is saying for sure--perhaps it was you?

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You can actually watch a video of the entire event here: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/paul-newman-rolex-daytona-auction-most-expensive-watch-ever
And here's a shot of Paul's (Panda) Daytona:
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Okay, so chances are, that one got away from you, so what are we left with? Well you probably won't be surprised to learn there are hundreds of other Panda style watches on the market to consider. They range from "way too damn expensive" all the way down to "is-that-all?" But before you plunk down however much you dare, it's good to first brush up some Panda basics. I've collected a few articles from some of the better sources on the internet and after you've browsed through a few, you'll be an expert on the care and feeding of Pandas--I guarantee it! Assuming your budget is sub-Paul Newman, this article (and must-watch video) will show you how to Panda on a budget: https://chronometercheck.com/panda-dial-chronograph-watches-budget/ After that, this site will walk you through several other options (I'm very partial to that Brietling Superocean Heritage by the way): https://www.ethoswatches.com/the-watch-guide/10-best-panda-dial-watches/ And finally, this was possibly the most comprehensive all around site I found for the better class of Pandas: https://www.ethoswatches.com/the-watch-guide/everything-you-need-to-know-about-a-panda-dial-with-our-top-6-favourite-watches/ Hope you enjoy the articles and hope you share your favorites in two categories:
  1. The one you most want and,
  2. The one you're most likely to buy ;- )
My answer to the second question could well be this one...
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(Edited)
7
17
remove_red_eye
380
RayF
22203

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arislan
1380
Nov 8, 2019
Here's my panda
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RayF
22203
Nov 8, 2019
arislanHandsome!
jaxtrauma
2105
Nov 8, 2019
Um... You know they ain't bears, right?
jaxtrauma
2105
Nov 8, 2019
Ha, I get a chuckle every time I check my email and see you have a new post. Thanks bud.
RayF
22203
Nov 8, 2019
jaxtraumaGoes both ways!
aluxnahual
146
Nov 8, 2019
RayF
22203
Nov 8, 2019
aluxnahual Both on my short list for Pandas under $2,200! And yet, still no Elvis Panda?
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(Edited)
TwentySixAnd
1305
Nov 8, 2019
RayF
22203
Nov 8, 2019
TwentySixAnd Hmm...Steinhart you say? Never heard of 'em! I'll have to look 'em up some time. Oh, that Steinhart!

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Guess they just weren't very popular? Hope I get an eMail when they build some more!
(Edited)
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