Ivan,
Thanks again for coming up with this thread. If I could however pick your brain, I'd like very much to learn the reasons that were factored in on choosing a particular model over the other. I mean, you're very knowledgeable in the world of PAMs, and knowing you, I'm sure you must have planned your PAMs collection very well. So I'm sure it must be a very good education for a novice like me and others to learn from you as to why these nine models were chosen.
For example, I might presume the choice of 000 is a MUST due to the fact that it's the Base model that has the strongest DNA of the original PAM, etc. The mantra I saw being commonly recited in association with 000 is "Zero is Hero". Are those also the factors for you?
Thanks again for your time.
The journey was indeed interesting dotted with many incidents and accidents. But that is for another day. As for the collection, I basically collect models from the historic series and limited to a certain amount (cost, price, what ever the case may be). So, most of the models you see are from the historic collection. I try to get a basic representation of the models, i.e. sandwich dial, painted dial, base, sub dial, patina, old font, pre-v hands, etc. These are answered by some of the models or a combination of models. For example, tritium. I would love to get one of the old models with tritium, but they are not cheap. As such it is answered by the 243. True it is not a historic model but from contemporary, but it satisfy my need for tritium and the patina. Another example is the painted dial. It is answered by the base. And so on.
There are gaps in the collection, i.e. destro (left hander), black case models, 8 day movement, etc. Like I said, I limit myself by cost. I can get a PAM26K and solve some of the gaps, but it is not cheap. So I live with the fact that there will be gaps and perhaps a PAM219 may join the collection, maybe even a PAM292. All these are future plans and may or may not materialise. As for now, I am happy with the collection as it stands.
Most important to me is to get the models you like and not what people like or what the public in general dictates. No use buying a model to elevate your status in the PAM world when you don't really like it or can't wear or looks funky when you wear it. Thus far I only buy the 44 mm models (the 42 mm being the wife's is excluded) as I have tried the larger models and I cannot carry it. As such I have not bought any. I like the sub dial, hence you see most of the watches have the sub dial. Additionally, while I like the 1950 case models of the 312, 320 etc, I don't really like the quick change mechanism, so I have not purchased any. I don't really like the models in the contemporary series, save the 243 and that also very specific I series as it is the only 243 without the quick change mechanism and have the tritium dial. Hence the only contemporary model in the collection.
So,there you have it, basically in a nut shell, why these models are in my collection.