Fake Panerai: Italian design, Swiss watchmaking
Fake Panerai, officially “Officine Panerai”, is the most famous Italian watch brand today. It used to make watches and military instruments for the Italian Navy. The watches have a distinctive design with easy-to-read dials, the characteristic cushion-shaped cases and the distinctive crown protection elements.
Is it worth buying a Panerai?
A trademark of Panerai is its sandwich dial, which consists of a luminous underlayer and an upper layer from which hour markers and indices have been cut out. The luminous material shines through the cutouts, which ensures high contrast and good visibility.
Until 1993, these watches were sold exclusively to the Italian military. Today they are popular with watch collectors all over the world. When the first Panerai watches finally became available to civilians, a number of celebrities were fascinated by the brand’s dial and case designs. In particular, action star Sylvester Stallone made the brand famous in the USA. In the following years, a separate collectors’ club, the “Paneristi”, was formed. Today, the company is part of the Richemont Group. However, it manufactures many of its own watch movements itself.
The most famous Panerai models
Panerai watches are instantly recognizable. The two most famous series are the Panerai Radiomir with its slim lugs and the Panerai Luminor with its massive crown guard. In addition to these distinctive design elements, Panerai is also known for the size of its models: they often measure 44 mm or even more. The square cases further increase the presence on the wrist.
As the brand has risen, however, so has the variety of models on offer. Panerai is now trying its hand at split-second chronographs, GMTs, tourbillons and even bronze and carbon fiber cases.
How much does a Panerai cost?
Panerai offers watches in a range of price ranges, with most models ranging between EUR 4,000 and EUR 8,000. Panerai watches with complications, such as the Panerai Luminor, are also popular. For example, a watch with a second time zone or a chronograph usually costs between EUR 8,000 and EUR 18,000. Vintage models, special editions or watches made of special materials can be even more expensive.
Are Panerai watches worth the money?
Panerai watches had their heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s when they conquered the US market. The popularity of these timepieces rises and falls because watches of this size are sometimes more and sometimes less fashionable. Panerai makes a certain type of watch for a certain type of person. Panerai owners consider themselves proud members of the Paneristi association, while many other contemporaries like to joke that Panerai wearers have to compensate for something with their giant watches. No matter which group you belong to, there is hardly anyone who is completely neutral about Panerai.