A Small Brand Profile of Panerai

The history of Panerai started from 1860, it was known for producing precision instruments and excellent quality at that time. In the beginning, it only made precision instruments and wrist watches for the Italian Royal Navy. Today, Panerai has been one of the most famous advanced sports watch brands in the world. With the design inspiration coming from the ocean, it positions itself as a sports and casual advanced watch brand. Italian design style and Swiss expertise make each Panerai watch have distinctive characteristics and excellent quality.

In 1860, Guido Panerai, the founder of Panerai company, had shown its talent in watch-making, at that time, Panerai exclusively supplied the Italian Navy precision instruments and compass, in the early 20th century, Guido Panerai opened a watch shop in Florence, this shop later became the official authorized dealer of Rolex and Patek Philippe.

In 1936, Panerai released their first wrist watch, which was equipped with Angelus movement, this watch was made at the request of the Italian Navy.

In 1938, Radiomir watch that was produced by Panerai officially became the permanent exclusive product of the Italian Royal Navy.

In 1997, Panerai was acquired by Richemont Group and pushed to international market, under the control of production and unique marketing strategy, Panerai storm immediately swept the whole world. Today, there are no other watch brands that can replace the unique status of Panerai, which is leading the fashion trend with its "large face", in the development, it not only continued to introduce new masterpieces and technology, but also follow its Italian design tradition.

In 2002, Panerai opened a store in Hong Kong, this was the first boutique that was opened in Asia, the second was located in Shanghai. Hong Kong boutique was set up on the first floor of Prince's Building, where many world-famous brand shops gathered. The customers of this boutique came from different countries, including watch lvoers and collectors, this store not only sold Panerai common series products, but also supplied special edition watches that were produced each year.

Today's Panerai

Every Panerai watch is crystal of long history, Italian design and Swiss watch-making craft. It will release a series of new models each year to show their love for the nature and the passion for innovation and exploration: these characteristics are exactly the symbol of modern Panerai.

Now, every component of Panerai is completely made by Neuchâtel watch factory in Switzerland. The case and movement of Panerai watches are designed, developed and produced by themselves, from assembly to each aspect of quality control, all the processes are implemented inside the factory.

Upcoming Panerai Time and Space Exhibition in Shanghai

To show the excellent tradition and history of its extraordinary fine watch-making technology, and in recognition of Galileo's achievements in science and technology, the Italian advanced watchmaker Panerai came back to its birthplace Florence and held an exhibition named "Time and Space: A Tribute to Galileo Galilei". The exhibition would be held in modern art center Ex3, date was between September 27 and October 2. In this exhibition, Panerai carefully selected the most representative watches and instruments from its HISTORIC and CONTEMPORARY series, three of them were produced to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first astronomical discovery and the astronomy-related exhibits became the focus of this exhibition.

Exhibition was divided into three sections. The first section focused on history, the exhibits were selected from Panerai museum, mainly introduced on how Panerai developed from a workshop in Florence to a preferred supplier of the Italian Royal Navy, and provided sophisticated professional equipments for them. The second area was displaying the achievements which Panerai reached in the international market after being acquired by Richemont Group in 1997.

Panerai held a "Time and Space: A Tribute to Galileo Galilei" exhibition in Florence, the exhibition area was located in modern art center Ex3 in Florence.

The newest type P.3000 manual winding movement developed by Panerai also first appeared in this exhibition. The third area was exclusively set to pay tribute to Galileo Galilei, to commemorate this creative genius who came from Italy and loved science very much. Panerai made three outstanding products with complicated functions in 2010: L'Astronomo (Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Titanium - 50mm), Lo Scienziato (Radiomir Tourbillon GMT Ceramic - 48mm) and Panerai Jupiterium.

This exhibition would be moved to Shanghai, China and held there in May 2011 for two weeks. At the appointed time, watch fans from China would have the chance to appreciate these special products (L'Astronomo, Lo Scienziato and Panerai Jupiterium) up close and experience the highest-level integration of Italian design and Swiss watch-making technology.

P.3000 manual winding movement, hours, minutes, small seconds, 3-day power reserve 160 components, 21 jewels, 16½ lignes, 5.3mm thick, two barrels, 3 Hz frequency, Incabloc® shock absorber.

P.3000 was the movement that was entirely designed, developed and produced by Panerai factory, which was located in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. This manual winding movement shown the ultimate watch-making technology of Panerai, it was extremely outstanding in function, stability, accuracy and long-time power reserve. P.3000 movement was 5.3mm thick, had a diameter of 16½ lignes, was imitated from the size of Panerai's traditional movement. People who were familiar with watches wouldn't difficult to find that P.3000 had the similar structure with the 3/4-plate movement: a big bridge covered most surface of the movement and there was a small bridge beside, the bridges were fixed on the base with thick screws, formed a particularly strong structure. This 21-jeweled movement had two barrels, which was more convenient to use a longer barrel spring, so the intensity could be shared more evenly and making a longer operating hours, the movement therefore had a 3-day power reserve capacity. The balance wheel of the movement was large (13.2mm), it belonged to variable inertia, there were four screws outside the circle to be used as micro-adjusting device to correct the timing frequency. The balance wheel was supported by a bridge with two fixed ends, this design was more stable than the cantilevered single bridge, its vibration frequency was 21,600 times per hour. There was an Incabloc® shock absorber near the balance wheel, free-sprung hairspring.

Panerai Jupiterium

Another two features of P.3000 movement were the polished bridges with rounded edges and the device for quickly adjusting the time: including the star wheel system with twelve adjusting points and a small spring clutch, which allowed the wearer to adjust the hour hand without affecting the activity of minute hand and the normal operation of the watch.

Panerai - The Military Spirit of Italian Navy

Founder: Giovanni Panerai

Year: 1860

Where: Florence, Italy

Wrist watch produced by Panerai with exquisite craft, strong military spirit and the distinctive style has been out of the limitations of military watch, became the grade quality timepieces sought by collectors, but also became pioneer of big watch fashion.

History of Panerai is unique, both hidden and terrifying, every Italian, and even the Europeans will be interested. Almost every watch emphasize their long-standing history, and how excellent the production process. But people who worn Panerai, not those royal family and nobles, but highlighted the danger of hero.
The journey of Panerai Watches and clocks manufacturing began at opening stores in the early 20th century Florence, Italy, but until 1938, the company began manufacturing the first watch. The watch uses Rolex movement, it is created specifically for the secret Department of the Navy design in Italian. In the second half of the 19th century, the company already became the supplier of the Italian Royal Navy to provide precision timing instruments.

The professional production makes the name of Panerai and sailing are inseparable, because of its specialized military purposes, Panerai measurements of space and time, quality and safety requirements are higher than general standards. Panerai company products for the Navy for torpedo launchers, including fluorescent mechanical calculator, scope, depth measuring instruments, compass, timer and underwater explosive. Through the accumulation of technology in this area, Panerai successfully build out a professional underwater watch for military, in fact, this is the first special waterproof watch used by diving forces.

Oversized dial and simple design created under the military background, welcome the trend of sports fashion today, special crown design makes the brand to accurately demonstrate in the low-key, small production is in line with the modern pursuit of individual characteristics. Today, if there are modern popular watch brands having full fever fashion seekers, that should be Panerai; If there are modern watch brand with the military watch demeanor and real pragmatists, that should be Panerai; If there are modern watch brands truly for men to wear, and can really show the masculine and masculinity but not too exaggerated and introverted, that also should be Panerai.
 
With design inspiration from the sea, Panerai brand for sports and leisure areas of high-grade watch. The Italian design style and the Swiss technical expertise, so that each watch has a distinctive brand of style and excellent quality.

Since the mid-19th century, after Panerai produced in Florence, this brand has been a representative of the military watch. You will understand why it is endurance just from the huge shape, the case design of Panerai is the most unique, the watchcase which seems square but round with a huge table to protect the device, making the whole looks like a rare flat oval which is very attractive.

Once Panerai was as the military secrets, and now position the brand for sports, leisure field of luxury watches. Panerai explain the art of time by the original method with the creative talent and enthusiasm for the process, and give the soul of sensibility for the daily use watch with the progress of design and using of outstanding materials. Every Panerai watch is integrated into advanced skills and knowledge of craftsmen, which is accompanied by coordinated and persistent feature, that is a symbol of senior watchmaking craft.

Panerai annual yield is very low, a total of not more than 3 million, but it is very famous for collectors. The annual output of Panerai has been controlled well, it is always a little more than the previous year, but always less than demand. If a retailer orders a certain number of a certain style, Panerai never completely supply them. Only after selling a watch, Panerai provide another one. In this case, the distribution of Panerai always remain "clean", there is no gray or secondary market. Panerai has 50 retailers in the United States and Canada, but Rolex has 800.

In the eyes of Panerai, great meaning of watch is on behalf of a person's philosophy and view of life, simple is the philosophy of life which is promoted by Italian brand. Panerai has always believed that there is beauty in the simple and existence of a real content. Although there are many complex parts inside the watch, but for users, it has to make them feel simple, easy and straightforward. Panerai surely reflect this idea. Take the appearance of Panerai as an example: People can always recognize Panerai at first sight, because of its particular huge dial, the disk is very clear and simple, that is a few simple figures. Compared to some very stylish watch, you might think it's too simple. However, this was not designed for the design, but design for the functions, insisting on today, it has become the distinctive and unshakable characteristics. Another example is its patented crown for the bridge, the function for the bridge is waterproof, another function is to fasten pointer, in case the indication is driven by other things, causing timing error. This is important, for the diver's watch and his life is closely linked. Why designed such a large dial and numbers, the reason is only like this can the driver wear outside the diving suit and read it convenience.

When you wear Panerai, people would exclaim: ah, so big! Yes, Panerai is so big, it will never change its style to cater to fashion. It will always be that way, will always be so big.