Panerai - Talk to me
Discussion
Hi guys,
I'm hankering after a Panerai and every now and again (like this weekend just past) I venture into a Jewellers (Watches of Switzerland this weekend) to look and ponder over them.
I was looking at a 1950 3 days blah blah blah, think it was £6700.
What's the deal with Panerai's and where's the best place to buy them and the obvious question are any discounts available?
Many thanks
I'm hankering after a Panerai and every now and again (like this weekend just past) I venture into a Jewellers (Watches of Switzerland this weekend) to look and ponder over them.
I was looking at a 1950 3 days blah blah blah, think it was £6700.
What's the deal with Panerai's and where's the best place to buy them and the obvious question are any discounts available?
Many thanks
marmite watches and brand. Many seem to loathe them, and then you have the (very nice) paneristi.com loonies.
I've 2 a 44mm PAM177 Luminor and more recently a 47mm PAM514 Radiomir.
Really like them both.
Oh and once you get one, you may then start doing the 'strap thing' - which is a whole other world of mania
I'm not sure where to recommend you buy to get discounts. But certainly look at 2nd hand too.
I've 2 a 44mm PAM177 Luminor and more recently a 47mm PAM514 Radiomir.
Really like them both.
Oh and once you get one, you may then start doing the 'strap thing' - which is a whole other world of mania
I'm not sure where to recommend you buy to get discounts. But certainly look at 2nd hand too.
Google 'Panerai Brooklyn Bridge scandal' and you'll see why many people don't like Panerai. The company sold watches on the basis of having a special movement inside, when in fact they were fitted with quite poor quality movements. It was a big scandal at the time and Panerai's response only served to further damage trust in the brand.
Panerai isn't the only Richemont-owned brand that's taken the Mickey out of its customers. IWC's CEO is famous for his Ratner moment, when he was videoed describing his watches as "useless" yet "we can increase prices by 30% and people still buy them". He was quite boastful about the low cost of making an IWC watch vs. the increasingly high sales price.
Watch this video from IWC CEO Georges Kern
Panerai isn't the only Richemont-owned brand that's taken the Mickey out of its customers. IWC's CEO is famous for his Ratner moment, when he was videoed describing his watches as "useless" yet "we can increase prices by 30% and people still buy them". He was quite boastful about the low cost of making an IWC watch vs. the increasingly high sales price.
Watch this video from IWC CEO Georges Kern
Edited by SVS on Tuesday 8th July 14:53
Freakuk said:
Hi guys,
I'm hankering after a Panerai and every now and again (like this weekend just past) I venture into a Jewellers (Watches of Switzerland this weekend) to look and ponder over them.
I was looking at a 1950 3 days blah blah blah, think it was £6700.
What's the deal with Panerai's and where's the best place to buy them and the obvious question are any discounts available?
Many thanks
If serious I have a man that can help you I'm hankering after a Panerai and every now and again (like this weekend just past) I venture into a Jewellers (Watches of Switzerland this weekend) to look and ponder over them.
I was looking at a 1950 3 days blah blah blah, think it was £6700.
What's the deal with Panerai's and where's the best place to buy them and the obvious question are any discounts available?
Many thanks
SVS said:
Google 'Panerai Brooklyn Bridge scandal' and you'll see why many people don't like Panerai. The company sold watches on the basis of having a special movement inside, when in fact they were fitted with quite poor quality movements. It was a big scandal at the time and Panerai's response only served to further damage trust in the brand.
Panerai isn't the only Richemont-owned brand that's taken the Mickey out of its customers. IWC's CEO is famous for his Ratner moment, when he was videoed describing his watches as "useless" yet "we can increase prices by 30% and people still buy them". He was quite boastful about the low cost of making an IWC watch vs. the increasingly high sales price.
Wow! That's arrogance of a different order on both counts.Panerai isn't the only Richemont-owned brand that's taken the Mickey out of its customers. IWC's CEO is famous for his Ratner moment, when he was videoed describing his watches as "useless" yet "we can increase prices by 30% and people still buy them". He was quite boastful about the low cost of making an IWC watch vs. the increasingly high sales price.
SVS said:
Google 'Panerai Brooklyn Bridge scandal' and you'll see why many people don't like Panerai. The company sold watches on the basis of having a special movement inside, when in fact they were fitted with quite poor quality movements. It was a big scandal at the time and Panerai's response only served to further damage trust in the brand.
Not entirely correct (IIRC) - they were advertised as being a special edition for New York owners, the NY boutique or some such and had the Brooklyn Bridge engraved on the back. Of course one of the spods took the back off to find an undecorated base-spec movement; it was the correct movement that would have been expected in the watch, just without the level of finishing (and i assume regulation) one would expect. A shonky deal for sure and Panerai offered movement swaps for those who wanted them.It didn't help that to 'be sold the Brooklyn Bridge' is a saying that means you've been ripped off and people grabbed this to infer that Panerai had done it on purpose.
As posted above, Panerai is a Marmite brand; much of the 'Naval heritage' is simply made up, the designs aren't for everyone and they possibly started the fashion for much larger watches. But I have had my Radiomir 8 Days for almost 10 years now, the longest I have had any watch in my current collection. It is as near perfection with its twin-barrelled Jaeger-LeCoultre movement and timeless, simplistic design as any watch could get IMHO.
I also had a PAM 183 and PAM 25 with base spec ETA movements and both of them broke after I'd sold them on
My point therefore, is that not all PAMs are equal...
Bonefish Blues said:
Wow! That's arrogance of a different order on both counts.
It's unbelievable arrogance from the CEO of a major watch brand. Did you watch him saying it on video?TZ UK Forum said:
... surprised to hear a watch-company CEO publicly state that "...this is really the cost of the product and that is image" while using both hands to helpfully indicate with the use a small gap and a large gap between thumb and forefinger. (The large gap wasn't for the product.)
He also gleefully talks about how "people so desperately want these products" that "they're queuing... they're queueing" and is clearly delighted that "you can increase prices and still the people will buy it."
Kern then goes on to talk about how their Portofino line was weak, but it had a nice-sounding name so they had to invent a tale to go with it. Because of this and other types of fanciful "storytelling", "you can increase prices by 30% and you have no decrease of your volumes."
"And this is the beauty of our business."
It's an incredible video: well worth watching for anyone with the slightest interest in watches. It's not surprising how much debate it's sparked on TZ.He also gleefully talks about how "people so desperately want these products" that "they're queuing... they're queueing" and is clearly delighted that "you can increase prices and still the people will buy it."
Kern then goes on to talk about how their Portofino line was weak, but it had a nice-sounding name so they had to invent a tale to go with it. Because of this and other types of fanciful "storytelling", "you can increase prices by 30% and you have no decrease of your volumes."
"And this is the beauty of our business."
Edited by SVS on Tuesday 8th July 14:58
It's hardly a 'Ratner' moment though; comments and video were made 2 years ago and evidently no-one really cares 
I fully agree though, breathtaking arrogance and pisstaking that shopul;d have perhaps cost him hisjob. But what he is saying is hardly new info for anyone with any watch knowledge, but it's unkind to remind us quite how much we are all ripped off
I fully agree though, breathtaking arrogance and pisstaking that shopul;d have perhaps cost him hisjob. But what he is saying is hardly new info for anyone with any watch knowledge, but it's unkind to remind us quite how much we are all ripped off
Yep marmite but sometimes you've got to scratch the itch. Got a PAM196 Daylight which I picked up secondhand from a chap in the US on paneristi.com. Decent price which may see a slight profit if I choose to sell.
Buy secondhand rather than new if you're concerned about residuals but be careful as these are now well copied.
PAM233 GMT would get my vote. Iconic design 8 day manual movement with am/pm or moon dot. Hold their price well. Note they are BIG often a shirt cuff (even double) will struggle to cover it.
Buy secondhand rather than new if you're concerned about residuals but be careful as these are now well copied.
PAM233 GMT would get my vote. Iconic design 8 day manual movement with am/pm or moon dot. Hold their price well. Note they are BIG often a shirt cuff (even double) will struggle to cover it.
IWC and Pan both used ETA based movement - Pan the Soprod which is jazzed up ETA - either way the movements are a few hundred quid to buy - now try to justify the full asking price. Pan also have no history to speak of and are basically a 'marketing brand'.
You can get ETA based watches for about £300+
that said I have 2 PAN homages. 1 a custome made one to my specification with ETA movement. and a cheapy chinese plain face one that my son had and gave it back to me.
You can get ETA based watches for about £300+
that said I have 2 PAN homages. 1 a custome made one to my specification with ETA movement. and a cheapy chinese plain face one that my son had and gave it back to me.
sparkyhx said:
IWC and Pan both used ETA based movement - Pan the Soprod which is jazzed up ETA - either way the movements are a few hundred quid to buy - now try to justify the full asking price. Pan also have no history to speak of and are basically a 'marketing brand'.
That was true in the past, now Panerai make 3 in-house movements. They have also used JLC and vintage Angelus movements to name but two. 'now try to justify the full asking price' - that is the most naive thing I have read on here. You really think a stainless steel Patek Nautilus, even with its in-house movement justifies a 17k price tag? Or a Rolex Sub? Or any luxury brand?
sparkyhx said:
You can get ETA based watches for about £300+
What's your point? And..?sparkyhx said:
that said I have 2 PAN homages. 1 a custome made one to my specification with ETA movement. and a cheapy chinese plain face one that my son had and gave it back to me.
Ah, and there we have it. You have replicas. Thanks for clearing that up 
I have 4 Panerai's and I really like the brand and their customer service.
They keep excellent time, look great and really are conversation pieces.
You will always get an internet know all who will paste and cut Watch Snob from 2 years ago but watches are very personal, it you like it and enjoy wearing it then why care what other people think of them, I certainly dont.
There are a couple of people on the forum who seem to know how to get a discount, no doubt they will contact you.
Good luck with your purchase !
They keep excellent time, look great and really are conversation pieces.
You will always get an internet know all who will paste and cut Watch Snob from 2 years ago but watches are very personal, it you like it and enjoy wearing it then why care what other people think of them, I certainly dont.
There are a couple of people on the forum who seem to know how to get a discount, no doubt they will contact you.
Good luck with your purchase !
yeti said:
Ah, and there we have it. You have replicas. Thanks for clearing that up
Perhaps the last laugh is on Sparkyhx, because he's got mechanical watches with the desired look, without spending thousands. Sparkyhx hasn't been guillable when it comes to the kind of marketing so vividly described by IWC's Chief Exec.Those who are less susceptible to Veblen perhaps laugh at the rest of us.
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