I remember a conversation with the brand’s CEO In early 2000’s, at the time Panerai had to project their future, the choice was between investing in marketing strategies or invest into a manufacturing plant. I proposed a different path, invest in a laboratory of ideas, gather ideas and resources and keep on providing functional watches, same as always…
I was replied, marketing is not an option because of the ‘complicated’ military background. Manufacturing our own movements will resonate to a larger network (greater sales). I replied this will be difficult to achieve, because I had learned from various Swiss connexions that it takes a minimum of 30-50 years to secure the good running of a movement… or maybe via La Grande Maison, JLC.
I am not surprised to read about this report, of course there was a shorter path to anyway force ‘success’ at the expense of the aficionados and good buyers, but this far is terribly bad!
Panerai in Firenze (watches and instruments) was about supplying solutions, a laboratory of ideas and resources, this was the spirit and the Panerai DNA, we expected nothing else and I am sure like most of us, all we want is genuine products!
Bad away this is a similar movement configuration than the Pre-Vendome Mare Nostrum with ETA and Dubois Depraz module, nothing new…
Periscope has struck again ;-) amassing works, thank you.