Officine Panerai

AnthonyTsai
[PuristS]
22366

• Show profile
• Show other posts

PuristSPro Panerai dinner events in LA & NYC write-up

What is it about Panerai which makes many of us drool?  Why does strapping on a Panerai feel "good"?  And why don't I get this same feeling when I strap on a watch from another brand?  What is Panerai's allure?  I think it's safe to say that all of us who attended our recent New York City (Sep 8, 2011) and Los Angeles (Sep 15, 2011) dinner events know the answer.  Panerai's collector community is unique and unlike any other.  When you buy a Panerai watch, not only do you get a watch but you also get the opportunity to meet fascinating people who share the same vibrant passion.  And what's unusual is these new people you meet generally are all people who you get along with very well in real life.  There's something about Panerai which brings people together of all different color, religion, and culture. 

The primary objective of our recent LA and NYC dinner events was to showcase the new SIHH 2011 watches - to let our guests touch, feel, drool , and strap on the watches.  And at the same time, let our guests not only associate a face with a screenname but to let us all bond together, strengthening our passion for both Panerai and horology.  For our NYC event, we all met up at the NYC Panerai Boutique on Madison Ave.  Even though this was the 1st time I've visited the NYC Boutique even though it's been open for quite some time, when I walked in, I immediately felt at home since the layout and look is very much almost identical to that of the Beverly Hills Boutique.  The only thing different was the faces of the Boutique staff.  Below are some pictures of the store facade.

Below are the curvy wall displays just like at the BH Boutique.  And btw, sorry for the pixelated pictures.  I forgot to bring my DSLR flash attachment, so all the pictures were taken at high ISO. 

 
Even though I woke up at 2am that day to catch the 6am flight to NYC to land a few hours prior to the event, I was feeling energized and ready to meet and greet my fellow PuristS.  Many of the people who attended this NYC event were PuristS virgins attending their 1st PuristS event, so I was preparing my brain to begin remembering faces since I have a horrible memory when it comes to remembering people's names.  I'd say maybe 2/3rds of the people attending were people I've never met before, so we had a great turnout for this event.  It's always great to see new faces at our events because it demonstrates to me and my fellow PuristSPro team that our dedication and hard work is making a positive impact in the world of horology.  The first guests begin to arrive ...

 
Drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served.  It was a hot and humid day in NYC, so a glass champagne quelled my thirst as I began introducing myself and mingling with all the guests one by one.

Guests were trying on the new watches and asking questions to the Boutique staff.  A wonderful staff led by Boutique Manager Sharif Abdelfattah (sorry forgot to take a picture of him). 

 

Hmm...is this a watch with the new P.3000 in-house movement with 3-day power reserve?  Notice how large the movement is?  It looks like the movement was made for the case, instead of vice versa, which is a huge delight for me to see.

Yes it is!  It's the highly anticipated PAM372 47mm Luminor Base.  Sexy in all its might, this PAM372 oozes everything Panerai.  Hands down, I consider this piece to be the hottest and best piece of the entire SIHH 2011 collection.  And what's great is this piece is a regular production piece so everyone will be able to enjoy it instead of a limited few.

Panerai's look great on the wrist don't they?

Is that a 60mm PAM341 Radiomir Egiziano I see on a PuristS' wrist in the below picture?  Wow people actually do wear their PAM341's outside the house.  Amazing and I like it!  This PuristS and Panerai North America President Rafael Alvarez (on very left) are having a fervent conversation! 

After an hour and a half at the Boutique, we head over to Rothmann's which is a popular steakhouse in midtown.  Spectacular food each and every time I ate there when I used to live in Manhattan, so I was very much looking forward to a great meal.  And furthermore, the only thing I ate that day was a McDonalds sausage mcmuffin and hashbrown at the airport at 5am!

We all sit down at the table and chat for another 30 minutes as we wait for everyone to make their way from the Boutique to the restaurant.  Below is a picture of the menu for the night.  Looks like we are all in for a real treat!

After everyone settles in, I give some opening words as well as Panerai President Rafael Alvarez (below is a very brief video).

The TV on the wall played various Panerai videos throughout the evening. 

And now for the food pictures.  I won't bother describing each course as the pictures speak for themselves.  This dinner menu was probably the best menu we've ever had of all the PuristS dinners I've helped organize over the past years, and thanks once again to Panerai for this great meal.  Wine was great too!

The SIHH 2011 watches made their way from the Boutique to the restaurant and were passed around from table to table throughout the entire meal.  The Panerai virus was slowly inching its way around the room and infecting those who currently did not own any Panerai's.  Resistance is futile, and I'm positive many will be purchasing their 1st Panerai by the end of the year. We Panerai owners are very convincing and make great brand reps! 

The dinner was all about community and getting to know your fellow PuristS.  At my table, we chatted about everything from which hot clubs to visit in NY during the rest of my stay here, which Panerai we're eyeing, and even about men's grooming .  The comradery forged amongst the guests throughout the night was well evident and priceless.  I definitely am looking forward to meeting the NY PuristS again hopefully at another event next year!

 

Now onto our Los Angeles event a week later on Thursday September 15, 2011.  Since this is our 3rd annual Panerai SIHH collection dinner event, Panerai suggested we change the format up this year.  Normally we would have our cocktail reception inside the Beverly Hills Boutique like what we did in the NY event above.  And then head on over to a restaurant nearby.  We wanted to make this year's event more intimate and had a total of 28 people including staff.  Prior years were between 35-40 total people, so as a result, we had a huge waitlist for this LA event.  I apologize to those who were highly interested in attending this year, but hopefully you'll be able to attend next year's event.

And so, this year we held the event at the private club SOHO HOUSE on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood. Below is the private dinner room that we booked with a max seating capacity of 28.  I snapped a few pictures while the room was empty before heading off to another room down the hall where we will have our cocktail reception. 

Here's the lovely view of LA from our dining room.  Looks even more amazing when it's night time!

 
Table settings with name place cards.

I head on over to the cocktail reception room down the hall which was perfect for our reception.  Panerai had 3 small displays cases setup which acted as our "teasers" for the SIHH 2011 collection.  No SIHH 2011 watches were passed around the room during the reception as the primary goal for the reception was to let the guests mingle amongst themselves and to get to know each other.  This also gives Rafael the chance to meet all the PuristS collectors whom he hasn't met before.  Great idea by Panerai and perfect for community building. 

Below is the infamous heavy and huge Panerai coffee table book. 

The first guests arrive, and the waitstaff did a superb job with getting everyone wine and champagne.  Sorry I didn't take any pictures of the hors d'oeuvres, but they were excellent especially the tender filet mignon strips served on skewer sticks. 

Everyone's having a great time!  Below is Panerai West Coast Sales Director Karl Poulson (on left) talking to a fellow PuristS.

All the guests arrive, and so we migrate over to the dining room.  Several women were even wearing Panerai's!  Now where are those men who keep posting "I can't wear a Panerai because it's too big for my wrist."  If a lady can wear one, you can do!  Man up!    

What needs to be changed is not your wrist size but the perception in your mind!


 


 

 





 
Here's an aerial view of our room.  Beverly Hills Boutique Manager Chad Warrick graced our presence along with his great staff - Tanya, Marcel, and Jason. 

Below is the menu for the night as well as pictures of each course. 


 

Here's the PAM373 which is the 47mm Radiomir 3 Days Platinum with a faint brown colored dial.  Looks fabulous on the wrist, and the weight on the wrist is sublime!  An awesome piece and definitely one to see in the flesh.












Here's the PAM373 along with the PAM379 which is a 47mm Radiomir in rose gold housing the new in-house P.3000 3-day movement.  Which dial variant do you prefer?

Below is a model which hasn't gotten much chatter which is the PAM345 44mm Luminor 1950 Monopusher Chronograph Destro in titanium.  Dial is the faint brown dial just like in the above PAM373. 



Here's the PAM382 47mm Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days automatic in bronze aka "Bronzo".  Another star of the SIHH 2011 collection, the Bronzo has a faint green colored dial and houses the P.9000 movement.  The bronze will develop a darkened patina over time which makes the case look even more beautiful.  Fits great on the wrist, and the brown strap is a perfect match.






A trio of 47mm bad boys - from left to right - PAM371 Regatta Submersible, PAM382, and my PAM203.









Here's the PAM384 45mm Radiomir Black Ceramic which houses the P.2002 8-day movement.






Another star of the SIHH 2011 collection is the below PAM375 47mm Luminor 1950 Composite which houses the P.3000 movement.  Those who were waiting for the Luminor version of the PAM339 will be happy with this composite model.

All in all, each of our 2 events in NYC and LA had different formats but with the same objective - to teach our fellow PuristS about Panerai and to share our common goal of learning more about watches and each other.  We are lucky to have such an enthusiastic community and a great brand who believes in us.  Thank you Panerai for hosting these 2 dinners with the PuristS community, and I wish you the best of luck with the new SIHH 2012 collection which is only a few months away.  I am sure you will amaze us all again!

Passion. Opinion. Information.

Cheers,
Anthony