Officine Panerai

There are a few basic issues.  

1. watches should not be made of brittle material.

2. if you make a watch out of ceramic, then design it for ceramic.

Panerai takes a shape suitable for steel and converts it directly to Ceramic.  These shapes do nothing to overcome the inherent weaknesses of ceramic.  The are large and lots of high edges and corners.  Whereas, a Rado ceramic watch was purposely designed for ceramics.  They designed their watches with a low profile, smooth lines and beveled edges.  They avoided anywhere that would take an impact and if it did hit something the impact would distributed be over a larger area.  There are no corners to chip or break.  This is why they have had been successful with ceramic.  Panerai designs do not take the material into consideration.  They are destined to to break if anyone wears them more then one a month.  They are by no way an everyday watch.

Another issue is my watch came with strap and normal buckle.  This setup also has a propensity for fumbles.  A deployable clasp is more suitable for a fragile watch.

The watch should come with a warning.  Do not drop or bump into anything or the repair will be 60 to 75% of the watches value.  Likewise watches have waterproof limits shown.  

When i bought mine i thought, okay if it breaks then maybe 2k or something, not the crazy amounts they charge me.  it was a real shock that i was not ready to see,

Another issue is they sell the same watch (same case), but with a cheaper movement for the same price as the new case for mine.  It is ridiculous that they can sell the same case with movement and all the trappings inclusive of the retail and manufacturing profits for the same price as just the same case they put on my watch.  

They are taking advantage of us on the cost the repairs and it is their design weakness that is the problem. 

Don't by a ceramic watch, if you plan on ever wearing it.  If you are planning on leaving it in the safe then it is okay to buy.

Edward

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