Officine Panerai

 

Over 500 FIVE HUNDRED references.

Why ?

Do we need 50 slightly different versions of the 111 ?  I don't think so. Do we need 16 new models at SIHH( 8 standard production and 8 limited editions). And even after SIHH, during the rest of the year we get a lot of EXTRA limited editions. Do wee needs boutique limited editions like the 41x ?

I'm affraid the market might become saturated soon.

Today we have 4 watches, being the Luminor, Radiomir, 1950 style and 372 style. Do we need 100 variations of every case ?

I mean, Rolex makes probably more submariners in 1 year than the total Panerai production. The submariner doesn't have 100 different variations.

Wouldn't it be better if we had 3 different Luminors, Rads, 1950's and 372's ?   And maybe 1 LE per year ?

 

For me it's just getting too much, I would prefer 'LESS IS MORE'

Especially since I have been collecting since 2001. My lowest number PAM now is a 27C. I had a PAM 2 up until last year. Of course many of these references are minor variants of other versions (how many 4xx Boutique Editions are there?), so development costs are minor. As they say, this is "the new normal".

There is nothing to think about, here. It is Panerai's favourite layground, and of course you already know that.

Best,

Nicolas

... oh sorry ... i meant the Peugeot 205 .. preferably a GTi ...

Including Diamond pieces, SL replica (26, 27, 28), instruments (like PAM 302) and all one piece SL (like tourbillon PAM 205), I exclude sets refs (like PAM 780, 783, 791)

I agree with you but hype on Panerai went down already since a couple of years. Don't take a reference forums and paneristis, check with dealers you know, they are a much better indicator. The zillion new models thrown to the market are supposed to pump it up. While what it does is melting the desirability and the power of the original design.

Boy did this thread strike a chord with you Fricks I'm kind of thinking this SE thing is way overdone and has ripping us off all over it, simply as most of them are ridiculous in style, etc. IMO, with pictures of places carved on the case backs, etc. Absolute marketing gimmicks!  As someone said, Bonati is a marketing genius.. That's exactly it!  It should not be about marketing, but about horology!  Is he taking thus route in a new non-ETA era?  Maybe.  A slim maybe!

... its possible to handle "mistakes", a few marketing tricks here and there, but within the limits 

is amazingly....missing. I enjoyed your quote.....

The 398 and 399 special editions are a 422 without the crown protector and with huge premium. Who can justify the price and the logic behind it? i can't wait to hear it.
end quote....

Don't worry about the 398-399, they are models made for people like....me. Go buy yourself a nice TUTTONERO....
Cheers

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....  what i should buy. 

...but you are certainly the right guy, Sergio...
...to ask about the 399.

I've tried to relate it to OP's vintage models and the best I could come up with so far is either:

A 6152 retro-fitted with an Angelus 240 SF & associated secs sub-dial and exhibition caseback. This was a popular practice with some (if not many) 3646 units that were brought in for repair work.
Alternatively, it's simply a 6152/1 w/o crown guard, aimed for the Italian combat swimmers (the crown guard normally only fitted for the rescue divers...).

Despite these suggestions, the missing "9" really brought my theories to a screeching halt... (for both the 399 and the 422)

a penny for your thoughts...

-Serge

about the no-9-small-seconds only models but the transitional (not quite an Egiziano Piccolo) flavour of this piece, plus the handsome Minerva movement makes it an intriquing model and, for my money, definetly a collector's piece.

accuracy? Firstly there are 5 "types" of models: Luminor, Radiomir, 1950 (btw the 372 IS a 1950), Mare Nostrum and Submersibles. Secondly, why not? The difference in references is very useful to Panerai when keeping track of mechanisms, spare parts etc The new "crowd" only gets to know 5 or 6 models (the ones they see in a boutique) anyway...IMO obviously..
Ciao

collectors even when it is a Radiomir or Luminors designed differently. To the untrained eye like me I am lost in some of the numbers and models which they call on their limited production pieces. Don't forget each piece is produced yearly to as many as 2,000 pieces only. Come next year a slightly different design will take place and maybe with different movements.

I know the 210, 111, 112, 000, 005, 232, 249, 372, 382, and the some nice pre-V or vintage pieces. Other than that, the rest I don't know. Cannot be compared to Rolex cos if they start producing variations of the Submariner or it's other famous tool range, I will stay away. Maybe being small, super branding ability, great marketing strategy, fanatical and almost cult-like brand as Panerai, they can afford to do so by giving its fans, variations of the essential models, it retains its popularity.

Nevertheless I still enjoy wearing my Panerai.

This message has been edited by KCKL on 2012-10-23 05:57:26

..... create a need to buy a new Panerai

 

 

of course we don't need 500 ref. but it's just a great way to be in the picture as often as possible by launching a new model that is only a fraction different

from an other ref.  For me personally the lust for Panerai has gone down since last year, I still like them but I don't feel the urge anymore to have the latest

model or LE's,  if I like the model I would still buy one but not at "any" price and certainly not at the speed of 2 price raises per year.

I love panerai, I love my 372....But it's ridiculous already.  Has turned me off actually to the brand.  Too many variations of the same thing over & over & over. I'm sure everyone is happy to hear this...One less person chasing the next hot LE!

That's the power of Panerai.  There's so much demand for their watches that they can make all these different variations.

Do I like all the variations?  No but I'm happy to see them so I can easily pick out which ones I'd like to buy.  If Panerai only made 5 models, that would be realllllly boring.

Cheers,
Anthony

Anthony, I agree with you completely, well said!

 

The more they are talks of Panerai the more PAMs are needed. 

In those 12 or so last years, we saw different approaches, different watches, different people too, but we have not seen less PAMs…

such as the PAM372 and other "clean" dial watches, then I don't see the harm in diversifying their collection to make other pieces to attract new customers.

That is how business works.  You continue to make product that your loyal customers want, and then you introduce new product to expand product offerings so you can show your investors growth. 

There are many examples of this - why you think Porsche made the Cayenne SUV?  Why did Apple just announce the new mini iPad? 

Cheers,
Anthony

It gives everyone an opportunity and when they sell no more

We discuss it on AP, on Hublot, here, and elsewhere.  While I understand many hardcore collectors wish a brand would only make a a handful of models in limited numbers, that is not a sensible business model.  It is like all of the people who complain about how much athletes get paid, yet they are the first in line to pay hundreds of dollars for tickets.  And then if a model is too rare or only sold through certain channels, we complain about that too.  It is all laughable to me.

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