 | Most Recent Posts Has Panerai has deliberately veered away from its history...Posted Feb-02-08 20:36:52 PST ...and headed towards what I have called in the past the "Cartierization" of the brand?
Is this bad?.....
Well, not necessarily. For a long while, Panerai buyers either bought and then got into the history OR got into the history and the purchased their Panerai. After this first step, with the help of Panerai Enthusiast forums, all of us dived right in to the Brand, History, lessons and nuances of these prized watches. The hunger for information led to so many of the Negretti books, the Zei books and much of the information in the reference sections of Viapaneristi.com.
People like Mario Paci and Fabrizio Ciampi lived this history and were able to pass down this wonderful knowledge. With the changes in the marketing of the brand, after Richmont established it presence as the new owner, Panerai went after the Macro instead of the Micro and this is why we have seen so many new Panerai Enthusiasts...as well as seeing the brand go more "upscale" in pricing but more available in supply. As the prices increase with very little change in the production, they are now on par with so many other brands. Do they have too many models? Well, I for one have trouble keeping up with all the new model numbers but that is my problem and not the Company's headache. When I see a Pam 183, 190 (yes, I know about the movement), 232, 287, 210 and 268 there can be confusion but each one has a subtle difference whether it is date or Base, Power Reserve or GMT etc, etc.
So while there are so many models compared to what we had just a few years ago, it is quite obvious that the "New to Panerai Enthusiast" has found the beauty of this watch and brand appealing and has broadened the scope to more corners of the earth than ever before. Panerai Watches are still quite unique, still have their history, still enable you to change the look with so many strap choices readily available, 350 Authorized Dealers spread worldwide...it's a beautiful thing. Now we have the Vintage, Pre-Vendome, "A" "B" watches for one segment of the audience and the New Models with variations on a theme (sorry Eric Satie)to quench the thirst of those coming to the brand in 2008.
Thank you
Elliot
True History of Panerai in a strap........Posted Dec-22-07 20:21:46 PST Updated Dec-22-07 20:28:42 PST Mario Paci Special Edition...1938 "Productione Originale" You can't find a strap for Panerai watches that is any more Historic than this Special Edition from Mario Paci.....why?
A Mario Paci strap is simple the best. Quality, workmanship and History like no other. Thank you Elliot Why do so many of us like handwind Panerai....Posted Nov-29-07 19:50:54 PST Updated Dec-17-07 19:32:51 PST ....because that is what we first learned about Panerai and the history of the brand. We think back to the Marina Militaire, Dino Zei, Mario Paci, Mrs. Panerai, Decima Mas, La Spezia, and so many other historical names and places that we learned about when we got into the brand. I believe that Panerai as a company has decided to get away from the remarkable history during the "Cartierization" of selling a watch that can be thought of as more of a trend than a historical diving watch.....or in the case of the Mare Nostrum, officer's watch. It is due to this "Cartierization" that the newer Contemporary models have become the models of choice TODAY but, as long as the flame stays alive, many people will learn to understand what got us to this point in time and they will take a hard look at the "timeless" pieces of the Historical Panerai Brand. Elliot www.tcstraps.com 1.877.34.WATCH Mario Paci.com for the Finest Hand Made straps in the world! Euro's, Dollars and Panerai.....Posted Nov-09-07 21:00:28 PST Every day we see the Euro going up and the Dollar going down. As I write this the USD is $1.46 for each Euro. An all time high (err low?) We know that European companies base their revenue on their currency but to raise prices to lessen the shortfall also reduces the amount of product sold. Mercedes has absorbed the price differential to a certain degree. Companies like Nestle, Volkswagen, Siemens, Ing and so many more have had a rough 2006/7. They may find revenue has gone up but costs have increased more rapidly. Luxury goods conglomerates like Richmont, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennesey can raise prices only so much without affecting the amount of goods they can move. Their production machines may be able to turn out more product than the market place can absorb. Funneling on down to the watch market that we Enthusiasts enjoy every day changes the paradigm for so many as their watches become out of reach "OOR" with each and every price increase. Science says that water finds its own level. What axiom fit the watch market if the economy of many nations slows down and discretionary income decreases dramatically? Let's hope that every thing settles down. That the housing market and mortgage problems turn around and we again find ourselves pursuing the next purchase of our beloved watches. Panerai Enthusiasts.....the New Breed!Posted Sep-07-07 16:03:58 PDT Updated Dec-17-07 19:31:51 PST It is good to see so many new "faces" enjoying the Wonderful World of Panerai watches. I remember back when I received my first Panerai and was looking forward to all the straps and accessories: Panerai Watch Box, Ships, Maile Subs, Watch Straps, Buckles. Each day was a new adventure as to what I would learn and the people I would meet. It took a short while to learn the history of the brand and wondered why it took so long to catch on to this Panerai Watch Lifestyle. There were so many "Pioneers" that got in early and wore Pre-Vendome Panerai and even some that bought the A/B series after Richmont took over the brand. One of my biggest fears is that with all the Contemporary models that have hit over the past couple of years the "New Faces" will not invest the time to learn about what brought all the Panerai Enthusiasts up to this point in time deep in History dating back to 1860. One thing I have seen is the thirst for straps as people see how much fun it can be to change the look of a watch or the look of an outfit just by changing the strap on their Panerai. Very few watches lend themselves to the ease of changing straps as well as the assortment of leathers available to Dress Up or Dress Down each individual's Panerai. I guess every hobby has its "Passages" (sorry for that Gail Sheehy) and I see us going through one right now as the cycle continues for one group and just begins for another. Regards Elliot Mario Paci.com for the Finest Hand Made straps in the world! The Best Choice for Watch Straps…..Time Connection…Posted Jul-16-07 20:18:40 PDT Updated Jul-17-07 22:23:34 PDT Of course, you have a choice when is comes to buying watch straps for your Panerai and other fine watches. Here are some very good reasons why Time Connection should be your first and last stop when you accessorize your watch.
We have held the line on pricing…why?
You can only buy brand new Mario Paci, Giovanni e Figlio, Toscana Straps, Officine Firenze by Mario Paci straps from Time Connection or in the UK, from Watch Obsession. Get the best…the best Leather, the best Construction, the best Inventory and the best Price. Thank you ElliotThe Closest thing to FACTORY DIRECT.....TC Straps......Posted Jul-13-07 18:51:11 PDT What are you buying today when you order a strap? Yes, there are a few Individual strap makers that put out a few straps a day/week and produce some nice straps. But what about straps for all size wrists and all size watches? Let's look at the facts:
At Time Connection, we are the factory and our prices have remained the same regardless of where the Euro has climbed to. Why have we held the line?
We are straps. That is all we do. Why settle for the same old thing or overpriced goods due to Dollar fluctuations. Why not buy straps for Panerai that are Contemporary Legends. Elliot The Officine Panerai Logo..the True meaning by Eng. Mario Paci<more>Posted Jul-10-07 15:54:23 PDT The Logo OP represents the stylised beginning letters O and P of Officine Panerai name, but not only. Do you know which is the meaning of the two arrows, one towards up and one toward down? It's very simple and intuitive. Officine Panerai, since the origins and up today, has been always specialist in manufacturing underwater products and landing aid systems. The firsts (wrist watches, compasses, depth-meters, tank level probes, mechanical timers for underwater mines and many others) were used under the sea. The seconds (Deck landing systems, Helipad lighting systems, Portable landing systems) were used on surface, for those arriving from the sky. Here is explained the meaning of the two arrows: the one toward down shows the underwater products, the one toward up shows the products for who arrives from the sky. The OP Logo was born at the beginning of years 1980, designed by an Architectural Office of Florence and, in the first drafts, had a rounded form; Eng. Zei (CEO of Officine Panerai since 1972 until 1999) did not like this Logo, so as it was designed. Then, Eng. Dino Zei, together with the Officine Panerai Technical Department responsible, had the idea for this definitive version (here described) adding the two stylised arrows. The OP Logo has been sold to Cartier, at that time Vendome group on 1997, with the watches- torches-compasses and depth-gauges brand, the patents, the original drawings and all the watches store. Since 1997 the old Officine Panerai changed its name into Panerai Sistemi SpA. On 1999 the Panerai Sistemi has been sold to Calzoni of Bologna, that absorbed all its industrial and productive activities. At present (2004) Panerai Sistemi is a brand of Calzoni Srl, utilized for all ex-Panerai products. Cartier, now Richemont group, has never utilized the OP Logo until the end of the 2003 when it appears on the special edition for collectors of the Luminor Marina 44mm (PAM 195), on the dial and on the case-back and, subsequently, on the crowns of the new Radiomir 45mm 8 Days (PAM 190 and 197) and Black Seal (PAM 183) models, more another limited edition of the Luminor and L. Marina models, alls introduced during the 2004. By Eng. Mario Paci Why you can't just get ANY leather strap for your Panerai watch..Posted Jun-29-07 08:30:08 PDT With so many straps
to choose from in the marketplace, how do you know that the strap you
are buying is what it is stamped on the back? I recently saw some made in Atlantis in France but they were stamped Italy. Some of the straps made in China use either leather from China or some use leather from Italy. But what about the workmanship of these straps? My point is that when you spend good money for a strap for your Panerai you should know what to look for so you get what you pay for. Genuine Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather....what it is..... Vegetable tanned leather is leather which has been treated exclusively with tannic extracts according to a slow-tanning procedure that leaves the natural features of the leather intact. The result is leather that is warm, soft and extremely durable, perfect for the production of quality leather straps. Its exceptional qualities actually improve with time and this makes vegetable-tanned leather the ideal material for High Quality items that need to last beyond seasonal fashion trends. It is also perfect for many casual-looking accessories in that it is strong and resistant and reminiscent of the elegance of those used by the beginning of the century (1900 not 2000). The creativity of the vegetable-tanned hide is evident as it produces leather in its purist form. Therefore, the creation of the quality Italian made leather watch strap, has the "tactile" qualities and the warm nuances that ONLY vegetable-tanned leather can give. Sometimes replicated but never duplicated...real leather from Italy. Thank you Elliot Welcome to E's Panerai Blog....Posted Jun-08-07 22:46:46 PDT This Blog will share my thoughts on the world, the world of Panerai
watches and the wonderful world of straps for Panerai. There is so much to discuss that I hope to share some thoughts that will educate, inform, astound, delight and entertain you...You may agree with some or you may not. These are my notes on a scorecard from a daily perspective of life and life with Panerai Enthusiasts plus new and exciting ideas from www.timeconnection.biz So, welcome to E's Panerai Blog...pull up a chair and stay awhile and we'll have some fun. Thank you E |
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