| Officine Panerai | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Watch Maker |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Headquarters | Florence, Italy |
| Industry | Watch Making |
| Products | Watches |
| Parent | Richemont International SA |
| Website | www.panerai.com |
Officine Panerai is a Italian watch brand owned by Richemont International SA. Its watches are currently manufactured in Neuchâtel, Switzerland with movements from ETA.[dubious ]
Contents |
History
Panerai was founded in 1860 in Florence by Giovanni Panerai (1825–1897). It later became the official supplier to the Royal Italian Navy and expanded to building precision instruments. The company is famous for its Radiomir and Luminor watches, notable for their use by Italian commando frogmen. The Florence-based watchmaker produced about 300 watches, all for the Italian Marina Militare, between 1938 and 1993.[1] By that time, the company ceased to provide watches to the Marina Militare, as they were no longer cost-effective. It then moved to launch its products to the civilian market, but remained relatively obscure until the actor Sylvester Stallone spotted and bought a Panerai Luminor in a jewellery store in Rome in 1995 to wear during shooting of the film Daylight.[1] Stallone ordered a small batch of such watches with his signature on the case back, called Slytech. He offered them as gifts to friends, including Arnold Schwarzenegger. The watch gained rapid popularity, and Officine Panerai was eventually taken over by Richemont in 1997. Among its famous watches, are the historic[vague] Radiomir series, in particular, the Base and the Black Seal Model which were deemed rare and unknown[dubious ] just a few years[vague] ago, but have become highly commercialized recently. Panerai's success with large watches has also led other companies to introduce larger watches, including Audemars Piguet, IWC and Swatch. Panerai issues Special Editions every year. In 2006 it issued the 1936 California Dial Radiomir special edition, a reissue of the first Panerai model ever presented to the Italian Marina Militare. This model was limited to a run of 1936 units. Aficionados of Panerai are known as "Paneristi", a term coined along the lines of "Ferraristi". When the contract between Girard-Perregaux and Ferrari expired a new partnership was signed with Panerai to develop, manufacture and distribute watches under the Ferrari trademark. A New York representative for the watch company has called Panerai the official timekeeper to Ferrari. These wristwatches, available in the US from early August 2006, have 11 models and cost between $5,300 and $26,500. Panerai Ferrari watches are divided into two collections: Granturismo and Scuderia.
Etymology of the surname Panerai
This surname Panerai is typical of the Florence (Firenze) area, and is rarely encountered elsewhere in Italy. It is most probably derived from the old word panieraio (or paneraio), a person who made bread baskets with osiers.[2]
People who like Panerai watches
Noted "Paneristi" (Panerai aficionados) include:
- Dan Ahdoot
- Pierce Brosnan
- Bill Clinton
- Hugh Grant
- Damien Hirst[3]
- Heidi Klum
- John Mayer[4]
- Brian Mulroney - Former Canadian Prime Minister [5]
- Greg Norman
- Dwayne Johnson
- Brad Pitt
- Orlando Bloom
- Wolfgang Puck
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Sylvester Stallone - Unofficial Ambassador
- Jason Statham
- Francisco Cabrera
- Ivo Sanader - Croatian Prime Minister
- Len Berman (WNBC New York Sports Anchor)
In the Media
Movies
In recent times Panerai has had its share of screen time. Some notable appearances include 1996
- Eraser (imdb) - Arnold Schwarzenegger wearing a Panerai Luminor Marina
- Daylight (imdb) - Sylvester Stallone wearing a Panerai Logo
2001
- Exit Wounds (imdb) - DMX wearing a Panerai Automatic Marina
- Bridget Jones's Diary (imdb) - Hugh Grant wearing a Panerai
2002
- The Transporter (imdb) - Jason Statham wearing a 40mm Panerai Luminor Automatic Chrono (PAM 74) on OEM Brown Alligator Strap with white stiching.
- Two Weeks Notice (imdb)- Hugh Grant wearing a Panerai
2003
- The Rundown (imdb) - Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson wearing a Panerai Pam 91 (discontinued)
- Hollywood Homicide (imdb) - Josh Hartnett wearing a Panerai Luminor Marina
2004
- After the Sunset (imdb) - Pierce Brosnan wearing a Panerai Pam91 (discontinued)
2005
- Transporter 2 (imdb) - Jason Statham wearing a Panerai Luminor Chrono Daylight 196 (44 mm)
- Elizabethtown (imdb) - Orlando Bloom wearing a Panerai Luminor 1950
2006
- Inside Man (imdb) - Clive Owen wearing a Luminor Model
- The Break Up (imdb) - Cole Hauser wearing a Radiomir, Keir O'Donnell wearing a Luminor.
2007
- Gridiron Gang (imdb) - Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson wearing a Panerai Luminor Submersible
- For Your Consideration (film) (imdb) - Christopher Guest wearing a Luminor
- Wild Hogs (imdb) - Tim Allen wearing a Luminor model. Martin Lawrence wearing a Submersible model.
Television
- Grey's Anatomy (imdb) - Dr. Preston Xavier Burke played by Isaiah Washington wearing a Panerai Luminor Chrono Daylight 196 (44mm) in the popular television series.
- CSI: Miami - David Caruso wearing a Panerai Luminor in the television series
- Criminal Minds - FBI Special Agent Derek Morgan, played by Shemar Moore seen wearing a blue-faced Luminor
Quotes
- "'I immediately felt when I saw the watch that it had star power' Stallone said. . . . 'Besides, it's perfect for people who are over 45 years old,' he added in reference to the ease of reading large-format watches."[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c David Prince, "Monster Watches: How a movie muscleman spawned a trend that bulked up the wristwatch", Cigar Aficionado.
- ^ Message by "Sagani", Behind the Surname forum. Sagani does not cite any source.[dubious ]
- ^ Interview, Dagens Næringsliv, November 9 2007.
- ^ John Mayer's blog at Honeyee.com
- ^ Seen in September 9 2007 interviews on CTV and TVA
References
- Men's Vogue, Fall 2005
External links
- Officine Panerai (Official web site)
- Panerai forum (Unofficial web site)
- Paneristi (Unofficial web site)
