Largest Panerai Store Opens In Asia Flagship Store...

Officine Panerai has opened its first Asian flagship store this month, taking up residence in a 120 meter-square boutique, which is the largest Panerai boutique in the world.

It’s located in the prestigious ION Orchard.

Thanks to Haute Living.com magazine

Panerai opens their first Boutique in Bangkok

Italian luxury watchmaker Officine Panerai yesterday officially opened its first boutique in Bangkok on the M level of Siam Paragon shopping centre. Flown in specially for the occasion was Angelo Bonati, CEO of Officine Panerai.

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/shopping/286498/simple-and-classical-italian-design

Panerai to open 15 new Boutiques in the next 12 months

Panerai to open 15 new Boutiques in the next 12 months focusing on Asia and the middle east.

As the superpowers and money of the world shifts to Asia and the Middle East, that is where Panerai feels that they can move a lot

Panerai Watches...For the first time in a few years

in a few years I must say that I really like some of the newer models from Panerai.

For a while I felt that things went off on a tangent but now I see it coming back with a more traditional lineup that showcases the roots of the brand.

I must admit that I get lost on some of the model numbers but there are quite a few that really look beautiful.

Just my 2 cents.

Elliot

Interesting trip to an AD........

In my travels this week I stopped into a large AD and was just browsing. A salesman came up to me and we chatted about Panerai watches, of course. He told me that he had a Pam 111 coming in for him this week. Then, he looked at the Panerai on my wrist and asked if it had a sandwich dial.

At this time 2 other salespeople came over and I told them that it didn't have a sandwich dial but it did have Tritium from the "A" series....and they had no idea what Tritium was.

Then they said they liked my strap and I took off my watch to let them see it close up and they said...."We have so many people stopping in for this type of strap and/or straps that are longer and they just can't find them."

I always find it interesting to talk with the people who talk with the people.

Elliot

Mario Paci Orologi PVD Watches...

New from Mario Paci. The First Edition, MARÒ.

Made in Firenze, Italy.
Rif. / Ref. MP08101
Matr. /Serial number: / 150
MARIO PACI OROLOGIO FIRENZE

Marò - Technical characteristics

CASE: - AISI 316L stainless steel, with PVD treatment (black color);
- case back screwed on the carrure, stainless steel, with gasket; reference and serial number engraved
- sapphire crystal, forced mounted on the carrure with interposed gasket
- stainless steel cone-shaped crown, screwed type
- fixing of the strap by screws and tube


MOVEMENT: ETA 2824, automatic, 11 1/2 lignes, 17 rubins, Incabloc antichoc, platine rodiate, ponti rodiati e decorati, monometallic balance wheel with 28.800 alternations/hour, 42 hours power reserve;
FUNCTIONS: hours, minutes and seconds.

DIAL: - brass, with black background, with 3 Arab numbers and luminescent indexes (Super LumiNOVA )
- brass hands, skeletal and with Super LumiNOVA for viewing in the dark

STRAP: Natural leather, with KODIAK repellent treatment, with stainless steel buckle PVD treatment, with MP trademark engraved

WATER-RESISTANCE: 10 Atm.

SIZES AND WEIGHT: - case diameter 44mm
- height 53mm
- width (carrube-crown) 48,5mm
- thickness: max 12,5mm
- weight 130 grams approx

Mario Paci creates a new style for his "Private Reserve"

Mario Paci has created a new style for his Tuscan "Private Reserve" leather.

With a 'no stitch' look that was so popular in the "Private Stock" model, the Private Reserve is updated to show the leather but use the stitching as both ornamental as well as structural.

This new creation is available in all the usual sizes at tcstraps and MarioPaci.com

Thank you

How many "New to Panerai" people have been experimenting with straps?

With all the new Panerai watches...including so many Radiomir's....in 44mm, 45mm and 47mm...do you find that you have been looking for straps to either dress up the watch or lean more towards Historic and vintage straps?

Also, how many of you find that you have started to wear your straps with a longer length so that you are sure to use both keepers and possibly see the "tail" when you look straight on at your watch dial?

I am seeing so many people switching around from Kevlar to alligator...from Alligator to Vintage...from OEM length to their actual needed length....

How many are diehard 'Deployant people' and how many have made the switch to a sewn in buckle?

We hear so many people who have Deployants but yet they say Deployants are uncomfortable. Also, the same folks have difficulty getting replacements straps at their Authorized Dealer and they find the selection quite limited in the after market arena.

This will be interesting to see how the trend is going relative to the newer Contemporary Panerai Models. Once people understand the History of Panerai I think we will see more and more of them switching to the Vintage styles.

Thank you.

Elliot

Numerals on Panerai Watch dials...

Q: Why is the Arabic numeral “6” different from one Pam to another?

A: The simple/short answer, with only a few exceptions, is that the “open 6” is representative of Historical Pams [112, 111, et al], whereas the “closed 6” is representative of Contemporary Pams [104, 123 et al].

Furthermore, the Historicals are open, we presume, because of the early usage of the sandwich dial that had actual "cut outs" to allow the luminous material to be visible. The 113 and other white dials are one exception to the Historical/Contemporary rule—there is not historical precedence for a white dial, and therefore we presume they all use the “closed 6.”

Hoping to clear up some of the confusion of watch straps....

....Time Connection has dedicated this Blog to information and education on the leathers, production and selling of watch straps for Panerai.

Everyday, so much happens and more and more options turn up to accesorize you Panerai with a new Panerai Strap or Aftermarket Fine leather strap.

We will discuss Panerai Straps, their origin and their workmanship as well as the same for any and all Aftermarket straps for Panerai that are available.

And, just to make it a bit more interesting we will have options for you to get the straps we talk about at a terrific discount...just for readers of this Blog.

So pull up a chair and stay around awhile and let's have some fun looking at the Wonderful World of Panerai Straps...or is it Straps for Panerai.

Regards

Our new TC Straps website

I am please to announce that we have opened our newest website: Time Connection

We have added such items as a "Wish List"..."One Page Checkout"...Order History upon Log-in"...and much more.


So, stop on in and see all the new offerings or stop back here and we will keep you posted.

Thank you

Panerai SIHH 2010

It's that time of year again...

SIHH is coming and all the new arrivals start showing up that will be presented at this year's show.

It looks like Panerai is going, at least a somewhat, back to its roots with some of the new models. Using their in-house movements we see so many variations of the Luminor Marina which has been a staple in the Panerai watch line.

Yes, there are some strange models like the new Mare Nostrum but overall we could see a trend of Panerai going back to basics...and that would be great.

Thank you

Has Panerai has deliberately veered away from its history..

...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........

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?

1. Leather from the 1930's originally used on straps for Panerai Watches

2. Made in the same Factory as the OEM straps for Panerai from 1938 to 1997

3. The same leathers used on the Vintage watches such as the ORIGINAL California dial watches

4. Made is the same style as the Straps in 1938 with oversized keepers, open buckle slots and more

5. GPF-MOD Flat buckle reproduced to look like the Originals

6. Certificate of Origin signed personally by Mario Paci, former Chief Engineer of Panerai, compare the signature to the libretto's of the Pre-V watches.

7. A true collector's piece of the wonderful history of Panerai








A Mario Paci strap is simply the best. Quality, workmanship and History like no other.


Thank you


Elliot

Good news!...Giovanni e Figlio® is now officially a Registered USPTO trademark

...for use on straps and leather....it now joins Mario Paci Straps® as Registered Trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark office......

Thank you

E

Visit TC Straps for the largest selection of straps for Panerai Watches

Mario Paci.com for the Finest Hand Made straps in the world!

The "A" series.....renewed interest by more people....

....Panerai are realizing that there is so much history to the brand.

From its roots in Florence Italy in 1860...to the start of watchmaking in the 1930's to the rennaissance of the company under Col. Dino Zei and the watches of the early 1990's...people see that the original "Richmont" pieces from 1997-1998 are the "Pearls in the Oyster."


Because tritium was allowed to be used in those years, we have dials that show the true dials and replicate the watches of yesteryear.

The "A" and "B" series are starting to take off AGAIN.....the first time, after the initial offering, was back in 2003-4 when they jumped considerably as the marketplace grew faster than the Original Production.

Now I see it happening again. The logo's (5218-201A) have reached mid $30K.....the PVD Pam 9A (only 200 pieces) are now at $17,000. The 2A which is the SS shiny version of the 9A (well, you know what I mean as I think the 9a is totally fantastic) has reach upwards of $12K.....the 1A is a ways back but statrting to pick up steam as it has gone through the $7-8K range and, IMHO will be a $9k by Springtime.

Why? Supply and demand is the obvious catch phrase. And, yes, the marketplace determines the value of each series. So I guess it is safe to say with so many more people understanding the Value of these collector's items in addition to those who already are in the know...il Conoscenti, the prices will only go higher and higher and higher......

Just ask the people who purchased the Panerai Logo watch 3 years ago for $11,000.

Thank you

Elliot

Why do so many of us like handwind Panerai....

....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

Euro's, Dollars and Panerai......

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!

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