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Appeal of Panerai?

dopey

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What i sthe appeal of Panerai watches? This i not a knock on them, as I understand people like things for different reasons. I personally don't understand why they are interesting or attractive or otherwise worthwhile. But there must be something to it. Or is it just that you either get it or you don't, and I don't?
 

Cary Grant

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Might want to try that question in this thread: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=82211

smile.gif
 

braised

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Dopey, Panerai is a classic military watch with more design appeal than many German, Swiss or US watches of similar antecedent. The watch designs go right back to the second world war, perhaps earlier, I'm not a student of watches. The design is simple - uncluttered field, large numbers, luminous indicators - which makes them ideal for field use in low light.

Personally, I find the watches too large, but they are exemplars of good industrial design IMO. they are the horologic equilavent to the red stripe down the leg of the carbinari - bold.



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TheFoo

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I like the playful straightforwardness of the dial layout and case design. While the watches are bold due to size, the execution of the details is very fine and almost painfully simple. The curves of the Radiomir case are particularly pretty.

Of course, I hate almost all of the non-basic models.
 

voxsartoria

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What history explains the scale of the watch?

Am I correct in recalling it had something to do with being worn around outerwear?

- B
 

TheFoo

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Originally Posted by voxsartoria
What history explains the scale of the watch?

Am I correct in recalling it had something to do with being worn around outerwear?

- B


It had to be worn over a diving suit, but that would only have required a longer strap. The real cause for the size was that it had to be large enough to be clearly read underwater and withstand a lot of water pressure.
 

braised

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This history of military watches is that of utility. Solid casings house and secure mechanisms, even providing some magnetic shielding - remember panerais are mechanical watches. Large, uncluttered dials are easy to read; an asset in low light. The curves in all directions manage the profile of the watch so that it does not catch or snag. Call them what you will, the design aspects are all utilitarian.

The genius of the italians is to make the whole dynamic and harmonious, not bland like scandinavian design or compromised like french (think deux chevaux).

Seriously, they are great pieces of design and the indivual elements very are very finely wrought.

Taken as a whole, they just come out too large for me every time I try one. Kind of bums me out.
 

TheFoo

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Originally Posted by dopey
Interesting. Does the movement fill the large case?

Not in all cases. In the basic, time-only models, a pocket watch movement is used (an ETA ebauche)--this definitely fits. But in some of the upper-middle models that have complications (power reserve, chronograph, etc.), regular sized movements are used, leaving lots of space.
 

gdl203

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Well... how do you explain the appeal of a design? Hard task. It's appealing to me because I like the designs of the historic Marina and Radiomir watches.

As Stevie said, isn't she lovely?

DSC_0211.jpg
 

braised

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TJ, thats too simple, at worst they might be clumsy. they are serious piece of kit, perhaps too much for you to accept.
 

gdl203

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Rolex movement, Panerai case and dial design.
 

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