Don’t Buy Panerai – It’s A Dead Brand Walking

[Phil G]

A good read and some interesting links from article.

Don't Buy Panerai - It's A Dead Brand Walking - The Truth About Watches

Jose Pereztroika is Panerai’s public enemy number one. Jose has done more to damage the Swiss-masquerading-as-Italian watch brand’s reputation than anyone – save Panerai itself. If Jose didn’t publicly pillory Panerai, no one would. The profoundly corrupt horological press ignores Jose’s...

thetruthaboutwatches.com

Jose Pereztroika is Panerai’s public enemy number one. Jose has done more to damage the Swiss-masquerading-as-Italian watch brand’s reputation than anyone – save Panerai itself. If Jose didn’t publicly pillory Panerai, no one would. The profoundly corrupt horological press ignores Jose’s exposés.

 

[mrsullivan]

 

[p0pperini]

I love https://perezcope.com/ - I've spent far more time reading his exhaustively researched articles than I've spent on any other watch site.

 

[Grapeshot]

The burning question is whether the rep versions will retain the hacking seconds against the convention of faithful replication? Imagine all the gen customers scouring the forums for a rep version of their downgraded gen.

 

[Hesekiel]

I'm a huge fan of Jose's Web site http://www.perezcope.com and personally consider him the leading forensic horologist in vintage Panerai and probably Rolex watches as well. That man can dissect a watch to a degree that is simply mind-boggling. Since he reveals all the hoki-poki that has happened to vintage watches that brought in some cases almost a million dollar at auction, he is of course enemy # 1 of the Paneristi establishment and auction houses like Antiquorum. I've learned more about vintage watches from his Web site than anywhere else. If you are planing of building or having build or buying a Panerai 3646, 6154, 6152 1, or Rolex 6536 or 6538 or vintage Daytona, you can't make a better investment than reading everything he wrote first.

 

[justinb491]

I still love them as a watch, just could never bring myself to buying one. I wanted the carbotech Luminor badly. I have tried a few reps and just was not the same. Maybe one day

 

[Hesekiel]

We are all different people, of course, but with the sole exception of the Bronzo, "modern" Panerais do nothing for me. (To be fair, the same applies to most Rolex watches.)

Vintage Panerais are for the most part Rolex watches, with Rolex cases and Rolex movements, branded Panerai to give the illusion of "Italian Made" due to the powers at work during WWII and the time period thereafter. In fact, the sterile dial 3646 was entirely made by Rolex.

Pre-Vendome Panerais are the first "real" Panerais, and they are interesting in themselves as they are the first Panerai watches made for the civilian market, powered by Swiss ETA movements. What came later, when the Richmond watch empire was in full swing, used to be uninspiring at first, and has become appalling in the past few years under current management. Panerais glory lies in its past, in its fascinating history deeply grounded in war-torn Europe, the Nazis, and the friendship between Giovanni Panerai and Hans Wilsdorf.

 

[muiramas]

Imagine all the gen customers scouring the forums for a rep version of their downgraded gen.

Happened already with the PAM0318

 

[speedomega]

Interesting read. I find Panerais polarizing in a way I don't feel about other brands. Never wanted to own one despite liking the overall design of theirs.

 

[mrsullivan]

No other brand raises such an endless debate. All we can agree on is Panerai is fascinating. It built its present fame upon its past history, and was brought to luxury by the will of its own fans, despite scandals ("I have a bridge to sell in Brooklyn", LOL) and recent weird moves (38mm Pams, really ?). Does the Pam transition between tool purpose and precious jewellry works ? Not sure. Is it worth buying a PAM nowadays ? Not sure, but still thinking about it.
IMO it fails on technical and inspirational levels, but it keeps an unbeaten aura when it comes to design and impact upon horology culture.

Panerai is the perfect example of a "to love and hate" brand, Perezcope materializes this while Paneristis blindly defend the brand. Its a fun and welcomed debate. Hell I love Panerai !

 

[muiramas]

Gotta love Panerai. Admittedly it’s a lot easier to to in rep club. Would be easier still if VSF came back to the party.

Panerai just don’t gaf. Screw you Sylvester. They don’t pander to celebrities or the watch press, and they shamelessly turn out expensive watches with cheap movements, while their peers shamefully turn out expensive watches with cheap movements.

Give me that 44mm full gold fly back chronograph Panerai.

 

[derjenigewelcher]

@JayBee0815

 

[Keylog74]

My guess is that most of the “love” for the forensic detective work he does is somehow connected to peoples membership on this forum.

I well know how Perez started his “career “ and how he is more tied up to fakes than whoever he ever spoke about.

 

[Hesekiel]

I well know how Perez started his “career “ and how he is more tied up to fakes than whoever he ever spoke about.

Of course he knows Panerai replicas inside and out. He has walked the walk from the beginning all the way to the end.

 

[lost-cavalier]

fascinating articles from the linked through Perez website, great insight and only now going through quite a few of the detailed content so appreciate the link! - I get the narrative of the article in that the company is now a sub-brand of a large corporate and is likely under constant pressure to evolve and attract new customers whilst being more efficient and promoting exclusivity....doesn't take away from the original design and has a history that allows it to continue, how far they can stretch that association and still maintain credibility is a good question....

 

[papabear244]

If the gen dies, the rep dies with it.

 

[Hagus]

Yet I’d still love a Lancia….

 

[GGEuroHEADSHOT]

Paging Dr. @PAM_BOY

 

[Tocacho]

It's an attractive brand because it has a real personality. You immediately notice a Pam on someone's wrist (and I do a lot of professional meetings. Sometimes I hesitate on a Rolex, never on a Pam).
But the desire for profitability comes to tarnish the reputation of a beautiful story.
I find that there are other brands that are selling off their names: Breitling, Tag Heuer. What I ask myself all the time: is it really worth the asking price. For Panerai, it is becoming more and more difficult to say yes.

 

[Hesekiel]

If the gen dies, the rep dies with it.

True. I just recently checked a few TDs Web sites when I was bored, and noticed that, for example, the PAM382 is no longer offered by them. For that reason it makes sense to buy a quality watch you like when it's still current. When the time comes to part ways, there will always be a buyer for that watch.

It's an attractive brand because it has a real personality. You immediately notice a Pam on someone's wrist (and I do a lot of professional meetings. Sometimes I hesitate on a Rolex, never on a Pam).
But the desire for profitability comes to tarnish the reputation of a beautiful story.
I find that there are other brands that are selling off their names: Breitling, Tag Heuer. What I ask myself all the time: is it really worth the asking price. For Panerai, it is becoming more and more difficult to say yes.

Agreed 100%. Panerai's current management is all about cutting cost and increasing profits, and they do that by taking no prisoners and by deceit. There's no spirit of the Panerai family left. None. I personally consider vintage Panerais top notch, pre-V and pre-A interesting, and very, very few Vendome Panerais worth buying, as a REP and even less as a GEN.