The Florence-based watchmaker produced approximately 300 watches exclusively for the italian marina militare between 1938 and 1993 Cigar Aficionado - Monster Watches How a movie muscleman spawned a trend that bulked up the wristwatch http//www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Archives/CA_Show_Article/0,2322,1416,00.html]. By that time, the company ceased to provide watches to the italian marina militare, as they were no longer cost-effective. The company then moved to launch its products to the civilian market, but remained in relative obscurity 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 Cigar Aficionado - Monster Watches How a movie muscleman spawned a trend that bulked up the wristwatch http//www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Archives/CA_Show_Article/0,2322,1416,00.html]. 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, Radiomir series, in particular, the Base and the black seal Model which were deemed rare and unknown just a few years ago, but have become highly commercialized recently.
Panerais 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 2007 they 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.
Etymology of the surname Panerai
This surname Panerai is typical of the Florence (Firenze) area, and is rarely enountered elsewhere in Italy. It is most probably derived from an old professional name panieraio or paneraio, meaning person who made bread baskets with osiers. Behind the surname forum- [1]A vintage panerai marina militare wrist watch.
Celebrity Paneristi
Below is a very short list of Paneristi (Panerai aficionados)- brad pitt
- Pierce Brosnan
- Bill Clinton
- heidi klum
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Sylvester Stallone - Unofficial Ambassador
- Hugh Grant
- Jason Statham
- Wolfgang Puck
In The Movies
In recent times panerai has had its share of screen time. Some notable appearances include1996
- 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 Panerai 40 mm Automatic Marina
- bridget joness diary ( imdb) - hugh grant wearing a Panerai
2002
- The Transporter ( imdb) - jason statham wearing a panerai luminor daylight w/ custom strap
- Two weeks notice ( imdb)- hugh grant wearing a Panerai
2003
- The Rundown ( imdb) - Dwayne Johnson wearing a Panerai Pam 91 (discontinued)
- Hollywood Homicide ( imdb) - josh hartnett wearing a panerai luminor marina
- The Italian Job - jason statham 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 (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 odonnell wearing a Luminor.
2007
- gridiron gang ( imdb) - Dwayne Johnson wearing a Panerai luminor submersible pam64
- For Your Consideration ( imdb) - christopher guest wearing a Luminor
In Television
- Greys Anatomy ( imdb) - Dr. Preston xavier burke played by isaiah washington wearing a Panerai luminor chrono daylight 196 (44mm) in the popular television series.
- Miami - david caruso wearing a Panerai Luminor in the television series
Quotes
I immediately felt when I saw the watch that it had star power...Besides, its perfect for people who are over 45 years old, Sylvester Stallone Cigar Aficionado - Monster Watches How a movie muscleman spawned a trend that bulked up the wristwatch http//www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Archives/CA_Show_Article/0,2322,1416,00.html]References
- The panerai website
- The Paneristi Website
- The ViaPaneristi Website
- Panerai in the movies 1996 - 2005 taken from Paneristi.com
- mens vogue, Fall 2005
