I'm Coming Out: The only Panerais I like. I

[Posh]

I was asked by another member if I like any Panerais whatsoever because it seemed like I didn't like any, which is not entirely accurate. I want to clarify my position on them a little. I have a small area where my heart would be devoted to four particular Panerai watches. It's actually bunking right now with that fantasy Panerai floating around here with the beadblasted case, carbon fiber dial and black strap. I don't know who has it or who made it but I really like that watch. If you're the person who owns that watch, good choice.

Now my professional disdain for their watches being ambitiously overpriced, I believe, is justified. They are just TOO expensive in genuine form for what you're getting. Most of the modified watches around here are just as good as the genuine article. The pictures I've seen, posts I've read and knowing the quality control the genuine watch had for the longest time, these $400 or $500 replicas are REALLY some of the best replica values around. You can LITERALLY build a "genuine" Panerai from scratch which is almost impossible to do with any other watch brand. So I applaud the people who purchased these as replicas; that's exceedingly smart.



But I say that to say this: I love the Jules Verne Sealand. It's a magnificent watch, really. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea is one of my favorite books and the movie from the 60s is a favorite of my mom. The main thing I like about this watch, and the watches below, is the art on the crystal cover. Most Panerais don't have much in the way of ornamentation, which is sad because there's so much surface area with which to work. In 2005, Panerai released 100 pieces of the Jules Verne Sealand and the engraving is out of control.



Now while the Jules Verne is engraved extremely well, it's no match for the artistry done for Purdey & Son pieces. Nolo contendre.

My first experience with Purdey & Sons was in sveral years ago when my family and I went to England so my father could show off his vintage XJ convertible at the Louis Vuitton Classic and an owner's event. He went clay shooting at one of his friend's friend's home in the countryside. The man had a small but marvelous collection of Purdey shotguns. Purdey & Sons is a luxury British gunmaker, clothier and accessories company that's been making very high end guns and accoutrement since 1814. Their main rival, Holland & Holland, also makes gorgeous guns and has been keeping pace with Purdey since 1835. Take a look at this matched set:



I love art but despise guns, it's true. The guns are without a doubt art but they are also first and foremost GUNS. I'm torn because Purdey makes such wonderfully detailed instruments of death! I'm sure Cheney's friend forgave him because he got shot in the face with one of these. The guns below are done by Master Engraver Simon Coggan who does work for other firms, at considerable cost, but primarily does his artistry on for Purdey. Look:



Purdey & Sons was purchased in 1994 by Richemont, the parent company to brands such as Cartier and Montblanc. To increase revenue, they thought adding watches to their offering would be a great addition to the inventory but it had to reflect the company's core values. They thought engraving a watch would synergistic, for good reason obviously, but they needed something large enough to showcase the design and detail of an engraved image. The only brand Richemont owned that they thought would fit the criteria for the traditional British brand was Panerai, a niche Italian company owned by an unabashedly French conglomerate. They have been making them since 2002.

In any case, the detailing on these is ASTONISHING. And compared to anything else offered by Panerai, these are the most beautiful watches they make. I would daresay they are the most beautiful of any contemporary brand. Each piece is limited to 100 pieces so they rare and end up in the hands of Purdey collectors mainly because general Panerai buyers don't know about these. A blessing, I think. These are a few of the ONLY watches they make that I think justify their price tags of about $20,000 each.



These hand-engraved, limited edition watches are the ones they should try to replicate at least once. I mean, they produced these below so why not?:



Feel free to chime in, as usual! Love ya, RG!