Hi John!
Regarding the watch....
In the early 90s, a watchmaking company in Milan discovered some old
prototypes and drawings of watches that had served the Italian Military Marine
during World War II. With what was to prove a brilliant and audacious move, it
produced a very limited edition of the watches for a small group of aficionados.
The brand name was Officine Panerai.
One of those devotees was Franco Cologni of AIHH, SIHH and Cartier
International renown. It wasnt long before he brought the timepieces to the
attention of the Richemont Group (or the Vendôme Group, as it was then known)
and the rest is, as they say, history. Officine Panerai joined the groups watch
stable and at the same time launched not only an original, aesthetically pleasing
oversized mechanical timepiece, but also initiated what was to prove to be a
new trend the maximalist watch.
In the beginnning
At the time Panerai watches first made their appearance in 97, there were
quite a few doubting Thomases who believed that the future of the watch
industry was to be found uniquely in the small, simple, unadorned watch the
minimalist timepiece. However, both Cologni and Panerai have proved to
everyone once again that a well manufactured mechanical wristwatch with an
enigmatic history will appeal to watch connoisseurs, collectors and discerning
consumers. If the brand is also supported by some sound, creative marketing of
the style the Richemont group offers, then there is a very strong likelihood that
the watch will be around for a very long time to come.
In 1997, the Luminor and Marina models were launched in Italy. In 1998 the rest
of the world was offered
this new generously proportioned Italianesque import and from that moment on,
Officine Panerai has never looked back.
Today, Officine Panerai, which can be classified as one of the babies of the
modern watch industry despite its fifty-odd year history, is justly installed in
the watch universe, with refined thematic displays in the vitrines scrutinized
by horological amateurs and aficionados. A new powerful specialists watch is
amongst us as is a trend.
I hope this helps!!!
regards,
