I love Panerai, but....

[Cru Jones]

I love Panerai, but, I just can't wrap my head around the new 30 meter rated Luminor models. A supposed "dive" watch that's not meant for the pool or shower, let alone ocean?



Can you imagine Rolex slimming the Submariner case and reducing the rating from 300 meters to 30 meters? No, it's just impossible. It. Would. Never. Happen.

But, that's what OP just did! It totally gutted its own heritage.



OP's management has seriously lost the plot. It's like Panerai just released an OEM fake or really bad homage.

Yes, maybe Panerai will sell a bunch. Well, Michael Kors sells a bunch of fashion watches, too.

Just because you "can", doesn't mean you "should".

[Minimalist]

Yeah it is really strange they would do this. But I guess lots people complain they want a panerai but its too thick, so they've reduced the thickness to make people happy but this compromised the waterproofness of the watch.

[Sarasotawatchcompany]

It's interesting, that's for certain.

[m_cukman]

Panerai has totaly left their principals. Panerai is the brand for diver watches, not dress. I doubt ever buying that kind of Panerai.

[Ian Macdermott]

I suspect making them thinner is purely a marketing strategy to sell more watches to people who complain they are too big on the wrist.

I love the big size and the fact I could dive to 300m with one. Truth to tell I do dive but would never take a £5000 + watch on a dive. That's what my Suunto dive computers for and as a backup a Citizen Promaster 200m watch both of which are bumped and scratched to buggery.

[nick c]

What's wrong with Panerai I don't like it too

[brandrea]

I hear you. I'm really excited to see some of the new releases with micro rotors, but that's about it.

[kechy]

Agree. As stated above they have left their principles, lost the plot in trying to be something for everybody. Problem is, it just might make us (at least me) stop paying attention. Up till now memorizing as many Panerai ref numbers as possible was laborious, but fun. I certainly have no desire to make room in my brain for a bunch of pieces I don't care about. And then it might all just slip away.... know what i mean?

[nigelUK]

and another $5000 dollars . . .

I can't get my head around who thought it would be a good idea to have it at 30m ? A screw caseback, a crown guard .. . why the hell isn't it 100m + by default ?

I own a 47mm Panerai but I'm all for 42's as an option but why ruin it with 30m. It's nonsense.

[R1@160@alltimes]

Yes agreed that is super suspect for Panerai to marginalize their heritage

[subtona]

No argument here.

[PanosI]

I didn't even bothered with the 30m, Cru.
The case with the crown guard in the Luminor Due, it looks funny/silly to me to say it politely and you know how much i love Panerai's.

[mfer]

The 30m dive watch. Just say that out loud.

I understand on a 10-minute repeater torbillon. Just because you make a watch thinner doesn't mean you can't make it 100m. That should be the minimum in Panerai. Hell, my 643 ceramic rad is 100m (at least I hope it is).

The silver lining for buyers.......this should soften an already soft market... *sigh*

Btw many of you know I'm a Panerai nut. I love the design and looks and heritage. I've owned seven over the years. I for one am one of the many asking for thinner watches, but NOT at 30m. Believe it or not, I wear my watches in showers and pools. Not all the time, but I like doing it on occasion. I have rubber and leather straps for that. Yes, I said leather.

[Stack]

I think they are at a cross roads in my opinion. One one hand we have the purists and the people who believe in the diving history of the watch etc. On the other side you have the average consumer who likes luxury watches etc.

Most people on both sides don't really take their watch in the water but I would take a guess that the new clients they are going for won't think twice about the 30M rated watches.

They are definitely trying to build a new client base on top of the ones they already have. As some have mentioned previously, many people want a Luminor but don't like the size and thickness of it. So to please that side of the market and bring new blood in they listened and created a thinner version of the watch. Before this all you could get that was thin was a Radiomir 1940's. We all know that someone who might not follow Panerai as closely as some of us would want a crown guard to let everyone know it's a Panerai.

It was almost a certainty that a lot of us would be upset about the 30M rating on the watch, but the clients they are trying to reach probably won't even think twice about it. They will be happy there is a thinner Luminor out for them to be able to wear in more of a dressy situation.

At the end of the day, there are a ton of other models that we can pick up that are rated where we want them to be whether you are just swimming or diving. It would be one thing if they moved completely to all being 30M, but they brought a new line and still have all the other ones to choose from if you need it.

Just my 2 cents.

[red1108nyc]

New models appear gimmicky and blingy to me as if OP spokesperson should no longer be Sly but rather, a kardasian.

[stockae92]

Doesn't bother me, its not like people who buy 3000M dive watch is going to dive with the watch :)

(me included, haha)

[kilyung]

I'm pretty much done with the brand's new stuff and will only deal with the older models at this point.

[masyv6]

I like the openworked movement, but not at the cost of the WR rating and by association, the brand's heritage.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Stack

I think they are at a cross roads in my opinion. One one hand we have the purists and the people who believe in the diving history of the watch etc. On the other side you have the average consumer who likes luxury watches etc.

Most people on both sides don't really take their watch in the water but I would take a guess that the new clients they are going for won't think twice about the 30M rated watches.

They are definitely trying to build a new client base on top of the ones they already have. As some have mentioned previously, many people want a Luminor but don't like the size and thickness of it. So to please that side of the market and bring new blood in they listened and created a thinner version of the watch. Before this all you could get that was thin was a Radiomir 1940's. We all know that someone who might not follow Panerai as closely as some of us would want a crown guard to let everyone know it's a Panerai.

It was almost a certainty that a lot of us would be upset about the 30M rating on the watch, but the clients they are trying to reach probably won't even think twice about it. They will be happy there is a thinner Luminor out for them to be able to wear in more of a dressy situation.

At the end of the day, there are a ton of other models that we can pick up that are rated where we want them to be whether you are just swimming or diving. It would be one thing if they moved completely to all being 30M, but they brought a new line and still have all the other ones to choose from if you need it.

Just my 2 cents.

They should be able to make it 100m WR. Look at a PP 5167 or any ladies oyster watch...