Do you think Panerai is a fad?

[skeen]

I'm seeing these claims on other forums (and here, too) that Panerai is just a fad. I thought fads had to fade at some point, but evidently not in the case of Panerai - I suppose Panerai have redefined the term!

But in any event, I wanted to get this forums views on the matter. Where do you think this claim comes from, and what fuels it?

[mfer]

I think it comes from the fact that they are very limited numbers and very different in design of most watches. Instead of getting more complicated, they are going the opposite way. They are sports meets dress meets fashion.

Love 'em btw.

[goldenwatch]

I don`t think is a fad. I have own Rolexes for many years but when I got my first Pam is hard to find wear time for my other watches. Just simply beautiful.

[TswaneNguni]

Good taste is never a fad.

[JJ Irani]

Actually it's a superbly crafted watch with a lot of history behind it. I do find some the models "monotonous", but there are a couple which come on the original brilliant bracelet.....those are amazing!!

JJ

[frostie]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Actually it's a superbly crafted watch with a lot of history behind it. I do find some the models "monotonous", but there are a couple which come on the original brilliant bracelet.....those are amazing!!

JJ

x2

[xaggie95]

But if people start selling them off I'm willing to buy

[Jimbits76]

I voted yes but.........

Although not keen on them, they do seem to be very popular. Now they seem to have got the in house movement going and a bit more of a WIS following rather than the fashionistas, I think we will see a bit of a move towards Panerai amongst the luxury watch buyer.

How that will affect the Swiss boys and how it will affect Panerai's pricing policy remains to be seen.

J

[roadcarver]

I voted "no" since fads do go away.

Fads are:
Bell bottom jeans
Goldfish in high heeled women's shoes
Side burns
Acid washed jeans (I still have those)

[Goodwatch]

I voted no because by now, Panerai have established themselves again as a household name in the industry. But they also are following a path that to them is understandable but to me, not attractive. Instead of a few models that stick very close to their original design, they are making watches that contain everything but the kitchen sink. (Well, GMTs, chronographs, etc.).

[rpryan55]

I own Panerai watches and I like them a lot. But there's no question that the styling of them is hardly timeless.....I'm sorry to say this, but to my mind, it's a fad, but one that I'm caught up in.

[skeen]

Originally Posted by rpryan55

I own Panerai watches and I like them a lot. But there's no question that the styling of them is hardly timeless.....I'm sorry to say this, but to my mind, it's a fad, but one that I'm caught up in.

Did they used to be styled differently?

[rpryan55]

Originally Posted by skeen

Did they used to be styled differently?

Absolutely not! And they have been made in this style for decades. But they've only gotten popular since Sly Stalone made them so 13 or so years ago. But just like Movado's ultra thin watches have had a long run, it doesn't make their styling timeless. My point was that big watches are very in right now, although they're getting less so, but that a classically styled watch (DD, DJ, Patek, etc.) will almost always be in style. That said, watches are getting bigger over the years. But Panerai may have taken that too far to be timeless. It's just my $0.02, anyhow.

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by rpryan55

Absolutely not! And they have been made in this style for decades. But they've only gotten popular since Sly Stalone made them so 13 or so years ago. But just like Movado's ultra thin watches have had a long run, it doesn't make their styling timeless. My point was that big watches are very in right now, although they're getting less so, but that a classically styled watch (DD, DJ, Patek, etc.) will almost always be in style. That said, watches are getting bigger over the years. But Panerai may have taken that too far to be timeless. It's just my $0.02, anyhow.

Compared to the likes of U-Boat, they are small It's like walking with an alarm clock 'round your wrist

[Defiancekofb]

I think that PAMs aren't a fad, just look at the new lineups of Rolex, the YM II, DSSD, Day Date II. These are all watches that are moving into a different direction, a bigger dial direction. Rolex realizes that they are losing ground to the so called fad watch companies, Panerai, Breitling, AP, the list goes on. To compete they are now raising their dial sizes to compete.

[WatchTimes]

They are too big for me but no they are not a fad,
they have been around a long time and build a quality
watch. They have really stepped up the game with their
own movements in some of the watches the past few years.

[dman]

I don't.

[asadtiger]

I think they are just too beautiful to be a fad, which is usually short-lived. Panerai is unique, very bold and si different, with a great history and amazingly, with new movements and all, they are living up to their history and consumer's expectations :)..its just a great bold brand doing its thing very well :)...

I think they are sticking to their cult designs which does two things: on one hand, it gives them the great cult following that they are enjoying but on the other hand, it makes some ppl think they are boring and bland :)

[moby33]

I think they rock. My only complaint is their metal bracelets...I think those are hideous and very Tag-like. Granted, 99% of Pan's shouldn't be on anything other than those gorgeous thick leather straps, but I would at least like the option of a good looking bracelet. Cheers.

[learnmore60]

I used to think Panerai was a fad few years ago, but now I have got a lot more into them and about to make my first purchase. I voted 'not' a fad because I think a lot of serious watch fans and collectors are appreciating it more and more and adding it to their collection.

I think they only look good on a strap.. my opinion is it looks terrible on a bracelet!

[funlab]

it's interesting that 27 people voted yes, it's a fad but they didn't post here. the overwhelming majority of posts here say it's not a fad.

i say it's not a fad either. the brand has been around far too long to be a fad. also, the brand is taken far too seriously by wis to fall into fad territory.

[Frampton]

However, if large watches grow out of favor, so will Panerai.

[Andad]

My 231 Pam was originally designed in 1938.

So here is a new pix of an old FAD.

This is the most accurate watch in the world.
A COSC movement with NO second hand or minute markers.

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by directioneng

My 231 Pam was originally designed in 1938.

So here is a new pix of an old FAD.

This is the most accurate watch in the world.
A COSC movement with NO second hand or minute markers.

I dont like rosegold much.




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[Tony-GB]

I definitely don't think Panerai is a fad. They are very fashionable right now but I do think they will plateau. IMO Panerai started the big watch movement.

I had a Pam Sub A series. Loved it, but was disappointed with the quality. So sold it & returned to Rolex.

One thing that shocked me (and Panerai fans always get annoyed when I say this) is out of all the London dealers I spoke to, NONE of them rated Panerai. Two actually treated them as a joke because of the movements & ridiculed owners for simply buying into a fashion. This is not my opinion- please don't flame me!

I think most Panerais's look fantastic & mine was very comfortable, but for me, quality was an issue when paying that kind of money.

[MAC4130]

Panerai is a well established brand that has become the envy of other brands first because of their sucsess, caused by influential people using them more than spending big dollars on publicity. And second and this is the best, they have made the turn to position themselves as a true manufacturer. Which by the way is making these watches a lot more complicated! (and not the inverse) why? have you seen their 1950 Chronomonopulsante GMT? it has an in house chorno movement with a vertical clutch design for the Chorno, it has 8 day power reserve supported by 3 barrels giving it constant power with a linear 8 day indicator, it has a GMT complication and a day a night window for the GMT >320 pieces for the movement!!! They also have 10 days movements and 8 days movements as well as a tourbillon that goes for above 100k, and now they can really justify having those outrageously high grey market prices for the collectors pieces!
A FAD???? don't think so! the market is hot and it will continue like that! The watch industry is growing all over, the watch has become a part of our culture not as a time teller but as an expresion of he who wears it, and Panerai has a privileged spot with a pair of designs that look like anything else out there but a Panerai. It has a cult like following close to none.
It will be easier for all of us to just acept it and eventually buy one and be part of it!