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

[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.

[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

[dman]

Originally Posted by xaggie95

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

X-man, what the hell is up bro??? We really need to GTG real soon for a cup of joe. Give me a shout next week, the bride is gone most of the week and maybe we can grab a bite or something.

Great to see you hear m8!

[ROA]

i voted no. even if PAMs have 20 million variations the basic look, at least to me, is still the same. u can tell a PAM from a mile away.

i have one each of the Rad (183) and Lummy (104) and I intend to keep them for very long. At first I thought the size was awkwardly huge but after a few days of wearing, the size just seems to grown on you - to the point that it makes other watches look small

i love PAMs!!! (next to rolex of course )

[moby33]

The watch company has been around since the mid 19th century...ahh no, I wouldn't call that a fad.

[mailman]

Nope

[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.

[skeen]

Still waiting for the fad to end!

[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.

[Timekiller]

Originally Posted by moby33

The watch company has been around since the mid 19th century...ahh no, I wouldn't call that a fad.

While Panerai was founded in 1860 they didn't release their first watch until 1936 and that contained a Rolex movement and was for the Italian Navy in very small numbers. The watches that were made prior to 1993 were all developed in small numbers specifically for military uses.

While a true watch retailer for a scant 15 years, their rich military history and adherence to their original case styles indicates to me they are more than a fad.

[dman]

Originally Posted by Timekiller

While Panerai was founded in 1860 they didn't release their first watch until 1936 and that contained a Rolex movement and was for the Italian Navy in very small numbers. The watches that were made prior to 1993 were all developed in small numbers specifically for military uses.

While a true watch retailer for a scant 15 years, their rich military history and adherence to their original case styles indicates to me they are more than a fad.

Perfectly stated.

[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.