Who wears Rolex and who wears Panerai?

[clew84]

I've owned both - I own a Rolex SD now but used to own a PAM 024 and a 312. I liked the idea of the 312 but couldn't stand how wobbly the movement was. It was also loud. Yes, it's an in-house movement and that's something, but to me that's not a high quality movement that you can both feel and hear with every twist of your wrist.

I like the look and size of Panerai but have not been impressed by what's inside so far. Maybe I just haven't owned the right ones.

[hng]

Long time Rolex owner here. Like the classic look of 16610. Nothing like it! I mean it. GMTIIC? The most accurate watch I've ever had. +/- 1 second in 24 hours. Nothing compares like it. Traveling and need to know different time zone, GMT is cool, 2 or even 3 time zones. BUT, I like to wear something quite different on Friday casual in office. PAM suits me pretty well. So weekday is Rolex day. Weekend is PAM. I'm kind of in 2 different worlds...

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by Mockingbird

... but the amount of Rolex fanboyism is really getting to me.

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Have you ever considered that you are on a Rolex Forum or did that escape you?

Who'd have thought that we'd have Rolex fans here on our Rolex forums?

Perhaps we'll all have to repent.

[mach330]

Both here as well. My rolex (gmt) for daily and pam 90 the days I feel like wearing something different.

[Megalobyte]

I am a Panerai fan, I own one, have owned several. I think they're high quality watches and neat designs, I do think their in house mvts are years away from being considered reliable. But to say Panerais in house mvts are more accurate than Rolex is, well, inaccurate. :) Just absolutely false.

[Check]

Personally PAMs do nothing for me. While Rolex is far more versatile... it's a tool watch that looks great anywhere, all the time.

[Speed]

Double dipper...and proud of it ;-)

[BaltimoreBrian]

I own a Panerai 090 and just put a hold on a new Rolex Ceramic black Sub. I always looked at Rolex as being my grandfather's watch, in terms of styling. However, when the new Sub came out, i obviously did a double take, and now excited to own one.

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by Mockingbird

How on Earth is Panerai a fashion watch? Panerai is haute horlogerie with MANY of their movements.

For decades Panerai was a tool watch. They used externally supplied movements such as Unitas. That is how they made their name. Way back when Panerai even housed a Rolex movement.

In the last couple of years Panerai have used in some models their own in-house movements.

Boom - they are now haute horologie

Rolex have been making their own in house movements for decades and they have made complicated watches (decades ago). They don't do so now not because of a lack technical inability but rather because they choose not to do so. Some may say the YM-II is a technically complicated watch.

Now don't get me wrong I like Panerai a lot, but that sort of comment quoted above is just wrong.

[Megalobyte]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

For decades Panerai was a tool watch. They used externally supplied movements such as Unitas. That is how they made their name. Way back when Panerai even housed a Rolex movement.

In the last couple of years Panerai have used in some models their own in-house movements.

Boom - they are now haute horologie

Rolex have been making their own in house movements for decades and they have made complicated watches (decades ago). They don't do so now not because of a lack technical inability but rather because they choose not to do so. Some may say the YM-II is a technically complicated watch.

Now don't get me wrong I like Panerai a lot, but that sort of comment quoted above is just wrong.

Well I agree Panerai has a ways to go with making their in house mvts reliable, but, if and when they do, I think they'll be considered a true high end manufacture. Their in house mvts, the manual 8 day and the 10 day auto with linear power reserve are impressive IF they learn how to make them work consistently. I think they're 5-10 years away though.

[bgriz]

Right now I have both

[Le Chef]

Since when did reliability have anything to do with "haute horlogerie"? Patek and Lange movements can still be "unreliable". It depends on what you value. A Camry is reliable, and a Ferrari less so. Given the choice which would you go with?

The idea of Panerai being a trendy fashion watch is laughable: that was a decade ago. Today trendy is Richard Mille. Today Panerai is just another luxury brand that competes with AP, JLC, Omega etc. It does make its own tourbillon watches with Rolex does not, so there maybe a hierarchy there.