Is the End of the Panerai Trend Near?

[rcarney]

Panerai watches are well built, but these oversized watches will not be in fashion in 5 years or so. We are not that far away from these huge watches being out of style like bell bottom pants. I know Panerai owners HATE to hear this, but I think I'm the only person who can save them from paying thousands of dollars for a style of watch that they will be embarassed to wear in 5 to 10 years. Again, I know Panerai owners think I'm totally wrong, but all of us must admit that we wore clothes several years ago that we wouldn't be seen dead in now and these huge watches with impossibly simple dials will not be something people are wearing in a few years. The Panerai trend is fading my friends. At some point, wearing a monster watch will not look cool, it will look completely silly. And when that time comes, the watch will end up gathering dust just like every other out of style clothing that's sitting in your closet. Only these watches will represent a multi-thousand dollar loss to these people. The only thing unique about Panerai are the huge cases so ask yourself what happens to their value when huge cases are no longer in style? Are there thousands of people who will buy these huge, pre-owned watches when that trend is over? Of course not. Not when the trend is over.

I'm not saying this to be mean. I genuinely worry that Panerai owners are over spending on watches which will not meet the test of time and I don't want to see that happen to them.

[Trurolexer]

Huh?

C'mon life is simple, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

I bought watches not because they popular or not, I bought 'em because I like 'em.

[Uncle-AJ]

I bought mine to tell the time, then sold it.

[rcarney]

Originally Posted by Trurolexer

I bought watches not because they popular or not, I bought 'em because I like 'em.

Oh I'm quite sure that you like your watch right now and you'll probably still like it a year from now. Maybe even 2 or 3 years from now. But I'm not talking about the present, I'm discussing the future. I just don't think they'll pass the test of time. They are by design a trendy watch and trends come and go and I don't think this trend will last much more than 3 to 5 years from now.

There are quite a few Panerai owners who can afford to just stick a bunch of multi-thousand dollar watches in the closet once they're out of style, but there are also people who are putting every dollar they have into buying their one Panerai and I'm afraid they will really regret that decision in 5 years or so.

It is possible that the end of Panerai trend has already begun. Again, no disrespect here, but I don't think I'm alone in this opinion.

[lawrenceb]

So I guess Rolex was wrong in making the Deep Sea?
In case you had not noticed people are bigger than they were 30 years ago, hence the trend toward larger watches.
I think you are using the economic downturn as an excuse as to why the Panerai market is soft... well NEWS FLASH , the ROLEX market, PATEK market, Hublot market, AP, etc.. etc... are ALL SOFT! so are all those brands destined to fail?
I dont think so.... Danty thin 36-38mm watches fill a segment but they will never be popular like they were back in the 80's. Unless the US goes on a diet and the vast majority of people become super model thin.

[Jedi]

And what prompted this gem of an insight?

A random musing?

A philanthropic desire to 'rescue' Panerai owners?

Are you a trendsetter?

[rcarney]

Originally Posted by Jedi

And what prompted this gem of an insight?

A random musing?

A philanthropic desire to 'rescue' Panerai owners?

Are you a trendsetter?

Number 2, rescuing Panerai owners. Doesn't that seem clear to you from my posting?

[Jedi]

And by what string of reasoning have you arrived at your conclusions? They don't seem very well founded on evidence, neither empirical or intuitive...

Like others have said, they own Panerai, and most are quite happy with it.

To me, your statement is a bit like telling Rolex owners to pack it in because they are just like a massive flock of sheep that have succumbed to the most successful marketing campaign in horological history.

[Jedi]

And talking about HUGE cases in relation to Panerai is quite nonsensical. Because if that were the case, you'd have to denounce brands like Audemars Piguet, Rolex (for the Deep Sea), IWC, Glashütte Original, Jaeger Le-Coultre...

I suggest broadening your horological horizons before making utterly nonsensical statements like the one in your original post.

Just a suggestion.

Merry Christmas.

[Trurolexer]

Originally Posted by rcarney

Oh I'm quite sure that you like your watch right now and you'll probably still like it a year from now. Maybe even 2 or 3 years from now. But I'm not talking about the present, I'm discussing the future. I just don't think they'll pass the test of time. They are by design a trendy watch and trends come and go and I don't think this trend will last much more than 3 to 5 years from now.

There are quite a few Panerai owners who can afford to just stick a bunch of multi-thousand dollar watches in the closet once they're out of style, but there are also people who are putting every dollar they have into buying their one Panerai and I'm afraid they will really regret that decision in 5 years or so.

It is possible that the end of Panerai trend has already begun. Again, no disrespect here, but I don't think I'm alone in this opinion.

I tell you my story, I never hold any my watches more than 1 year, so doesn't matter to me in the future. Maybe in the future I change my collection to A.Lange & Sohne? Who knows?

[rcarney]

[QUOTE=Jedi;910759]you'd have to denounce brands like Audemars Piguet, Rolex (for the Deep Sea), IWC, Glashütte Original, Jaeger Le-Coultre...
QUOTE]

Those brands are successful because they are some of the mostly highly regarded manufacturers in watch making, they offer a diverse line up of models, and they have true provonance in the industry. Panerai are fine watches, but they are temporarily popular because they were the first to go big.

In your note above you compare them to some of the finest watch manufactures in the world and they are each, frankly, in a league well above Panerai. And they also do not have a business model soley focused on selling huge watches.

[Jedi]

Panerai were NOT the first brand to go big.

Pilot's watches dating back to the 1940s were already exceeding the 42mm mark. IWC, JLC, and even Patek Philippe made oversized watches.

Even dive watches from the 1960s were at the 42mm mark, with the Polaris from JLC being an obvious example.

Panerai have an illustrious provenance, and I suggest you do some further research and you may be pleasantly surprised. They have been around in their current form for just over a decade now, and if you've only recently come across them, then your information needs updating. If you have been aware of them, perhaps you've ignored another 'big is better' brand called Hublot, which is also generating a lot of buzz. Pity that I find them quite offensive.

But the big watch trend is here to stay.

[WatchTimes]

OK lets see....
Rolex before WW II most mens watches were 32 mm
After WW II Rolex brought out the Air King which was considered
too big by many yet its still here, followed by the OP which was bigger
then the newer Sports line which was 40 mm and now the DSSD which is
43 mm so................

People are getting bigger, average height etc has been going up and
up....

Breitling has been making larger watches for years as well....

Seems like you have some ax to grind with Panerai for some reason.
I do not see you posting in the Hubolt, Bell & Ross, Breitling and MANY other forums.

As Jedi said "I suggest broadening your horological horizons before making utterly nonsensical statements like the one in your original post."


If you have this much free time on your hands why don't you worry about
how to help poor or starving people and not how watch collectors spend their
money.

Seems since you have joined TRF any post you have made in this forum is bashing Panerai.

What watches do you own??

[argee1977]

[QUOTE=rcarney;910778]

Originally Posted by Jedi

you'd have to denounce brands like Audemars Piguet, Rolex (for the Deep Sea), IWC, Glashütte Original, Jaeger Le-Coultre...
QUOTE]

Those brands are successful because they are some of the mostly highly regarded manufacturers in watch making, they offer a diverse line up of models, and they have true provonance in the industry. Panerai are fine watches, but they are temporarily popular because they were the first to go big.

In your note above you compare them to some of the finest watch manufactures in the world and they are each, frankly, in a league well above Panerai. And they also do not have a business model soley focused on selling huge watches.

At present those brands are all available with big reductions, especially JLC, i'm more worried for the whole watch market as even Rolex are struggling to shift these days, look at the sudden influx of Daytonas at MRSP, a year ago people wouldn't have believed that the '7 year waiting list' would have evaporated.

What i hope for is that the prices for all makes start to get a bit more realistic, JLC make some of the best watches in the world, but they too have started to get a bit complacent with the pricing and designs, in my AD they just aren't shifting and online you can get 40% discounts on them.

The only watches in my AD that aren't discounted are Panerai and Rolex, and the Rolex aren't moving as quickly as the Panerai, i found this out to my cost as i was about to buy one on Sunday, only to find out the 2 Panerai i saw the week before were both gone as well as a rather expensive PAM 275, 212 and a couple of others, whereas the Rolex window still had the Explorer, WG Daytona, Sub LV, Sub ND and Daytona TT sports watches i'd seen the previous week.

[moby33]

Originally Posted by rcarney

Panerai watches are well built, but these oversized watches will not be in fashion in 5 years or so. We are not that far away from these huge watches being out of style like bell bottom pants. I know Panerai owners HATE to hear this, but I think I'm the only person who can save them from paying thousands of dollars for a style of watch that they will be embarassed to wear in 5 to 10 years. Again, I know Panerai owners think I'm totally wrong, but all of us must admit that we wore clothes several years ago that we wouldn't be seen dead in now and these huge watches with impossibly simple dials will not be something people are wearing in a few years. The Panerai trend is fading my friends. At some point, wearing a monster watch will not look cool, it will look completely silly. And when that time comes, the watch will end up gathering dust just like every other out of style clothing that's sitting in your closet. Only these watches will represent a multi-thousand dollar loss to these people. The only thing unique about Panerai are the huge cases so ask yourself what happens to their value when huge cases are no longer in style? Are there thousands of people who will buy these huge, pre-owned watches when that trend is over? Of course not. Not when the trend is over.

I'm not saying this to be mean. I genuinely worry that Panerai owners are over spending on watches which will not meet the test of time and I don't want to see that happen to them.

Laughable...this whole post is simply laughable. First off, let me state that I'm not a Pan owner, so there is no bias in this post. But your idea that the Pan style/size is relatively new shows just how limited (and lacking) your watch history knowledge is...news flash, big watches have been around for a very long time (read: many decades back...not many months).

And please spare us the "I genuinely worry that Panerai owners are over spending on watches..." give me a break....as if we're to believe this issue REALLY keeps you up at night. To be honest, I really don't understand the point of this thread as it reads more of a perfect example of Troll post vs. actual useful information.

[Jedi]

Rest your fingers guys and look forward to that turkey dinner, which will be infinitely more rewarding than dealing with a turkey troll.

[Jedi]

Hah, this has become my first postings in the Panerai forum

Not the way I wanted to make an entry, but hey...

[C. Davidson]

A Haiku:

Panerai is hot.
There is still no end in sight.
Demand is too high.

[Blimms]

Originally Posted by rcarney

Oh I'm quite sure that you like your watch right now and you'll probably still like it a year from now. Maybe even 2 or 3 years from now. But I'm not talking about the present, I'm discussing the future. I just don't think they'll pass the test of time. They are by design a trendy watch and trends come and go and I don't think this trend will last much more than 3 to 5 years from now.

There are quite a few Panerai owners who can afford to just stick a bunch of multi-thousand dollar watches in the closet once they're out of style, but there are also people who are putting every dollar they have into buying their one Panerai and I'm afraid they will really regret that decision in 5 years or so.

It is possible that the end of Panerai trend has already begun. Again, no disrespect here, but I don't think I'm alone in this opinion.

I tell you what ............ about two years ago (when I thought my Tag Carrera was the s%^&), I browsed Tourneau in Palm Beach and was in awe with this brand called Panerai. I knew nothing of the brand. Matter of fact, the saleswoman tried swaying me over to Rolex/Breitling, which I like also. I've never been attracted to a timepiece like the Panerai .......... size and all. Did my research and finally purchased a PAM 104 this past Aug. I love it. I also picked up a 40mm Platty (JJ) and love it too. But .......... the PAM gets the most wrist time. I wasn't concerned with what was hot at the moment, the PAM just drew me to it. Panerai makes timepieces that stirr the soul. It has character and nothing really looks like it. I said all that to say ........... Panerai is here to stay.

[C. Davidson]

Originally Posted by C. Davidson

A Haiku:

Panerai is hot.
There is still no end in sight.
Demand is too high.

Another Haiku:

Base Luminor Cool
Marina Sandwich Dial nice
Love the 112

[argee1977]

I'm just glad the guy posted here instead of paneristi.com, if he'd done this post over there then they'd have tracked him down via his IP address and dispatched the closest assassination squad

[Blimms]

Originally Posted by argee1977

I'm just glad the guy posted here instead of paneristi.com, if he'd done this post over there then they'd have tracked him down via his IP address and dispatched the closest assassination squad

[moby33]

Man...I sure hope this guy isn't giving advice to his friends regarding hot stocks to buy & sell.

[toph]

Originally Posted by rcarney

Panerai watches are well built, but these oversized watches will not be in fashion in 5 years or so.

I'm not saying this to be mean. I genuinely worry that Panerai owners are over spending on watches which will not meet the test of time and I don't want to see that happen to them.

Quality watches is not fashion, it is a passion. You don't like it- others do. end of story
I think you are being a bit naive if not stupid with your assumptions that we all follow fashions and trends.

[moby33]

Originally Posted by toph

Quality watches is not fashion, it is a passion. You don't like it- others do. end of story
I think you are being a bit naive if not stupid with your assumptions that we all follow fashions and trends.

Well said & so very true!!!

[argee1977]

Originally Posted by toph

Quality watches is not fashion, it is a passion. You don't like it- others do. end of story
I think you are being a bit naive if not stupid with your assumptions that we all follow fashions and trends.

So true, when i originally read the post i almost spat out my decaffrothymochachoccachino all over my Louis Vuitton manbag

[niels74]

OK guy’s , I know you are all hurting and in your hart your 10 year old pannies , especially those pre-Vendome’s do look silly on you.. Admit it.. Especially those 1950 models, what is that about, it looks like a bowl for yer gold fish..

So pls send them to me , ill handle the P&P cost and save you further embarrassment… LOL…

[moby33]

Originally Posted by niels74

OK guy’s , I know you are all hurting and in your hart your 10 year old pannies , especially those pre-Vendome’s do look silly on you.. Admit it.. Especially those 1950 models, what is that about, it looks like a bowl for yer gold fish..

So pls send them to me , ill handle the P&P cost and save you further embarrassment… LOL…

Ohhhh...you mean Panerai has been around longer than just a few years??? Wow...I guess they obviously didn't sell any watches until recently...'cause we all know they are such a NEW trend that is sure to be gone by the end of the week!

[Chye]

Originally Posted by argee1977

I'm just glad the guy posted here instead of paneristi.com, if he'd done this post over there then they'd have tracked him down via his IP address and dispatched the closest assassination squad

hahah, this is my 1st post on trf and i just have to agree with this statement...

[leopardprey]

Ridiculous. First of all 44mm watches are not that big at for many men out there. Due to my size, my girlfriend (who sells watches for a living) has told me that anything smaller than 42mm looks like a girls watch on my wrist/frame.

Plus, 42mm to 45mm size watches have been around for a long time.

As previous poster stated, people in many parts of the world (USA and Thailand) to name 2 places, are getting larger. Look at the average size of an American man during the 1940s and looks at average size now of men in their 20s in the USA.

Panerai is not going anywhere. Their 40mm, 44mm, and 45mm size watches will be around and popular for a long long time.

And maybe some wear a Panerai as a fad or fashion, but many wear them cause they just like a good mechanical watch that has good lumination and some history behind it. The first Panerai I ever saw, was worn by a Team Mate in Iraq back in 2004..