Italian luxury watch manufacturer founded in Florence, renowned for its military diving watch heritage supplying the Italian Navy. Known for distinctive oversized cushion-shaped cases, luminous dials, and the iconic crown-protecting device. Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Richemont, manufacturing in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Giovanni Panerai (1825-1897) opened his first watch shop 'Orologeria Svizzera' in Florence in 1860. His grandson Guido Panerai expanded the business and in 1915 invented radium-illuminated gun sights, leading to the Radiomir luminous compound. Panerai became an official supplier to the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy), producing precision diving instruments. Between 1935-1970, the Florence workshop delivered approximately 1,600 diving watches to the Marina Militare, with cases manufactured by Rolex and movements by Cortébert. In 1965, Panerai developed Luminor, a tritium-based luminous compound replacing the radioactive Radiomir. Production for the military ceased in 1970. The brand entered the civilian market in 1993, gaining cult status after Sylvester Stallone wore a Luminor in the 1996 film 'Daylight'. Richemont acquired Panerai in 1997, repositioning it as a luxury brand. In 2002, Panerai opened its Neuchâtel manufacture, and in 2005 began producing in-house movements.
Officine Panerai
PAM00111
Officine Panerai
PAM00512
Officine Panerai
PAM00614
Officine Panerai
PAM00683
Officine Panerai
PAM00692
Officine Panerai
PAM00904
Officine Panerai
PAM00916
Officine Panerai
PAM00927
Officine Panerai
PAM00959
Officine Panerai
PAM00982
PRICE SEGMENT
LuxuryMOVEMENT TYPES
MANUFACTURING
Full ManufactureHEADQUARTERS
Italy1860 Panerai family / Private Italian ownership
1997
Current Richemont