Officine Panerai

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.