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Watchfinder France

Company no. 849 239 017

vat noFR35849239017

Registered Office Address: le siège social est sis 10 Cité du Retiro – 75008 Paris France
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Panerai

Established 1860

Originally developers of waterproof diving instruments for the Italian Royal Navy during the Second World War, Panerai has since become a cult watchmaker with its bold sizes and distinctive styling. Ask any Panerai enthusiast—once the need for a Panerai sets in, nothing else will do. Read more

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Panerai

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  1. Panerai
Panerai Certified Service Centre
Certified Service Centre
Luminor Watches 27889 Luminor Watches 22531 Luminor Watches 9914 Luminor Watches 9920
Luminor Watches 22531 Luminor Watches 9914 Luminor Watches 9920
Luminor [63]
Radiomir Watches 3778 Radiomir Watches 23851 Radiomir Watches 23846 Radiomir Watches 23822
Radiomir Watches 23851 Radiomir Watches 23846 Radiomir Watches 23822
Radiomir [52]
Submersible Watches 6305 Submersible Watches 33087 Submersible Watches 39525 Submersible Watches 40274
Submersible Watches 33087 Submersible Watches 39525 Submersible Watches 40274
Submersible [21]
Ferrari Watches 7445 Ferrari Watches 12990 Ferrari Watches 15356 Ferrari Watches 7443
Ferrari Watches 12990 Ferrari Watches 15356 Ferrari Watches 7443
Ferrari [3]
Mare Nostrum Watches 35494 Mare Nostrum Watches 39279
Mare Nostrum Watches 39279
Mare Nostrum [1]
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New Arrivals

Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM00614
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Panerai
Luminor Submersible
PAM00614
11 705 €
Box: Yes Papers: Yes
Age: 3 years (2017)
Panerai Radiomir 3 Days Oro Rosa PAM00379
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Panerai
Radiomir 3 Days Oro Rosa
PAM00379
13 775 €
Box: Yes Papers: Yes
Age: 3 years (2017)
Limited Edition
Panerai Luminor Power Reserve PAM00090
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Panerai
Luminor Power Reserve
PAM00090
4 425 €
Box: No Papers: No
Age: Approx. 11 years
Panerai Luminor Marina PAM00279
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Panerai
Luminor Marina
PAM00279
5 655 €
Box: Yes Papers: Yes
Age: 13 years (2007)
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Panerai History

When Guido Panerai, grandson of brand founder Giovanni Panerai, secured a contract with the Italian Navy to provide luminescent equipment, Officine Panerai moved from being just a manufacturer of diving instruments to becoming one of the most influential watchmakers in the world. The company’s prized invention was a zinc sulphide and radium bromide concoction which they patented as 'Radiomir'. The radium, a radioactive substance that releases alpha and gamma rays as it decays, reacted with the zinc sulphide in such a way that made it glow. The company used its radium-based luminescent paint on various devices such as night-sights, compasses, depth gauges and calculators.

Guido’s son Giuseppe took over in 1934, shortly before the Navy requested that the brand make a robust diving watch that was as readable in low light as the company’s other instruments. As the watches were to be used underwater and at night by pilots of single-man submarines, the hands and markers needed to be much brighter than for use on land. The watchmaker provided two solutions to this problem—the first was to layer a dial that was completely covered with a thick coating of luminescent paint with a secondary dial that had slots cut from it, and the second was to hollow out channels from a dial in the shape of the markers, allowing thicker quantities of luminescent paint to be used. Both of these ideas had a satisfactory result, particularly at sizes that were unconventionally large for the time.

The engine that powered Panerai watches was a tried-and-tested Rolex movement, and was mounted in a steel oversized cushion case. Lugs were soldered to the case to allow fitment of a strap, making the watch wearable on the diver's wrist. Called the Radiomir after the radium that powered the luminescent paint, it was the birth of a design icon. It was tested in 1936 by the First Submarine Group, and was a resolute success.

Following the Second World War, the Radiomir evolved fixed lugs and the famous patented crown locking device. The Radiomir became the Marina Militare which, following the introduction of a less dangerous tritium-based radioactive luminescent material called 'Luminor,' became the Luminor. An enormous version built for the Egyptian Navy, the Egiziano, came in the 1950s, which later inspired the Submersible. A chronograph, the Mare Nostrum, stalled at the prototype stage.

There were no Panerai watches available for civilians until 1993, when the Luminor and the Mare Nostrum were released in limited runs. Their success attracted the interest of the Vendome Group, now the Richemont Group, which purchased the watchmaker. The distinctive and immediately recognisable style of the brand’s watches may have evolved for functional reasons, but that hasn't stopped Panerai from amassing a loyal following. It has proven that just because form follows function, it doesn't necessarily mean something can't look good too.

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Watchfinder France
Company no. 849 239 017  |  vat no FR35849239017
Registered Office Address: le siège social est sis 10 Cité du Retiro – 75008 Paris France
Watchfinder & Co.
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