The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), a private event in Geneva, Switzerland that exhibits luxury watch brands, is but a few days away.

Last month, Panerai released its preview for the 2012 event – and this timepiece is sure to impress. Only 18 exhibitors will be present at this esteemed event, and only 12,500 privileged guests will be in attendance.

The Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic is a 47mm vintage watch. The timepiece is comprised of 21 jewels and two spring barrels. It is a limited edition timepiece, with only 2,000  in circulation.

It has a classy brown leather strap and a stainless steel case. The dial of the watch is covered by a 3mm thick plexiglass crystal, and its watch face is marked with Panerai’s classic large Arabic numerals. Truly a marvel.

And that’s exactly what the guests at the SIHH 2012 will be doing - marveling. This high class event is any watch lovers dream. 30,000 square meters of exhibition space, 1,500 represented points of sale and 1,200 journalists to cover it all makes SIHH the luxury watch event of the year, every year.

A bevy of international watch brands will be showcasing their newest and most spectacular designs, “the result of often years of intensive research” according to the SIHH 2012 official website.

“Perfection through Tradition,” is the mantra of this event. The SIHH values ingenuity in the industry, but equally supports the notion of presenting watches that are defined by “craftsmanship and technique.” The Luminor Marina 1950 will fit right in, for obvious reasons.

The Luminor Marina 1950 finished its debut at a Milan exhibition called “The “O’Clock – time design, design time,” earlier this week, just in time for the SIHH. This event fostered quite a different vibe than the upscale and traditional SIHH event usually does. Rooted in exploring the relationship between time and design, the contemporary Milan exhibition used Panerai’s vintage, chic watch in an “in-depth reflection about time.”

Its versatile audience makes the Luminor Marina 1950 one of the hottest and most highly anticipated items in luxury watches this year.

The Panerai Luminor Marina 1950.

Panerai is hosting a tribute to Galileo with the unveiling of new collections which are celebrating the famed astronomers scientific contributions and his impact on modern timepieces.

On November 2nd 2011, luxury watch manufacturer Officine Panerai hosted “Time and Space: A look back at the Clockwork Universe” at the famed Explorers Club in Manhattan, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo discovering the four largest moons of Jupiter. Rafael Alvarez, president of Panerai’s North American Operations co hosted the event which included explorers, astronauts and some of the world’s leading astronomers. On display were three of the most unique timepieces Panerai has created, the L’ Astronomo, Lo Scienziato and a planetarium clock entitled Jupiterium. Panerai was offered 2 million euros for the Jupiterium but decided to donate the clock to the Museum of Science which has recently been reopened as Museo Galileo after two years of extensive remodeling. Panerai representatives intimated that the decision to not sell the clock was due to its creation being a showmanship of their watchmaking talent. All of these magnificent timepieces will also be on display at The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva which opens on January 16th 2012.

Officine Panerai's 'Jupiterium'

News for the brand continues with the creation of the 3000P, which features a new hand wound movement in a sleek 5.3mm case. It has a three day power reserve, 21 jewels with over 20 thousand alterations per hour. The construction is solid with a large brush finished bridge that covers the mechanical parts of the watch. This calibre was created in direct response to the Asian markets incline toward compact movements.

Earlier in the year Mr. Panerai launched an exhibition “Time and Space: A tribute to Galileo Galilei” that is currently traveling throughout Italy honoring the astronomers great achievements. The exhibit features more than 100 vintage Panerai timepieces in addition to tools and instruments used during the evolution of mechanical watch manufacturing. This comprehensive exhibit will be appreciated by Panerai fans and horology aficionados, since it includes a rare collection of timepieces that were created in the 1930s by Panerai, when he was the official supplier for the Italian Navy. In an opening ceremony Angelo Bonati, CEO of Panerai Italy said ‘This successful exhibition is also celebrating Officine Panerai’s honored past and the brands bold step into the future.’ He also announced plans to open 20 new boutiques in the region within the next few years.

The Limited Edition Panerai Radiomir 10 Days GMT PAM 391, issued to mark the opening of the new Bal Harbour and Palm Beach boutiques.

Officine Panerai, manufacturer of artisan timepieces since 1860, recently opened two boutiques in South Florida. The new galleries, one located in Bal Harbour and the other in Palm Beach, bring the total number of Officine Panerai outlets in North America to five, the other three being in Manhattan, Beverly  Hills and Boca Raton. To commemorate the opening of the two boutiques, Officine Panerai issued a limited edition Radiomir 10 Days GMT PAM 391 watch, which will only be available at the Officine Panerai boutiques.

Maintaining the classic Mediterranean ambience found in the Italian boutiques was critical in establishing a luxurious experience for the clients. According to an Officine Panerai spokesperson: “The look and feel of the Mediterranean style retail environment is reminiscent of the original Panerai store, which still can be found today on the Piazza San Giovanni in Florence.” Officine Panerai’s maritime watch making heritage also greatly influenced the boutiques’ décor. The interiors are outfitted with furniture with undulating lines, port hole shaped windows and a liberal application of teak and white marble–materials that evoke a seaside ambiance. All of these elements combine to create an atmosphere that is both welcoming and sumptuous, the perfect environment to admire the newest collections and the rarest timepieces, one of which is the limited edition Radiomir 10 Days GMT PAM 391.

The Radiomir 10 Days GMT PAM 391, of which only 300 have been manufactured, is an exquisite 47mm with a high polished stainless steel case. It features a dark chocolate watch face with pale beige hands and Arabic numerals. The automatic movement is the exclusive Officine Panerai P 2003, which is visible through the translucent case-back. The strap is brown leather.

The Officine Panerai Boutique in Bal Harbour

The gala celebrating the Bal Harbour Boutique took place at the exclusive Soho Beach House in Miami. Guests were treated to cocktails, hors d’œuvres and an exhibit of iconic Officine Panerai timepieces. The event typified the mystique of Officine Panerai: An exclusive club in a gorgeous private setting catering to an elite crowd with a high degree of connoisseurship.

The locations of the newest Officine Panerai boutiques are:

Officine Panerai Boutique Bal Harbour
9700 Collins Ave.
Bal Harbour, Fl 33154

Officine Panerai Boutique Palm Beach
150 Worth Ave.
Palm Beach, Fl 33480

Panerai Watches Are Quality Timepieces

Discover Panerai watches.  You’ll be glad you did.  If you are a watch enthusiast or just have an appreciation for true mechanical engineering…you’re going to love Panerai.  The company has made high quality precision instruments for professional use, for decades.  They bring all that innovation to their watchmaking.  Panerai watch movements are exceptional and compare to none.  One of the watches from their Contemporary line is the Luminor Chrono Daylight 44MM.  This men’s watch by Panerai is full of style, as well as smarts.  The Chrono Daylight is all Swiss made quality, it is a true, certified Chronometer and is powered by Panerai’s automatic mechanical movement.  It has a 42 hour power reserve, a devise for anti shock, and 32 jewels.  The case is a large 44mm size, and is crafted from stainless-steel in a brushed finish.  The bezel is also in that brushed stainless-steel finish, and the crystal is an anti-reflective sapphire, with a clear backing.  This Panerai watch is water resistant to 100 meters.  All that is good stuff, and I have great respect for the craftsmen at Panerai, but what caught my attention is the style of this men’s watch.  Panerai put all that precision excellence is such a handsome package.  This Panerai watch is made in a deep teal blue.  The face and alligator leather strap match perfectly, and are in harmony with the brushed steel accents.  Panerai watches are exceptional, but in this case…the color sold me!

With 11 boutiques already located in places such as Beverly Hills and Dubai, these new boutiques allow Panerai to make distribution more targeted and exclusive and offer a larger selection of products to customers worldwide.  Each boutique is made to evoke the sea, with the arcitechture, furnishings, materials, and colors all working to create a harmonious vision of the ocean.  The watch collections themselves are housed in settings of teak and steel, with portholes serving as the viewing windows and furnishings imitating waves or yatch hulls.

The locations of the boutiques represent a mix of ambitious and safe marketing.  The locations in the Middle East and China tap into rapidly growing consumer markets, while the Geneva location roots Panerai in the ancient horological culture of the Swiss.  CEO Angelo Bonati states that the new boutiques are part of an initiative to solidify and continue the legend of the historical Florentine brand.

The original Mare Nostrum, designed for deck officers in 1943, never made it past the prototype stage because the Officine Panerai had to stop production during the war, so its rerelease is even more notable today. This time, 99 pieces will be made, and each of these 52mm diameter watches will be priced at $36,000. Before you let the price of a Panerai watches stop you, remember that these Italian watches are known for retaining their value over time. Why not recreate the chic elegance of 1940’s Italy?