The Complete Best Swiss Replica Panerai Watches Buying Guide: Every Current Model Line Explained
Giovani Panerai opened his first watch shop in Florence, Italy in 1860, and his operation soon expanded to include a bustling workshop and Florence’s first horological training center. By the early 20th Century, AAA US Panerai replica watches had taken on contracts for the Royal Italian Navy, and in 1916 Panerai secured a crucial patent for Radiomir, a radium-based glowing paint.
Like so many firms stuck in fascist countries, Panerai developed watches for the wrong side during WWII, but Mussolini’s dictatorial mandates and deep pockets spurred Panerai to innovate at a rapid pace. They developed the Perspex crystal (1936), massive luminous sandwich dials (1938), integrated lugs with spring bars (1940) and a movement with an 8-day power reserve to reduce wear on crown seals (also 1940). After the fascists fell, high quality Panerai fake watches developed their renowned tritium-based lume called Luminor (1949), and their signature lever-activated crown lock (1950).
1:1 Swiss replica Panerai’s wrist watches didn’t reach a wider audience until they offered a civilian collection in 1993 and attracted the endorsement of Sylvester Stallone. By 1997, Panerai had become so successful that the Vendome Group (later the Richemont Group) acquired the firm, moved production to Switzerland, and transformed Panerai into the luxury sport watch company we know today.
It took best Panerai copy watches some time to shed Sly’s Rocky/Rambo bravado and tell its own story more directly, but once it did, the company offered up a subtler form of badassery that’s all about oceangoing adventure. Italy is almost entirely coastline, and their Navy is famous for innovative maritime technologies and techniques. Panerai was right there making the dive cheap replica Panerai watches, gauges, and compasses for these pioneers of the deep. Meanwhile, the company has maintained a close relationship with yacht racing, including on vintage wooden yachts.
Despite the relocation of its manufacturing to Switzerland, Panerai’s style remains faithful to the original Italian designs of the early to mid-20th Century, and today’s collection is far more diverse than ever before.
A Vast and Diverse Catalog
Broken into four collections, Panerai offers over 20 in-house movements as well a slew of movements built on third party bases, and these calibers are found in well over 200 individual wholesale fake Panerai watches models available in steel, bronze, titanium, gold, platinum, and proprietary case materials such as BMG-TECH (bulk metallic glass), Carbotech (polyether ether ketone), and Panerai Composite (synthetic ceramic using micro arc oxidation).
Sometimes the distinction between models is merely a matter of case material or dial color, but it’s common to grow frustrated shopping for a Panerai because one’s preferred look and fit don’t always come equipped with the movement/functions one prefers—or vice-versa. We aim to make navigating this dense catalog as easy as possible.
Panerai Numbers
Each replica watches for sale is assigned an individual reference or PAM number: PAMxxxxx. Colloquially, the reference numbers are often referred to without the zeros between the PAM and the numbers at the end.
Panerai’s in-house movements carry calibre numbers in this format: P.xxxx.
The company’s movements built on a Unitas/ETA base have Roman numeral calibre numbers that start with OP (e.g., OPXXII).
Panerai’s Four Model Categories
The best way to divide and conquer the vast Panerai catalog is to start with the collection you’re interested in followed by the case size that’ll fit you best (keeping in mind that Panerais are meant to wear boldly). Using a filter on the brand’s site, you’ll see that while there are 150 models in the Luminor family, so if you know that 42mm is the size for you it handily narrows it down to just 6 (at time of writing). Then, you’ve just got some dial colors and complications to consider.
However, much of the variety in Panerai fake watches for men and women comes from its movements and complications. The quintessential Panerai experience is quite possibly a Luminor at 44mm, but there are over 100 models that fit that description so, in addition to narrowing down your choices by case material, you’ll also have a slew of features available. For the most basic and entry-level options, check out the range called Base Logo.
Panerai Luminor Replica Watches
Beginning in the late 1940s, Panerai moved away from Radiomir lume to the tritium-based mixture patented as Luminor. In 1950 Panerai introduced its signature crown lock. The luxury super clone Panerai Luminor line watches features this crown lock, integrated lugs, and a cushion case shape that has its roots in the past but was also modernized a bit for 1993’s first civilian collection. This is easily the most recognizable Panerai look today.
Panerai Luminor Due Fake Watches
Though generally smaller, thinner, and feeling a bit “fancier,” the Due (“two” in Italian) feels like a sub-collection of the Luminor line and features the familiar design and crown guard locking mechanism. It’s understandable that the brand wanted to separate it from the famously rugged Luminor with its dive watch origins, though, as the 2022 replica Panerai Luminor Due watches has only a dress-watch-level of water resistance at 30m and a slimmer profile. The Due line premiered in 2018 and is Panerai’s answer to demands for both smaller and more feminine models.
Replica Panerai Radiomir Watches
Referencing Panerai’s earliest military watches from the 1930s, Panerai Radiomir fake watches shop site stand out from the rest of collections for a couple of reasons. First, they lack the prominent crown guard and locking mechanism that nearly defines the brand and is a feature of every other collection. They also have a couple of case styles with either wire lugs that detach for strap changes or the Radiomir 1940 models with integrated lugs and spring bars. Swiss movements Panerai Radiomir replica watches might look relatively classical and retr0-feeling — but remember that many are sized to offer a very prominent presence, mostly at 45mm or 47mm diameters.
Fake Panerai Submersible Watches
In 2019, Panerai separated out its dedicated dive watches into this new category, and doing so vastly simplified its catalog. While other perfect Panerai replica watches might technically deserve to be called dive watches due to their origins and water resistance, these have features like rotating bezels we tend to associate with modern divers. It also differs from other collections due to elements like its dial design and skeletonized hands.