Officine Panerai

This Italian brand first appeared in 1860, and by 1879 Panerai was supplying the Italian navy with specialized instruments. Eventually, Panerai supplied the Italian navy with watches, which were only available to the military.

By 1997 Panerai had a strong presence in the civilian watch market, and large Panerai watches were favored by numerous movie stars and athletes. Some observers stated that Panerai watch wearers view each other as though they were members of a special club.