"Founded in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai as a combination of workshop, watchmaking school and shop, the company only began producing watches for the public once it was acquired by the Vendome group (now Richemont) in 1993. On September 10 1993, at a dramatic ceremony held on board the Italian naval destroyer Luigi Durand de la Penne, in La Spezia harbor, home to Italy's naval special forces, Panerai officially emerged from military secrecy as a consumer watchmaker."
"For most of the 20th century, the timepieces and diving instruments (which included depth gauges and wrist-worn compasses) that Panerai produced were classified under Italy's Military Secrets Act; it had supplied the Italian and German navies during WW2 as well as the Egyptian navy and others from the 1950s onwards. The brand's famous Radiomir and Luminor designs both began life as military-only creations; its work in luminosity and waterproof case construction was highly advanced for its time."
Panerai was founded in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai as a workshop, watchmaking school and shop. The company supplied diving instruments and timepieces to navies and produced classified equipment under Italy's Military Secrets Act for much of the 20th century. Radiomir and Luminor began as military-only designs featuring advanced luminosity and waterproof case construction. The brand entered the consumer market after acquisition by the Vendome group (now Richemont) in 1993, followed by celebrity endorsement in 1995 and an international launch in 1997. The 'Depths of Time' exhibition in Florence showcases historical instruments, patents, catalogues and naval correspondence and will tour internationally.
Read at Elite Traveler
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