PANERAI

In this posting, I look at the coffee-table book, PANERAI by Mr. Simon de Burton and Mr. Giampiero Negretti.

Basic Information:

Hardcover: 192 pages

Publisher: Flammarion

Language: English

ISBN: 978-2-0803-0541-1

Dimensions: 13.4 X 13.2 X 1.5 inches

Weight: Heavy

Price: USD 175

A bit about the authors. Mr. Simon de Burton has written many books on motorcycles and I believe this is his first book on watches. Mr. Giampiero Negretti is no strange to the horology world having written the book 'Omega Watches', 'Longiness Watches' and 'Omega Sports Watches' among others. He is also the author of 2 other books on Panerai, 'Panerai Historia: From The Depths Of The Sea' and 'Legendary Watches: Officine Panerai'. The last 2 books were available from Panerai in the early years when Panerai first went commercial (1997/ 1998). I am not too sure if these books are still available.

This book is a very big and heavy book. It comes with a slip cover, which is also big and heavy. It makes an awesome coffee-table book. The quality of the book, the contents and photographs (all in vivid details) are just luxurious. It is a book that fits the brand and the stature that it enjoys.

The books starts with the history of Officine Panerai and continues into the part the brand plays in World War 2 on the arms of the Italian navy. It ends with Panerai current development to produce its own in-house movement and thus becoming a manufacture. There is also a section on the people who owns the watches. Intersperse between all these information are photographs of old and new Panerai watches and their specification.

There are many small things in the book that makes it a pleasure to own. For example, included in the book is card showing the famous Panerai crown.

Overall this book is large and impressive. It fits the brand and its product, large and impressive watches. The book is stunning and beautiful and worth every dollar that I paid for it. This book will make you love your Panerai more and also introduce the uninitiated into the world that is Panerai.