Casa Panerai New York Boutique
Panerai has just opened a new boutique, aptly named Casa Panerai New York. Located on Madison Avenue, it’s the largest Panerai boutique in the world and promises to deliver a peerless retail experience. To coincide with the opening, the brand has released a special edition watch, the Panerai Luminor BiTempo New York Edition PAM01467. Furthermore, the boutique also has an example of the ultra-desirable Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon PAM01284 on display.
Casa Panerai New York – Madison Avenue
An increasing number of watch brands now operate their own boutiques, eager to present their products in an optimal setting. Horophiles and luxury buyers are invited to cross the threshold and enter a world where timepieces, accessories and various brand-related exhibits are presented in well-lit surroundings.
Panerai is no stranger to the monobrand store model, operating several boutiques around the globe. It is clearly a formula that works as the brand has now opened its largest boutique to date, located on Madison Avenue, one of the most prestigious areas of New York.
Image – © AaronDoughertyPhoto
Casa Panerai New York – a taste of Florence
Would-be clients can visit the new boutique and appraise models at close quarters and make purchases in-store. Alternatively, clients can choose to immerse themselves in this microcosm of Florence and gain insight into the company’s history and view an array of artefacts on display.
Some visitors may prefer to buy their watch online via the company’s website but still want to have the opportunity to view the watch in person beforehand. Panerai is at pains to stress that its retail offer is ‘approachable and accessible’ and ‘the experience may be self-guided or aided by a Panerai representative to the client’s preference’.
Casa Panerai New York – Panerai Luminor BiTempo New York Edition PAM01467
To coincide with the opening of the boutique, Panerai has released a special edition model, the Panerai Luminor BiTempo New York Edition PAM01467. Limited to just 212 pieces, this timepiece is housed in a titanium DLC case measuring 44 mm. Brand devotees will no doubt appreciate the familiar design elements found on earlier references, including the sandwich dial, crown protection device and small seconds display at 9 o’clock. This particular model, fitted with the P.9010/GMT calibre, features a GMT function and is endowed with a solid caseback enriched with a depiction of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon PAM01284
Another highlight on display at the new store is the Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon PAM01284, a horological tour de force dressed in a Bronzo case. The Swiss-Italian brand released its first bronze-case model, the PAM382 at SIHH 2011. While Panerai wasn’t the first brand to make bronze watches, the advent of the inaugural Bronzo model ignited much interest among the watch collecting fraternity. Thereafter, other brands have since released bronze timepieces, keen to capitalise on the demand for the copper-based alloy.
The Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon PAM01284 is presented in a 45 mm brushed bronze case with matching bezel. The inventory of functions includes the hours and minutes, a tourbillon, power reserve, GMT and a day/night indicator. Unusually, the tourbillon rotates 360° every 30 seconds, effectively rotating at twice the usual speed. Interestingly, the dial reveals many elements normally hidden from view. For example, the barrel at 6 o’clock is openworked, revealing the mainspring in various states of tension. Moreover, this watch has two barrels that deliver an impressive power reserve of up to 4 days.
The complexity of the Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon PAM01284 means its creation is protracted and, by default, is a rare sight.
Casa Panerai New York – a must-visit destination
Casa Panerai on Madison Avenue, New York promises to be a must-visit destination for all Paneristi, watch obsessives and horological newbies; a place to discover incredible timepieces, presented in the most elegant of settings.
