What do actor Sylvester Stallone and fashion designer Ralph Lauren have in common? It’s safe to argue, not much except for their shared love for Panerai watches.
As the story goes, Stallone was in Rome for the filming of Daylight (1996) when he saw a Panerai Luminor Marina Submersible in a shop window and fell in love with it for its “star power”. (The watch would consequently make a cameo in the film.) Same goes for Lauren, a collector of vintage Panerais, who once said of his passion: “Panerai watches were not about the latest fashion, they were designed to work in specific conditions. Their form and beauty were secondary to their function; they’re rugged, utilitarian and handsome.”
With its history so inextricably tied to the Royal Italian Navy of the early 20th century, and its reputation for hefty wrist-takers that garner attention and admiration at first glance, it’s no wonder Panerai is known for inspiring an almost cultish devotion from its fans. And judging from the watch line up that the Italian watch brand has for the year ahead, we suspect it has no intentions of loosening its grip.