Talk of law of supply and demand in reverse—the Italian brand Panerai watches are manufactured at less than what the market demands to create brand snootiness, which our individualist ego is subconsciously attracted to in a Freudian kind of way. Take the U.S. Navy Seals, an elite force that many shoot for, but only a few hit the mark; a super exclusive fighting group of men and women who have nothing to do with Panerai watches. Or so we thought until we realize this elite force was inspired by a group of Italian frogmen some seventy years ago. It was the Second World War, and we arrive at a Mediterranean outpost where daring Italian combat frogmen are assembled for a kill. The target is Allied ships prying over North Africa’s coast and the frogmen belong to the Decima Flottiglia MAS, Benito Mussolini’s elite force of the Italian Navy. These combatants are to board mini-submarines that are actually manned torpedoes and drive them to enemy ships undetected. On target lock, they shall stay the course until, just moments before impact, must jump ship, or so to say, to avoid being cannon fodder. They are daring, brave, patriotic, and they do it in style. They wear Panerai watches. An authority in manufacturing submersible timepieces, Panerai served as the official time-keeper for the Italian Navy during the war. Panerai has withstood the war and now must withstand the horde of fashionable people who want one of its limited editions.

 

 

Image: Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 Submersible 3 Days Automatic PAM 00305

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panerai

http://www.watchuwant.com/history-panerai