Italian design and history and Swiss craftsmanship: the meeting of these two souls gives birth to Panerai watches.
Founded in 1860 in Florence as a workshop, shop and later a watchmaking school, and for years a supplier of precision instruments to the Italian Navy, today Panerai manufactures its movements and watches in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
In a large factory opened in January 2014 (the factory was founded in 2002) that houses over 250 people and will also open its doors to visitors from June 2023.
The building, a 10,000 square metre multi-storey structure, is characterised by its rigorous, contemporary aesthetics and a focus on sustainability. The electricity consumed comes from hydroelectric power, and heating and cooling are provided by geothermal sensors and heat pumps. In addition, rainwater is collected in a reservoir and used to irrigate the garden.
The Panerai manufacture: 10,000 square metres of floor space
It also houses the Idea Lab, which is part of the research & development department.
Among the departments present is the 'Ideas Laboratory', part of the research and development department. Here, technical projects come to life thanks to the work of specialised professionals who work closely with the design department.
Then there is the industrialisation department, where designs become physical products and Panerai's signature materials are created, including bronze, Carbotech, titanium, brass and steel. There is also the state-of-the-art laboratory, dedicated to testing the reliability and robustness of timepieces, and the movement assembly and finishing departments.
Finally, the Haute Horlogerie department, which houses more than 10 master watchmakers who create complications. Such as the skeleton automatic movement, the Regatta chrono, the perpetual calendar, the tourbillon and the minute repeater.
