Choosing a luxury watch is no simple decision. There are so many amazing brands out there, that it can be hard to narrow down the options and make a decision on what style is right for you.
Two of the most popular brands we sell here at BQ Watches are the prestigious Audemars Piguet and the Panerai watches. These are two very different brands with quite different approaches to style. Though they’re both made with Swiss precision and craftsmanship, they don’t share too many similarities when it comes to aesthetics.
If you’re having a hard time choosing between Audemars Piguet and Panerai, allow us to help. We’ve compared and contrasted the two brands so you don’t have to. With that in mind, which luxury brand is best for you?
Both brands are steeped in history, which is a good way to begin your research when deciding between watchmakers.
Audemars Piguet was founded in the mountains of Switzerland in 1875 in a little town called Le Brassus. It was a farming town primarily, but in the harsh winters, the townsfolk would pass the time and produce additional income by creating watches. Throughout the years, these watchmaking techniques were fine-tuned and perfected. Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet would go on to put these techniques to good use, building a full-time watch factory and founding the Audemars Piguet brand. To this day, each Audemars Piguet is still hand-crafted, which is part of what makes them so well-made and desirable.
Panerai’s history goes back even further than Audemars Piguet. The origins of the famed brand can be traced to Florence in 1860. The original shop was opened by watchmaker Giovanni Panerai. Though further details on Panerai’s origins are shrouded in uncertainty, the brand began making a real name for itself when it started to provide the watches for the Italian Navy in 1910. Panerai was finally made available to mainstream consumers in 1993.
Click here to read our article on Panerai and its historical watchmaking school.
Comparing the style and craftsmanship between these two brands is an interesting endeavour, since they’re both so unique in their own ways.
When it comes to Audemars Piguet, you’ll get a bit more of a classic look for your watch. While Audemars Piguet’s style is still a bit more avant-garde than your typical luxury watch, they still have a classic and iconic design that can quickly be recognised by most watch enthusiasts. The Royal Oak is undoubtedly their most famous model, and the octagonal bezel is unmistakable. As for the craftsmanship of Audemars Piguet, you can expect it to be top-notch. They’re one of the most renowned Swiss watchmakers in the world and each watch that leaves their factory is meticulously crafted by hand by expert watchmakers.
Audemars Piguet watches are highly collectible due to their limited annual production, which significantly contributes to their exclusivity and desirability. The brand meticulously crafts a restricted number of timepieces each year, ensuring that each watch maintains a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. This limited production not only enhances the rarity of each model but also boosts its value over time, making Audemars Piguet a coveted choice among collectors. The scarcity of these watches means that owning an Audemars Piguet is not just a statement of luxury but also a wise investment, as their value is likely to appreciate with time.
Click here to read our article on how many watches Audemars Piguet make per year
For Panerai, you get another unmistakable design style, but one that is much more rooted in military aesthetic, true to their Navy roots. Panerai watches are often marked by a cushion-like design and massive power reserves. They also typically come with a large, hefty case that looks great on the wrist. Panerai takes a Swiss approach to their craftsmanship, but they put an Italian eye toward the style of their watches.
Panerai produces around 70,000 watches annually, making them highly collectible due to their limited availability. This controlled production enhances their exclusivity and desirability, often increasing the value of these timepieces over time. Limited edition models, produced in even smaller quantities, are especially sought after by collectors.
If you love the military aesthetic, then Panerai might be the choice for you. If you’re looking for something that’s a little more classic, but that still has its own design flair, then you may lean toward an Audemars Piguet.
If you have any specific movements and complications in mind when you’re looking to make your purchase, you may have to dive a little deeper into the different models and selections that each brand has available. As you might expect from such prestigious watchmakers, both brands offer several models that have impressive features and complications.
Audemars Piguet offers a wide range of complications in the models they produce, including but not limited to – minute repeaters, tourbillons, moon phase complications, perpetual calendars, chronographs, dual time zones, flying tourbillons, skeletonised tourbillon movement, flyback chronographs, and much more.
Panerai also offers a wide range of complications in the models they produce, including but not limited to – minute repeaters, tourbillons, perpetual calendars, split-second chronographs, dual time zones, flyback chronographs, and much more. Perhaps the most impressive feature of Panerai watches is that many of them have a 10-day power reserve.
When it comes to the quality of these watches, you don’t have to worry about which to pick. The great care that goes into each brand shines no matter which watch you end up choosing. And they both have great variety in their catalogues.
As far as pure variety goes, Audemars Piguet may edge out Panerai just a bit. Panerai rarely breaks from their militaristic design and many of their watches have a very specific look. If you like the look of Panerai watches, then this won’t be an issue. But if you’re looking for something a bit more subtle, Audemars might have more options in your wheelhouse. Overall, Panerai has quite a few models that are all under the umbrella of four major collections. These collections include the Luminor, the Radiomir, the Ferrari, and the Mare Nostrum.
Audemars Piguet has the Royal Oak collection leading its lineup. Other collections include the Edward Piguet, the Jules Audemars, the Haute Joaillerie, the Huitième, the Millenary, the Promesse, and the Code 11.59. Audemars Piguet also has a few more case size options, making some of their watches better suited for women, while Panerai cases tend to err on the larger end of the spectrum.
If gold options and precious gems are your focus, Audemars Piguet may have the right options for you. As a more classic watch design, you can expect that Audemars Piguet will remain more in the traditional watch materials like silver, gold and steel. However, when it comes to unique materials, Panerai has the edge.
With Audemars, you can find materials like rose gold, stainless steel, diamond, and similar options for your watch models. But with Panerai, there are more unusual options like bronze, goldtech, and carbon. Again, these militaristic touches are a great option for some, while others prefer a more traditional look.
As with many luxury watch brands, the pricing for these options is going to range quite a lot. You can get vintage Audemars for as low as £3,500 or you can find rarer models for well over £100,000.
For Panerai, you can find entry-level options for around £3,500, ranging up to to £12,000 for the majority of their models. In general, Panerai is going to have more affordable options than Audemars Piguet. An Audemars will more than likely be anywhere between £30,000 to £70,000 whereas a Panerai can be easily found for under £10,000.
As far as value goes, they’re both incredibly well-made and desirable watches that hold their value very well. You really can’t go wrong investing in either optio
Finally, we come to the most important factor – your personal tastes and style. There’s no wrong answer when it comes to choosing a luxury watch. If you love a certain watch and style, then that’s the watch that you should get.
Both Audemars Piguet and Panerai offer beautiful, finely crafted watches, so they’re going to look great and feel great on your wrist no matter which you choose. After you’ve worked through all of the preceding considerations, you can simply trust your personal preference and focus on what feels right.
When you’re ready to find that perfect used luxury watch, BQ Watches is here to help. We have an incredible inventory of Audemars Piguet, Panerai, Rolex, Patek Philippe, and much more. Contact us today for more information or browse our online inventory to find the watch for you.
