As I step into a sprawling boardroom to meet Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO, Panerai, I catch him engrossed in his laptop, which he quickly shuts when he sees me. Smiling, he extends his hand, and apologises for his preoccupation. It's been a busy year for Pontroué. Internationally, just in the past six months, the brand has opened 10 new boutiques worldwide, with 10 more set to open, among which is Bengaluru's Phoenix Mall of Asia outpost.
Last year, Panerai also opened a boutique at Jio World Plaza in Mumbai, the biggest watch store in the mall. With the inclusion of Bengaluru, the brand presence has now increased to four boutiques in India.
Retail expansion aside, Panerai's highlights this year include the development of Ti-Ceramitech", a titanium alloy subjected to a patented titanium ceramisation process that results in a material that's hard, tough, and 44 per cent lighter than steel. Another whammy was the Submersible Elux LAB-ID (short for 'elettroluminescenza'), a watch with a complicated powerhouse movement, the Calibre P.9010/EL, which can power luminescence on demand for up to 30 minutes. A limited edition of 150 pieces, one of it has been sold in India. The day I met Pontroué, that evening he spent time talking to Delhi's watch collectors and enthusiasts, showing and discussing with them this very Submersible Elux LAB-ID, which he had on his wrist.
Watch Time India sat down with Pontroué to discuss all these developments and more...
WatchTime India: How has 2024 been so far for Panerai?
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