You’ll struggle to find another watch brand with a history and legacy as rich as Panerai. For over 150 years, Panerai has been creating timepieces that combine Italian design with Swiss manufacturing for watches that are both functional and effortlessly stylish. This marriage of function and appearance is highly influenced by Panerai’s nautical heritage, with the Panerai brand often citing the sea as a source of inspiration for their watch design. At Pawnbrokers of Rodeo Drive, we offer loans on Panerai watches at our Beverly Hills store. We understand parting with your watch may not be an easy decision and if you are wondering “should I sell or pawn my Panerai watch?” we hope to provide some clarity of the pawning process.

The rich history of Panerai watches

Giovanni Panerai, founder of the Panerai brand, opened his first watchmaking shop in 1860 in Florence. The shop was highly innovative as it operated as both a shop, a workshop, and as a watchmaking school. Panerai continued to innovate and patented Radiomir, a radium enhanced powder that illuminates the dials or numbering on a watch for the Royal Italian Navy. In 1936 Panerai released a prototype watch also named ‘Radiomir’, to be worn by the frogman commandos of the Royal Italian Navy First Submarine Group Command. The watch featured a water-resistant strap that was suitable for wearing over a diving suit.