When it comes to being one of the most visually stunning luxury watch brands in the market today, there is no doubt that both Breitling and Panerai will come up in the discussion. There is also one other notable similarity between these two watch brands, that is with their affinity to innovation.
While Breitling leans toward watch functionality when it comes to innovation, as seen in this list of the best Breitling watches in the market today, Panerai has a more aesthetic focused approach. Of course, that is not to say that Panerai watches lack in features – they wouldn’t be renowned if their timepieces only look pretty.
Now, a comparison between the two Swiss watch brands is a given, seeing as they seem to walk parallel to each other. So, without further ado. Let us see which holds the proverbial higher ground; Breitling or Panerai?
Breitling Brand Overview
Established in 1884 by Leon Breitling, the company named after the young watchmaker himself made waves with its focus on developing high-quality chronograph watches. Breitling’s focus on innovating watch technology, particularly in the chronograph category, makes them a good candidate for developing sports, outdoors, and multi-functional timepieces.
Breitling’s rapid rise and the moment they cemented their position on the upper echelon of the luxury watch market came during the early 1950s when they unveiled the first entry to their Navitimer series. As was expected from Breitling, the Navitimer helped pushed the limits of the chronograph design. It was also equipped with an advanced navigation computer that made it highly sought-after within the aviation industry.
Breitling’s other notable achievement in the industry is with another chronometer milestone, the introduction of the self-winding chronograph movement. Breitling once again made waves when the company introduced their Chronomat watch series. Of course, Breitling had a reputation to uphold and so they once again started on developing the next evolutionary step of their world-renowned timepieces.
In 2009, Breitling once again showcased their skill in watch craftsmanship when they debuted the Breitling Caliber 01 watch movement. By far, this is Breitling’s most precise self-winding chronograph movement and still their primary calibre to this day. At the moment, Breitling is considered among the top 15 watch brands in the world. This is a testament to their skill in crafting unique timepieces that are packed with features and functionalities that few can even hope to match up to.
When it comes to reputation, Breitling is considered to be among the top names in the industry. If you try searching for the best luxury watch brands, it is almost a guarantee that you will come across the mention of Breitling alongside other noteworthy brands such as Rolex and Omega. While not as popular mainstream as the other two luxury brands, to hardcore watch enthusiasts, Breitling can be considered on par with the all-time greats.
Panerai Brand Overview
Panerai is not the most well-known in the business, but it can be considered as one of those hidden gems in the industry. When it comes to describing Panerai watches, the best words to complement the brand are inventive, innovative, and stylish. A quick browse through the brand’s catalog will highlight one particular aspect of Panerai, which is with its highly creative, at times experimental, timepiece designs.
In terms of aesthetics, Panerai is one of the few that truly encapsulates the yin and yang difference of tradition and contemporary. Fascinatingly enough, Panerai watches managed to blend the two design ideas perfectly. Nowadays, Panerai watches incorporate a wide variety of watchmaking techniques – from time-honored methods to modern watch technology, you can expect Panerai watches to be more than meets the eye.
A good example of Panerai’s exceptional watch design can be seen with their Panerai Radiomir. Another notable aspect of Panerai is that this is an Italian and Swiss watch brand. Their headquarters are located in Milam, Italy while production is handled in Switzerland. This unique element gives Panerai a certain charm to it which is not found in other watch brands.
There is a reason why Panerai is not as well-known as other luxury watch brands out there, and that is because, throughout most of its current history, Panerai was strictly developing timepieces for the military. It wasn’t until the 1990s when Panerai finally started developing commercial timepieces for the general public. Still, their experience in crafting high-precision and durable timepieces lent itself well during this transitional period.
However, this distinctive aesthetic has placed the brand in a rather peculiar light. Due to its rather wild designs, Panerai has become somewhat of a divisive watch brand. Either you appreciate its experimental take on timepiece designs or you don’t.
Additionally, while Panerai is considered as a luxury brand, it is priced at a considerably more reasonable range than its competitors in the market. While relatively lower on the price bracket compared to its peers, Panerai watches are generally highly rated, a testament to the brand’s quality. Also, you might be surprised to know that Panerai is a bit of a staple in Hollywood with big-name action stars such as Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis.
Breitling and Panerai Watch Comparisons
Dive Watches:
Breitling Superocean II
🏆 #1 Best Overall
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- ⌚Business Dress Men Watches:Big face watch for men with day date.diamond roman indexes, easy to read, classic business style, stand the test of time, handsome and outstanding.
- ⌚316L Stainless Steel Strap:Solid stainless steel watch bracelet, hidden butterfly pushed button,prevent perspiration, quality assurance.The watch is equipped with a tool for adjusting the strap, which is simple and easy to operate.
- ⌚3ATM Waterproof Watch/Luminous:30M waterproof meets daily waterproof needs. the luminous function can read the watch in the dark environment.
- ⌚OLEVS Men Watches: Male watch come with olevs brand box.we offer a 30-day free return period and a 1-year warranty period are also provided. If you encounter problems during the use of the two tone silver watch, you can contact us through Amazon.
The Breitling Superocean II is a perfect example of what the core values of Breitling uphold. The innovative functionality, the blend of timeless aesthetics, and impeccable construction are all signature traits of a Breitling watch. All of which is in full display with the Superocean II. Incorporating a 42mm stainless-steel case, the Breitling Superocean is slightly bulky – as is the case with most Breitling timepieces.
As a dive watch, the Superocean II follows the principle rules of this type of watch: durable, accurate, and legible. The pristine white numeral markers and hands are perfectly joined together with the pitch-black dial, this gives the Superocean II natural legibility. This, and we haven’t even pointed out the luminous finish of the markers and hands. Of course, since this is Breitling we are talking about, you can expect a feature-rich timepiece as well. The Superocean II comes with a unidirectional bezel and a counter with 15 dive-time minutes.
Within the Superocean II lies the Breitling calibre 17 ETA 2824 self-winding movement. The dial is also well-protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal window. The main attraction of the Superocean II is without a doubt its 1,000-meter water resistance, making it more than suitable to handle any sort of water activity.
Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950
Rank #2
- 360-degree All-round Display: no need to hide, your luxury watch needs to be displayed! The transparent acrylic cover of this men's watch box can display your gorgeous watch in 360 degrees and it is also a shining decoration in your room.
- Superior Material: Solid wood with brown leather wrapped inside to prevent your watch from scratches. Equipped with 12 removable brown leather watch pillows suitable for placing all watch sizes on the market. Transparent acrylic cover not only prevents dust but also can show your precious watches at a glance in the room!
- Luxury Features: Size: 13.4*8.2*5.8in. Do your wallets, wireless headphones, mobile phones, jewelry, and glasses still stacked in disorder? The drawer of this watch case can meet your storage needs. It can be used to place your accessories and provide a new home for your daily belongings.
- Ideal Gift for Men: luxurious packaging protection and a greeting card attached to make this watch box the best gift for watch lovers on Christmas, Father's Day, Valentine's Day or Birthday.
- Best Service: If you are not satisfied with the product after you purchased it for any reason, whether it is damaged in transit or even if you change your mind, please let us know and we will replace or refund it according to your choice!
A glance at the Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 will give a good idea of what Panerai watches are all about. Its modern aesthetic completely strips away the classic timepiece ideals and transform into something unique. Inside is an automatic mechanical P9000 calibre movement and analog display. It also incorporates two specialized barrels which give the watch around 3-days of additional power reserve.
The Submersible series provides one of the best options for serious divers. This particular series also comes attached with quite a jaw-dropping price tag, so professional divers are its core audience. With a fantastic 250 bar water resistance (2,500-meters) as its main selling point, you can expect this dive watch to survive underwater with little to no issue.
Dress Watches:
Breitling Transocean Day & Date
Rank #3
- BURGUNDY DIAL: this men's automatic watch features a burgundy deep, pressed pattern with a gloss finish and rose gold stainless steel watch case
- AUTOMATIC: these self-winding, automatic men's watches are powered by your movement, with a power reserve of 41 hours
- STAINLESS STEEL & LEATHER: features a durable rose gold-finish stainless steel watch case paired with a brown leather watch band
- WATER-RESISTANT: these men's wrist watches are water-resistant down to 50 meters
- 4R35 CALIBER: equipped with the reliable caliber 4R35 automatic movement, this accurate men's watch keeps precise time
While this is technically an aviation timepiece, it is also stylish enough to be considered as a dress watch. With its compass-like dial aesthetic, this is one wristwatch that wears its roots proudly on its sleeves. Breitling is well-known within the aviation industry, as one of the best watch series in their catalog was designed for this particular use.
Compared to other Breitling timepieces, the Transocean Day & Date watch takes on a more traditional approach with its aesthetic. The neat and organized simplicity is perfect for professional pilots/aviators. The polished stainless-steel bezel and case partnered up with brown genuine leather adds a touch of class while not being too exuberant.
Notable features in this timepiece include the aforementioned day and date display. The day is displayed clearly at the top part of the dial underneath the 12 o’clock position while the date is found over at 3 o’clock. The timepiece also features Breitling’s signature self-winding automatic chronometer movement which guarantees absolute accuracy. Also, the Transocean comes with a 100-meter water resistance rating.
Panerai Luminor Mechanical Watch PAM-779 Review
Rank #4
- [Luxurious Mechanical Watch] High quality hollow mechanical watch appearance retro gorgeous, exquisite carving and design of the golden appearance of the European nobility more highlight your noble identity extraordinary taste, to bring you a pleasant luxury experience
- [Mechanical Movement] This watch has manual self-winding. Please consider that mechanical watches that require manual winding can only keep time for a short time after winding. To prevent running or inaccurate time, it is advised that you verify the time periodically and wind up the chain 15–20 times.
- [Waterproof] Water resistant to 50m (165ft) -suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but not diving or snorkeling
- [Ideal as a Gift] This beautiful retro-style watch can be worn on any occasion or given as a gift to your father, brother, partner, or boyfriend. At weddings and any holiday gatherings, it can be a really appreciated and elegant gift.
- [Professional After-Sale Service] Please contact us if you need any additional details about our watches. We will be happy to answer and help you anytime.
The rugged aesthetic of the Luminor PAM-779 is one of its most eye-catching features. The unique leather band design also accentuates the already impressive and striking visuals of this timepiece. The black DLC finish on the titanium case gives the watch added character. Also, the use of titanium for its 44mm case gives it impressive durability
This timepiece uses a mechanical hand-wind movement for its analog display. The dial itself is designed for absolute legibility while still managing to deliver a stylish flair. The black dial is accompanied by white hour markers and hands that feature white with blue accent design. Everything on the dial is in total contrast with one another yet merged amazingly well.
Also, the movement used here offers a whopping 8-days of power reserve. The watch is also constructed in a way that it offers around 300-meters of water resistance
Conclusion: Breitling vs Panerai – Which is Better?
Both brands are quite popular among the luxury watch aficionados. Breitling is a high-functioning timepiece with a focus on chronograph design. Design-wise, they lean towards a more traditional aesthetic while their watch functionalities continue to push the limits.
Panerai, on the other hand, offers some of the wildest looking timepieces around. All Panerai watches have a unique look to it that makes it quite a visual feast for watch lovers. That said, Panerai watches are considerably thicker compared to most luxury watches. This makes Panerai timepieces virtually impossible to fit underneath your sleeves.
So, which is better? In terms of reliability and precision, you can’t go wrong with Breitling. If you are more into stylish attention-grabbing timepieces, Panerai is worth a look. Price is an obvious factor also with some of the Panerai models mentioned going for roughly twice the price of the Breitling.
💰 Best Value
- The black IP Michael Kors Slim Runway watch is polished perfection. A classic three-link bracelet and monochromatic sunray dial with stick indexes add up to a wear-with-everything timepiece that dresses up and down with ease.
- Case & Dial: Round 44mm stainless steel case with a black dial; mineral crystal face resists scratches
- Watch Band: Black stainless steel bracelet band; 22mm band width; links can be removed for a customized fit
- Movement: Quartz movement with three-hand analog display; imported
- Water Resistant: Up to 50m (165ft): Wearable while swimming in shallow water; 5 ATM