Independently-owned family jewellers are frequently frustrated that they cannot get their hands on the best limited edition watches launched at SIHH and Baselworld.
Too many watch brands today reserve limited editions for their own boutiques around the world. Even authorised retailers that invest enormous sums of money to create branded boutiques rarely get a sniff of the best models.
It is encouraging, therefore, to learn that Laings of Glasgow has scored one of only 500 Officine Panerai PAM 786 box sets that will be sold around the world this year.
The limited edition set contains two Panerai watches that will be offered to Laings customers from its Argyll Arcade flagship store.
The presentation box contains a Panerai Luminor Black Seal Left-Handed 8 Days Acciaio watch and a Luminor Daylight 8 Days Acciaio Watch. Both watches are inspired by older models from the pre-Vendôme era (1993– 1997) and are equipped with the in-house P.5000 hand-wound mechanical movement. They also have eight days of power reserve and are water-resistant to an impressive 300 metres.
“It’s special because of the watches, in particular the white dial watch. It’s based on one of the original Daylight Luminor watches made for Sylvester Stallone back in the mid- 80’s to be worn, funnily enough, in his film Daylight. The black DLC watch is also pretty special because it’s a Destro (a left-handed model). There aren’t many of them so collectors tend to value them for their rarity,” explains Haydn Ashcroft, assistant manager and watch expert at Laings.
