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Just decided to make a pilgrimage to the "Boutique" in Florence, so we're off first thing tomorrow morning - quick burn down the motorway and we'll be there for the whole weekend.

Visits include, obviously, the boutique and the museum (Damn, no photos allowed) Florence, Sienna etc. Fingers crossed for decent weather.

I'll be back (with photos!) next week - have a great weekend - I'll try to...

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Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

wow, cannot wait to see the photos

on another positive note, my dealer confirmed my 219 for this year, its the only one they are getting....

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John

Past:- SA, B1, Emergency, Speedy Moon, Pam 26, Daytona, Sub, Tiger, Zenith Elite etc
Current:- Navi World, SO, Sea Dweller, Pam 219, Suunto Core etc


Coral Club Founding Father

So, just back, eaten plenty of pasta and bought???????????????????????????????


Where's the report of the trip

we're waiting...

As promised previously, here’s a short ‘report’ of my visit to Florence this weekend. Fortunately we were blessed with superb weather for the entire 4 days – as can be seen from the photos included here.

We stayed about 15 klms outside Florence near Pontasieve and it was from here we caught the train into Florence on Saturday morning – MUCH easier than A: trying to find a parking place in the city and B: paying the parking fees…

The Boutique is situated on the West side of the Piazza San Giovanni and the surprising thing when you first come across it is its size – tiny would be a very good word. The frontage measures barely 3 metres!

Patrizia Mazzoni is the manager of the Boutique, having arrived there in 2002. She, Giuseppe and Paola are very charming and knowledgeable about all things Panerai, but the surprising thing to me was the lack of watches on display. Three Ferrari and three Luminors in the front window, with a further 2 or three inside, plus a Panerai Travel clock…when I asked about seeing one of the latest P.9000 offerings I was told “not yet”…

Patrizia took us upstairs to the tiny museum where they display some unique pieces in marine themed porthole display cabinets – No Egiziano here, but some very nice prototypes and examples of Panerai depth gauges, compasses and flashlights manufactured for the Italian Navy. The last watches in the chronologically ordered display are naturally three Slytech models, with associated Stallone photos…

The upper floors of the Boutique used to be the service/repair area and then latterly a school for watchmakers – displayed alongside the watches is one of the original cabinets used to store the watch parts used to service the Rolex (And other) movements used at that time. The original Boutique sold Swiss watches, and it was only later that Panerai started making watch cases and using Rolex movements.

Altogether a very interesting hour spent in charming company – sadly company policy dictates no photography, so you’ll have to be content with a few ‘snap shots’ of Firenze and Siena. On the way out I asked if they could suggest a ‘typical’ restaurant and we were told to visit “Il Lattini” – I strongly recommend this if you ever get the chance (and if you ever get in – it’s very popular) really excellent food and the ‘ambience’ is fantastic – to paraphrase “Much more than a watch” this restaurant is “Much more than a pizza”….

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Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

Great shots! Looks stunning.

Great photos! Thanks for sharing. Never been to Florence, but I really enjoyed my trip to Venice!

Beautiful photos, and beautiful city! Pity about the lack of watches, though.
Cheers,
Carl