For me as with any watch initially it's all about the attraction
that comes from the first sight. It can be many different things - sometimes its the design, size, technical innovation, horological background, history, heritage - whatever it may be its always the combination of several factors that brings it all together.
As for Panerai initially I was attracted by design, the right size & then relative exclusivity of the brand. Afterwards when I got more immersed into the roots of the brand my appreciation grew for the historical roots & the past it had made it special to me over other brands. In a sense of things I grew more attracted to it due to appreciation of the military backgrounds/roots & the image the brand portrayed, but soon afterwards I kept that appreciation in check over time pretty much growing out of romanticism that comes with brand marketing. Now I have my perspective in check I feel more connected myself to the "Real" Panerai of yore - vintage, Pre-Vendome and those transitional early Vendome models - while loosing some attraction to current trendy watered down (over)commercialized corporate Panerai.
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