It is probably a fair assessment to say that Australia hasn’t got the most progressive market in the world. In fact it is dwarfed by the United States, Asia and Europe. However since I emigrated to Adelaide (three years ago) I have been fortunate enough to develop some good working relationships with Australian retailers. The people behind these companies have a progressive mindset and are willing to think outside the box. A few good examples are Swiss Watch Box, Watchpartners and Big Watch World.
A few weeks ago I spoke to Jason Reaby from Big Watch World about a fairly young Australian brand called Panzera. Jason highly recommended that I contact them and potentially meet them in Baselworld. Fortunately I have now scheduled a meeting with the owners in Zurich. Presently the majority of my contact has been with the company’s Creative Director, Roger Cooper. From our many conversations he explained that their ultimate aim was to produce well-designed watches at competitive prices. Within four years they have expanded exponentially and have retail outlets in all four continents.
Presently the company has released two collections called the Breuer Bauhaus and the Flieger. The timepiece I chose to test is the distinctive Flieger F47-01D Arado. On first inspection the watch looks reasonably well made, especially for a suggested retail price of less than $500. To keep the costs down Panzera sub contract the assembly of their watches to a German company with factories located in China. Dimensionally the timepiece measures 47mm x 11mm (excluding the crown) which should appeal a broad range of buyers. By no means is this the lightest watch I have ever worn (124 grams) but generally I found it was pleasurable to wear.
Visually the façade of Flieger F47-01D Arado is not massively original but is aesthetically pleasing. The overall composition is inspired by a classic pilot watch design commissioned by the German Imperial Air Ministry in 1940. Fundamentally what you are getting is IWC styling for a fraction of the price. I really like details like the black dial with contrasting white numerals and counters. Other features include a high quality 316L stainless steel case and hardened mineral crystal glass. Certainly if you want to achieve a quality look on a budget then I feel this watch offers pretty good value for money.
At the heart of the watch lies an AAA grade movement sourced from Chinese manufacturer Hangzhou. The Caliber 2BA0 comprises 22-jewels and oscillates at 21,600 vibrations per hour. This mechanism is visibly showcased via the exhibition case back mineral glass window. Functionally the Flieger F47-01D Arado features hours, minutes, small seconds and date facility. The timepiece also has a power reserve of 40-hours and is water resistant to a depth of 50 metres.
The Flieger F47-01D Arado has a soft black leather strap with matching steel deployment clasp. Priced attractively at $420.
On a personal level I would like to thank Panzera for donating this watch to a charitable cause. A friend of mine suffers from Multiple sclerosis and is trying to raise sufficient funds to get treatment in Italy. I am sure his family will be grateful to receive this beautiful timepiece.
For more information about Panzera visit the company’s website: http://panzera-style.com
