Panerai Radiomir 1940 Chronograph Oro Bianco (PAM00520)

Many watch brands would like to be in Panerai's shoes. Since its acquisition by the company that became the Richemont Group, the watch firm with Italian roots has become one of the most collectible in the industry. Not many other brands can boast their own vast online collector community?

The Paneristi, as they are known, are passionate about their favorite brand. The community comprises collectors all stripes, from every continent and just about every walk of life—people of varied interests and ages, dwelling in cities and in the countryside. What brings them together is the joy that a certain watch designed in Italy and made in Switzerland brings to their lives.

Though the Paneristi are spread out around the world, several members make a point of gathering annually in a different city to celebrate "P-Day." Two years back, that celebration took place in New York, hosted by one of the more visible Paneristi to call the Big Apple home, the artist Eng Tay. International Watch caught up with Mr. Tay to discuss what makes the Paneristi tick.

iW: What drew you to Panerai?
Eng Tay: I've always been a watch enthusiast, even as a young man. I started out collecting modestly, but as my passion grew over the years, so did my eye for style and impact. I have to admit that at first I wasn't at all into Panerai watches because I was a little intimidated by the size.

Then my brother mentioned Panerai to me in 2000, and I had a second look. I had always worn 36 to 38mm, but then I went and tried one on. That was it! The weight was so reassuring and after a while, I began to stop looking at smaller models in other brands! Then the collecting started.

How did you discover the Paneristi community?
I discovered the Paneristi.com website in 2004 and I lurked there for quite some time, before becoming bold enough to join and reach out. It was a great experience. I found a place where passion for watches is a requirement, not an oddity.

What led you to become an active member?
I love to travel and one of the things that I enjoyed about the Paneristi community was that it was not only all across the U.S., but also international. As I was preparing for each trip, I was able to include meeting up with other 'Risti's, which added a whole new dimension to my travels.

Also, I met new people right here in New York, who again, not only shared the passion for the brand, but also had the same spirit of friendship that I had discovered on the Forum. I'm not much of a poster, but I do connect with others through e-mail. I also loved the spirit of giving that was evident in the fundraisers, which is something that has always been important to me.

How many Panerais are currently in your collection?
About forty pieces…

Do you collect vintage as well as modern pieces? Any highlights?
I do collect both vintage and modern pieces. I have a passion for things that are old, or from a different era. When a watch comes with an interesting provenance as well, it makes it all that more special.

Having said that, I also collect from an artist's point of view and I love good design. Many of the modern pieces are so beautifully styled, that I can be equally as passionate about them too.

I do have a few highlights….my PAM 21 Complete NOS is a highlight because it's one of the first that I bought, then there is the 6154….you know, I can't really answer this question definitively! There are too many special pieces.

You hosted P-Day in New York a few years ago. Have you traveled to other P-Days in the past? If so where?
I have been to P-Day on Hamilton Island in North East Australia, and I have been to P-Day in Germany. It was such an honor for me to host P-Day in New York. I am looking forward to traveling to London in the UK for this year's P-Day event. I'm sure it will be a blast.

How many attendees were at P-Day in New York? How many were local and how many traveled to attend?
Oh boy, that is a hard question to answer without going back into old files! I know that we were at full capacity and it was a very well mixed group. New York is a huge attraction on its own but we had attendees from all over Europe, not to mention Hawaii, Russia and Asia. The local attendee numbers were very high also. I think altogether we had close to 150 people there.

Panerai collectors are very well known for their passion. What do you think it is about the brand that inspires their passion?
I think the Panerai brand shows such a b connection to history which makes them that bit more special than other pieces.

The visual design and style is also so special; with Panerais there are no wasted details. Visually they are understated yet are still eye catching. They are weighty, yet reassuring to wear.