The following only applies only to post Vendome Panerai watches. The Vendome group purchased Panerai watch company in 1997. These reference numbers only apply to Panerai watches produced after 1997. This is the case back of a Panerai Luminor Marina Automatic (PAM 00048).
1. SERIAL NUMBER
The serial number supplements the production number. The newer the watch the higher the number.
2. CASE NUMBER
The case number can vary from watch to watch and indicates a particular style of case.
3. YEAR DESIGNATION
Panerai watches are dated by a letter that appears before the production number. The watch shown in the example above is an ‘I’ production year, which is approximately 2006. The following are the approximate years of production that the letter indicates:
No Letter – 1997
A – 1998
B – 1999
C – 2000
D – 2001
E – 2002
F – 2003
G – 2004
H – 2005
I – 2006
J – 2007
K – 2008
L – 2009
M – 2010
N – 2011
O – 2012
P – 2013
4. PRODUCTION NUMBER
If the watch is from an A to E series, then it indicates the production number of all dial and case variations of a particular watch. If the watch is from a F series or later, it indicates the production number of this particular watch for a designated year.
