Panerai age determination from 1998 - 2023 by case letters

Panerai age determination by letters on the case back

Panerai serial numbers are a complex code that reveals a great deal about the history and identity of your watch. Below, each component is described in more detail:

Serial number: The first letter of your Panerai serial number corresponds to the year of production. This system began in 1998 with the letter "A" and has been updated annually. For example, "B" stands for 1999, "C" for 2000, and so on.

Using our table, you can quickly determine the year of your watch's birth. Watches from 1997, shortly after Richemont's acquisition of Panerai, are often referred to as the "PreA" series.

Case number: The year is followed by a two-digit code with a sequence of numbers. Common letter combinations include BB, DB, PL, and PN. While Panerai hasn't officially disclosed the meaning of these codes, they likely indicate case materials or production locations. For example, PN often appears on Ceramica or Carbotech models, while SW can represent wood elements.

Case type number: This section begins with "OP" followed by four digits. The sequential number has grown from approximately 6,500 in Panerai's early years to over 7,500 in recent production runs. This number helps identify specific case designs for different models and years.

Unique identifier: The remaining digits serve as the watch's individual "fingerprint" within its production series. This number, combined with the Millesimation (production limit) marking on the case back, tells you exactly where your watch stands in that production year. For example, "S0511/1000" designates the 511th watch, produced in 2016 out of a total of 1,000 pieces.

Understanding these elements not only helps authenticate your Panerai, but also reveals its unique place in the brand's rich watchmaking heritage.

Keep in mind that some special editions, such as those produced for trade shows or as VIP gifts (known as "Shadow Cases"), may deviate from this standard format, adding an additional layer of intrigue for collectors.

Panerai watches are particularly valued by collectors because, unlike many other brands in the luxury watch sector, the first models were only made available to the public in 1993. Previously, the Italian watch brand was exclusively responsible for the Italian Navy

No letter available - before 1997

A - 1998

B - 1999

C-2000

Germany - 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

Q - 2014

R - 2015

S - 2016

T - 2017

U - 2018

V - 2019

W - 2020

X-2021

Y - 2022

Z - 2023

Source: Bob's watches