Hugh Grant has just solidified his place in a community he probably doesn’t even know exists: the so-called Crownguard Gang. The (extremely non-threatening) ‘gang’ are dedicated Swiss made Panerai replica watches enthusiasts. As such, they were extremely happy to see Grant flex his latest Panerai grail at the BAFTAs.
“Most of our community love watching films and TV shows to spot cheap UK Panerai fake watches, which are normally quickly recognisable because of the crownguard on the Luminor range,” says Paul Richardson, a spokesperson for Panerai Passione. “Hence why we are known as the Crownguard Gang.”
‘Panerista’ won’t be in everyone’s vocabulary because not everyone is a lover of top replica Panerai watches. Neither will ‘crownguarding’, which comes from the fact some watch crowns have a guard around them for equal parts aesthetic and protection purposes.
We have it on concrete authority that Hugh Grant is a big Panerista: he really loves his Panerai copy watches. He’s predominantly seen wearing Swiss made replica Panerai Luminor watches, which is why at this year’s BAFTAs his credentials were reaffirmed. While up on stage to present the award for Best Director (to Oppenhomie Christopher Nolan), a mere glance of the crown-side of his wristwear poking out from beneath his tuxedo was enough for the Crownguard Gang to be on red alert.
This time his watch of choice was vintage AAA wholesale Panerai Radiomir fake watches, identified by the thin wire lugs and the guardless crown, which is quite rare and not present on new models. While it’s not possible to know the exact model he is wearing, the brand itself confirmed it was a vintage stainless steel Radiomir 3646.
“The Radiomir in question harks back to the brand’s history of providing diving watches for the Flottiglia and Kampfschwimmer during WWII, hence the anonymous dial, in case of capture to hide the fact of by whom it was made,” says Richardson, “It also has a highly radioactive dial which glows brightly underwater normally during night time missions.”
To JJ Owens, founder of Daily Grail, “It makes total sense that Hugh Grant would wear his favoured vintage Panerai super clone watches for men to the BAFTAs as he is the living embodiment of a vintage grail: he only gets better with time”, while a spokesperson for Panerai Plus’s Instagram account gave a slightly more nuanced response: “Grant’s choice to own a vintage Panerai, particularly the iconic Radiomir 3646, symbolises a genuine affinity for Panerai and a profound appreciation for horological heritage… It is more than just a statement of fashion or style; it embodies the essence of authentic watch collecting and the appreciation of craftsmanship.”
Richardson explains the reason why people who own perfect Panerai replica watches tend to be really passionate about the brand – the saying goes ‘more than just a watch’ – is because the watches are generally made in small numbers each year. And with so many nods back to the brand’s military history, he says people tend to own more than one watch (vintage and more modern) because of this. We see you, Hugh.