Brand comparisons usually run on opinion. This one runs on settled transactions: 1,616 recorded sales of Audemars Piguet and 510 of Panerai, all in US dollars so the figures are directly comparable.
What each one actually costs
The median Audemars Piguet result is $16,250. The median Panerai result is $7,500. On typical examples, Audemars Piguet carries roughly 2.2 times the price of Panerai at auction.
Half of all Audemars Piguet sales land between $6,875 and $34,600. For Panerai the middle half runs $5,060 to $12,075.
Which one surprises the specialists
44% of Audemars Piguet lots beat their high estimate, against 44% for Panerai. The two are closely matched, which suggests both are priced with similar confidence.
Breadth of the record
Our archive covers 591 distinct Audemars Piguet references and 87 for Panerai, with results going back to 2001 and 2003 respectively. The top recorded result is $1,016,000 for Audemars Piguet and $326,500 for Panerai.
What this does not tell you
A median is not a verdict. These brands overlap heavily at the edges, and a well chosen example of the cheaper one will outrun a poor example of the dearer one. Condition, completeness and model matter more than the badge on the dial.
