At the SIHH 2019, Panerai introduced the four pillars of its 2019 collection: Radiomir, Luminor, Luminor 2 and Submersible. The Submersible models, originally part of the Luminor collection, now spearhead the Florentine watchmaker’s range of diving watches. Panerai decided to give them their very own collection, and the SIHH provided an opportunity to launch the new venture with eight new divers.
One of them, the Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech, comes in two versions. One is completely black, with the signature white luminescence; the other is mounted on a green military strap with matching green SuperLuminova. But that’s not the main difference. Panerai is offering the thirty-three purchasers of the green limited edition PAM00961 an exclusive experience in keeping with the military spirit of this professional diving watch, and with the history of Panerai: a day’s training with Comsubin, the Italian Navy’s elite diving unit.
Anyone not lucky enough or brave enough to learn survival skills from Italian commandos will nevertheless find all the same features in the unlimited black version, which earned Comsubin’s gold medal. The imposing 47 mm diameter case made of carbotech – a composite material composed of carbon filaments, which Panerai began using in 2015 – gives each piece a naturally camouflaged matt black exterior thanks to the irregular surface appearance of carbotech when machined. The Submersibles may now be diving solo, but they nevertheless continue to rely on the Luminor case, designed by Panerai at the end of the 1940s for the Italian Navy, which has the signature crown guard. Both models are fitted with a black carbon dial, which completes the camouflage motif. The unidirectional rotating bezel, which borrows its 5-minute markers from the historic Egiziano model created by Panerai for the Egyptian Army in 1956, makes it possible to calculate diving time. The watch is water resistant to a depth of 300 metres, and the sturdy rubber strap is no more sensitive to seawater than the Incabloc-equipped movement is to shocks.
The movement is the automatic P.91010 calibre developed by Panerai. Its balance beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph, and its twin barrels store enough energy to guarantee accurate running for 72 hours. It has central hours and minutes, a small seconds register at 9 o’clock and the date at 3 o’clock. The time can be set in one-hour increments both forwards and backwards. The protective titanium caseback features an engraving of a diver, with the inscription “Survival Instruments”, leaving the wearer in no doubt as to the watch’s credentials. In the limited edition, the caseback features an engraving of the Comsubin insignia.
The standard black version (PAM979) is priced at 19,100 Swiss francs, while the 33-piece limited edition (PAM961), which includes an invitation to spend a day training with Italian commandos, comes in at CHF 40,600.
For thrill-seeking Paneristi on the lookout for a unique experience, Panerai has two further Submersible limited editions. The Submersible Chrono Edition Guillaume Néry (15 pieces) gives buyers a chance to explore the ocean depths in French Polynesia in the company of the free diving champion, and the 19 pieces of the Submersible Mike Horn Edition come with a voucher for a spot of Arctic adventuring with the famous explorer.
