“There are places in the history of a Maison that are imbued with a special foundational role. Our Boutique in Florence is a cornerstone in Panerai’s history and in sharing our watchmaking expertise, the heritage and the innovation infused in our timepieces with an international clientele. In 2026, we are proud to celebrate a century of its presence in Piazza San Giovanni, the very heart of Florence” affirms Emmanuel Perrin, CEO of Panerai.
Its legacy began in 1860 at Ponte alle Grazie, where Giovanni Panerai established his first watch shop, workshop, and the city’s inaugural watchmaking school. Following the destruction of the Ponte alle Grazie during Florence’s tenure as capital of the then Kingdom of Italy (1865-1871), the shop underwent multiple relocations within the city center. It finally settled in Piazza San Giovanni in 1926, nestled within the Archbishop’s Palace in the very heart of the Renaissance city, offering a breathtaking architectural view of the Florence Cathedral.
Under the appellation “Orologeria Svizzera,” the 1926 relocation marked a signal moment in the trajectory of the family-owned business, which would burgeon into a renowned name in the international watchmaking industry. The Florence boutique was more than a retail space for the Panerai family; it was a functional workshop where skilled horologists meticulously assembled and repaired watches sold within its walls.
It was here that the Panerai family consolidated their knowledge of horology, thanks to numerous contacts with the most important Maisons of the time. This retail experience was critical in helping Giuseppe Panerai explore the technical solutions offered by the different watch brands sold within the boutique, thereby equipping him with the foundational expertise that would ultimately propel Panerai to become a global icon in the watchmaking world.
At the same time, the family was also nurturing a partnership that would become a game- changer for its future: the one with the Italian Navy, which would define its distinctive legacy in the realms of water resistance and luminescence, born of the need to manufacture instruments and professional tool watches. A close collaboration and the resulting military secrecy were maintained until September 10th, 1993, when Panerai unveiled its creations to the civilian world. That year marked another turning point, as the boutique finally integrated the Panerai timepieces into its offerings.
Following the brand’s acquisition by Richemont in 1997, the boutique underwent renovation, becoming the Maison’s first owned boutique and reopening to the public in 2001. Since then, its historical character has been meticulously preserved, maintaining its significance within the Maison’s universe. Together with the Luminor, Submersible and Radiomir contemporary collections, the boutique showcases iconic historical instruments and watches from its storied past, alongside a fully operational watchmaker’s station, vividly bringing the brand’s technical identity to life. On the upper floor an intimate space is conceived as a discreet and inviting lounge area where guests can enjoy a breathtaking vista of the Baptistery. Today, this iconic boutique, a witness to the Maison’s beginnings, continues to carry forward its century-long legacy, projecting Panerai’s innovative identity to an international clientele.
To celebrate this important milestone, the Maison will host ‘Immersion,’ a contemporary exhibition at Museo Marino Marini in Florence from September 10th to 19th, while the boutique will feature special events throughout the year.
Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734 and PAM01794: where military heritage and Florentine roots converge
Building upon the journey initiated at Watches and Wonders 2026, Panerai maintained heritage as the core driver for the design of its new Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734 and Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01794. Gracing “Immersion” as the star timepieces of the Maison’s immersive Brand Exhibition in Florence, these limited-edition novelties bring together Panerai’s military legacy with an homage to its Florentine roots. Their design is inspired by the iconic ref. 6152/1 from the 1960s, while integrating features that celebrate the brand’s historic presence in Florence, as 2026 marks the centenary of the Piazza San Giovanni Boutique.
“Our historical patrimony is always the starting point for all our creations,” states Alessandro Ficarelli, Chief Marketing and Heritage Officer of Panerai. “The new Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734 and PAM01794 celebrate both our military origins and Florentine roots. Interestingly, at the “Immersion” exhibition, visitors can discover the very prototype that inspired these new timepieces: the iconic ref. 6152/1 from the 1960s, in a unique variation. Hence, this exhibit demonstrates our commitment to preserving classic heritage codes while integrating them with contemporary technical features, exemplified by the PAM01734’s 44mm Platinumtech™ case with 10 bar (~100-meter) water resistance and the PAM01794’s steel case with 30 bar (~300-meter) water resistance, both powered by the P.5000 manufacture caliber with an eight-day power reserve. Through this exhibition and the new releases, we proudly showcase that our timepieces embody the ultimate convergence of heritage and performance, forging a timeless link between past and present.”
PAM01734 and PAM01794 draw their primary inspiration from ref. 6152/1 from the 1960s, yet, compared to other vintage models, they present a unique variation. The specific genesis of these timepieces was a particularly rare prototype of the iconic reference, authenticated by Panerai and held in a private collection. It was selected for its connection to Panerai’s Florentine origins, notably evidenced by the ‘Panerai Firenze’ inscription on its dial.
This peculiar historic model features two distinctive elements that have been revived in these novelties: the inscription positioned at 12 o’clock, visible on both references and a distinctive crown protective bridge featuring parallel grooves cut into the inner sides facing the crown, a detail which has been preserved on the Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734. This specific configuration was a direct result of Panerai’s original mission: to provide the Italian Navy with the best technical solutions to meet its strict demands, a philosophy that continues to define its contemporary collections. This peculiar crown protecting bridge, in fact, stems from a functional modification tested at the time to provide divers with enhanced access for winding. Panerai introduced these incisions during an experimental phase to improve the handling of hand-wound movements in operational conditions, thereby facilitating crown manipulation when wearing gloves, under pressure, or in low-visibility environments.
Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734 and PAM01794 translate the 47mm case of this peculiar 6152/1 prototype into a more versatile 44 mm size, retaining the volumetric geometry with a true cushion-shaped middle case, a flat crown protecting bridge, and contrasting polished and brushed surfaces. The result preserves the structural integrity and proportions of Panerai’s historical design language in a size refined for contemporary wear.
The timepieces are powered by the robust hand-wound P.5000 manufacture calibre, offering an impressive eight-day power reserve. This movement seamlessly integrates two characteristics—hand-wound operation and extended power reserve—that have been fundamental to the history of Panerai watches since the first models were manufactured for the Italian Navy. Its robust and stable structure echoes that of historic movements where the mechanism was largely contained between two plates, concealing most of the wheels and revealing only a few key details. With a diameter of 15½ lignes and a thickness of 4.5 mm, the P.5000 calibre comprises 21 jewels and 113 component parts. Its balance wheel oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz, equivalent to 21,600 vibrations/hour. This resilient calibre is predominantly enclosed between two broad plates, with only the balance cock and an intermediate wheel visible. A variable-inertia balance, featuring small timing screws on its rim, enables precise adjustment, while a full traversing bridge supports the balance, enhancing chronometric stability and ensuring optimal performance under shock. Horizontal brushing on the plates, blue inscriptions, and red jewels visually align the movement with Panerai’s contemporary calibre aesthetic.
Historically, the search for a long power reserve has been closely tied to reliability under demanding conditions. The crown is one of the most exposed parts of a watch, subject to strain, handling, and wear; each winding operation can affect durability and, over time, water-resistance. In the 1950s, Panerai addressed this by adopting the hand-wound Angelus SF 240 movement, which offered eight days of autonomy for watches used by underwater commandos. This extended reserve reduced the frequency of winding, helping to protect the crown assembly and maintain water-tightness. Over time, the eight-day configuration became one of the most recognizable elements of Panerai watchmaking and a key part of its identity. PAM01734 and PAM01794 continue this legacy: a manual calibre that, once fully wound at the start of the week, can run until the following week without intervention, echoing the operational logic of the historic instruments while responding to contemporary use.
PAM01794 is set in a steel case, while PAM01734 comes in the precious Platinumtech™. This patented special alloy, made with 95% pure platinum, boasting an 85% increase in hardness over standard platinum due to a distinctive treatment process, underscoring Panerai’s commitment to robustness and scratch resistance even with precious materials. Providing a higher scratch resistance than standard platinum, this material weighs around 33% more than 18-carat gold, giving the new timepiece a notable heft. The watch’s crown protective bridge features, for the very first time, parallel grooves cut into the inner sides facing the crown.
Both novelties are complemented by a slightly curved domed sapphire crystal, a design choice that recalls the visual effect of the PERSPEX® used in 1960s Luminor watches. This detail enhances both depth and legibility, in a nod to the Maison’s early professional instruments.
PAM01734 features an open sapphire caseback that proudly showcases PAM01734’s 10 bar (~100 meters) water resistance, a notable achievement for a vintage-inspired construction utilizing a Platinumtech™ case, and PAM01794’s closed caseback allows the watch to achieve 30 bar (~300 meters) water resistance. These ratings are rigorously verified by Panerai’s Laboratory through an extensive testing protocol. It begins with comprehensive quality certification, in which every component of the case is meticulously checked before assembly. Before the main water resistance assessment, representative batches of each model undergo extensive laboratory testing that simulates years of real-world use to verify that the design and manufacturing meet the brand’s standards for durability, reliability, and long-term performance under extreme conditions. Once the entire watch is assembled (without the strap), it undergoes a multi-stage water-resistance verification. First, a vacuum unit test is performed to prevent damage if waterproofing issues arise. Subsequently, the watch is immersed in a specialized device filled with water, simulating the indicated pressure plus an additional 25% safety factor, and then exposed for a specific duration. To confirm absolute dryness, the watch is heated, then cold water is dropped onto the sapphire glass; any internal moisture would instantly become visible. This comprehensive water resistance test, excluding the aging process, is performed on each timepiece, ensuring the water resistance is tested with an additional 25% safety factor.
Both dials mark a deliberate return to essentials: a clean design devoid of date or auxiliary functions, featuring cut-out numerals, indices, and pencil hands illuminated by Super- LumiNova™, with the unique ‘Panerai Firenze’ engraved tone-on-tone. The peculiar circular-brushed dial finish is manufactured on a brass base. The surface is worked through a sequence of concentric micro-circles, and as the dial is gradually rotated under the brush, each piece develops its own slight variations. This results in a pronounced responsiveness to light, allowing the tones to deepen and come alive in sunlight thanks to the circular patterning. PAM01734 features a green sandwich dial, a color choice that perfectly complements the elegant Platinumtech™ case with golden-effect finish on the hands. PAM01794’s steel iteration is paired with a black dial and blue-finished hands, a detail historically present in Panerai references where bluing was crucial for corrosion protection and enhanced legibility. Today, this signature color is meticulously reproduced through a controlled oxidation process at approximately 300°C, providing a clear visual contrast against the black dial. On the back, the ‘Officine Panerai Firenze’ inscription nods to the Maison’s Florentine workshop origin.
Further enhancing the vintage inspiration and their deep connection to Florence, the watches come with a Tuscan calf leather strap featuring a hot-stamped pattern of the city’s emblematic Florentine lily. PAM01734’s black leather is paired with a second green rubber strap, and PAM01794’s brown leather strap is paired with a second black rubber strap, providing a versatile, adventure-ready alternative.
The limited edition watches are presented in mahogany boxes, lacquered for PAM01734 and matte for PAM01794, with dovetail corner joints. Inside, the lid carries a custom metal plaque depicting the historic entrance of the Florence boutique. The watch rests on a removable tray; beneath it, a compartment houses the second strap and tools, completing an object designed to reflect the same historical focus as the watch itself.
Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734 is a limited edition of 100 pieces, and Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01794 is a limited edition of 1000 pieces and will be available in boutiques from September 2026.
