Panerai watches were created to face the darkness of the night and of the depths of the sea: these were the conditions under which the special underwater forces of the Royal Italian Navy operated, as they carried out missions which demanded extraordinary courage and heroism but also exceptionally durable and reliable equipment. It was in the 1930s and 1940s of the last century that the Italian Navy nominated Orologeria Panerai in Florence, with which it had already collaborated for many years, as its trusted partner for supplying underwater watches for the frogmen. To satisfy the strict requirements imposed by the Navy, the workshop of ideas created by the Panerai family developed a timepiece and other precision instruments embodying innovative technical solutions of genius and revolutionary simplicity, solutions which transformed those watches into an icon and which still today make every Panerai watch immediately recognizable. The new Luminor Marina 8 Days presents again in a contemporary key —but with great fidelity to the original examples of the period— many of the innovations which have made the Panerai history.

For example, from the history of the brand come two elements which enliven the minimalist aesthetic of the black dial: the small seconds counter at nine o’clock, a distinctive feature of all Luminor Marina models, and the inscription “8 GIORNI BREVETTATO” —8 Days Patented— at three o’clock. The watch is powered by the manual-wound Panerai in-house calibre P.5000 with 15¾ lignes, 21 jewels, two barrels, 127 parts, Glucydur balance, KIF Parechoc anti-shock device and which beats at a frequency of 21,600 vph to provide an outstanding power reserve of 8 full days.

The power reserve of the P.5000 hand-wound manufacture movement is indeed eight days, a historic tribute to the long power reserve which was a characteristic of the period examples with Angelus movements, the first which also had the small seconds counter.

The water-resistance of the new Luminor Marina 8 Days also pays tribute to the historic Panerai models and it is tested to 30 atmospheres —equivalent to a depth of about 300 meters. The water-resistance is ensured by the case made of Type AISI 316L stainless steel, a steel alloy particularly resistant to corrosion, by the screw back and by the element which, more than any other, makes every Luminor unique and immediately recognizable: the iconic bridge device with the lever which exerts pressure on the winding crown to improve water-resistance and to protect it from accidental shocks.

The vintage fascination of the new Luminor Marina 8 Days and its ability to retell the glorious history of the brand is also expressed in the engraving in the center of the case back. This shows a human torpedo —Siluro a Lenta Corsa or S.L.C.—, the means of attack used by the commandos of the Italian Navy in carrying out their underwater missions. The watch is water-resistant to 300 meters.

This evocative element will certainly fascinate the many enthusiasts of the brand in North America, where the new Luminor Marina 8 Days will be sold in an exclusive preview. The Luminor Marina 8 Days PAM590 is fitted with a brown strap of natural untreated leather —Assolutamente— with trapezoidal polished pin buckle and it is supplied with a spare strap and a steel screwdriver. On the wrist, the watch wears true to its 44 mm diameter and quite comfortably. We like to think of this new watch as a mini Radiomir Egiziano PAM 341 due to its iconic '8 Giorni Brevettato' symbol on the dial.

Sticker Price $7,700 USD. For more info on Officine Panerai click here.