BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Panerai has, for some time now, been offering us watches which are tied in with experiences and adventures of an extraordinary nature for those fortunate enough to buy one of their watches from new. They’ve offered diving trips, expeditions with legendary explorer Mike Horn and chances to join with the best of the Italian armed forces. Today’s newest creation, the snappily named Submersible Chrono Marina Militare Experience Edition reference PAM01699, builds on that history.
Panerai is really proud of its heritage, specifically its tie-in with real-life heroes doing the most dangerous jobs around. Sure, Sylvester Stallone helped build this brand by getting its watches on the wrists of civilian customers, but Panerai already had a strong reputation as a go-to for technical equipment designed to operate in the harshest of environments.
The new watch could well be my favourite iteration of their ginormous Submersible Chrono watches. Seriously, you’ve got to have the wrist circumference to wear one of these convincingly because at 47mm and who knows how thick (my guess is around 17.5mm) these dwarf watches like Omega’s 45.5mm Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph. With that said, I’ve found all of the large-diameter Panerai watches that I’ve tried on to be extremely comfortable to wear, and with this watch’s case being made of titanium, I should imagine it’s no different. Water resistance is 500m.
I really like the brushed look of the case and the way it interacts with the green dial and strap. Despite having a bi-compax chronograph layout on the dial, the watch looks fairly rugged but straightforward. No technical flim-flam here, except the ceramic bezel insert perhaps. The “time to target” countdown scale for the chronograph is a nice touch and guaranteed to excite the child inside whoever will buy it.
Inside the watch is the self-winding calibre P.9100/R, it’s a self-winding. chronograph movement made in-house by Panerai that builds on the P.9100 movement. The /R addition in the movement’s name refers to the fact it’s got Panerai’s Regatta function which allows the watch to be preset as a countdown chronograph before it begins timing as a regular chronograph, this is what the “time to target” text represents and can be found in their regatta timer watches. The chronograph itself is a column-wheel type with a vertical clutch and a flyback function, which ticks all the boxes needed for a chronograph, in my view. The movement has a 4Hz beat rate and a long 72-hour power reserve.
Of course, the watch is only half the fun as it’s sold with an experience. This time, purchasers of the watch (from Panerai, of course) will be whisked off to the Aviazione Navale military base in Puglia, the “heel” of the Italian boot. There, owners will go through three days with some of Italy’s most elite operators doing military training, including a helicopter mission. Do the elite operators of the armed forces use mechanical watches? Probably not; I’d imagine a G-Shock is better suited to that environment, but it’s fun to dream, and this new Submersible model certainly looks the part. It’s pricey, though, at €70,000 / $60,800 / £48,200, but it comes with a black rubber strap thrown and is limited to only 35 pieces.
