By Jovan Krstevski
Looking at the title of this article you probably wonder why the word “e-commerce” is used. Well, folks this Panerai is just a typical dive watch but it is the brand’s challenge to today’s market to embrace the future. Our friends have been slow to adapt to the changing landscape of trade which is now done online although I myself admit that seeing these lovely timepieces up close and personal is still the best way to go. But I think it is time to move on and the Panerai Luminor Submersible Automatic Acciaio PAM731 “E-Commerce Micro-Edition” being limited to 100 pieces and not available on any physical stores is one of the first from Panerai.
Truth be told, the watch industry is struggling mainly because of the old model of doing business wherein the market reach is quite slow and low and also it allows the gray watch market to undermine consumer trust thereby cutting the prices of luxury watches drastically. Meanwhile, the online experience offers both convenience and competitiveness and having a proper online presence is also necessary for any watch brand to survive these days.
Going back to the watch, didn’t I mention that it’s limited? Well, it’s a Panerai pioneer so there must be something special about this edition, read on. The Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM731 sports the famed cushion-shaped case with the brand’s signature crown guard device. It is unmistakably a diver’s watch thanks to its rotating brushed steel bezel that quickly identifies it as a Luminor Submersible. The case comes at a nice size of 44 mm and in steel which in Italian is simply acciaio. Its durable build allows it to surpass 300 meters of depth pressure. Of course, we all know that when tough is the name of the game, the Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM731 certainly delivers.
The Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM731 also sports a blue dial instead of a black one like the PAM01024. Personally, a blue dial is a distinguishing feature of a diver’s watch so I’m quite happy with Panerai’s choice. The design is original presenting the time with a sub-seconds at 9 o’clock and the date at the traditional 3 o’clock. The cyclops magnifier on the sapphire crystal displays the date very legibly. We can also see the familiar skeletonized hour and minute hands coated in Super-LumiNova. The seconds hand and the indices are also covered in the mentioned material. Overall, the legibility is superb.
Powering the Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM731 is the exclusive caliber OP XXX which comes with a COSC-certification. This impressive automatic movement beats at 4Hz (28,800 bph) and boasts 50 hours of power reserve. You won’t see the movement behind the case since there’s a solid caseback that also aids in strengthening the watch diving capability even more.
Finally, the Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM731 comes on a black caoutchouc or natural rubber strap. It looks sporty and tough although there’s also an additional canvas strap. A strap-changing tool also comes with the package with a price point of $7,200 online. For more info, please visit panerai.com
