Panerai was first introduced to the public on September 10th, 1993. Until then, the brand only made watches for military personnel. This is easy to forget, as Panerai quickly became a public fixture in the space of the watch. This year, on the anniversary of its debut in 1993, Panerai will be presenting the depths of time at its flagship boutique in Florence, Italy. The historic exhibition highlights Panerai’s legacy as a supplier to the Italian Navy and celebrates its great success after the brand is revealed. On this special occasion, Panerai introduces the luminor marina miriturn PAM05218. It is a modern interpretation of illuminators ref. 5218-202/A Since 1993, it was created exclusively for Italian Navy personnel. I had the opportunity to learn more about watches.
When Panerai made its release of public debut 32 years ago, the brand released three new watches. Two of them are luminor refs. 5218-2021/a and Mare Nostrum 5218-301/a were presented to civilians. Third, Panerai luminor Ref. 5218-202/a was exclusively for Italian Navy staff. This is the third model that the brand has brought back to life in a modern version. A decent release accompanied by a special The Depths Time exhibition. This watch has been a faithful recreation of the original since 1993, but the PAM05218 includes the latest updates of the materials. What stands out most of the time, however, is that this special piece is a wise choice that links military history with Panerai’s public success. This is something that also highlights the new exhibition.
Depth display
As mentioned before, the brand presents a special luminor Marina Militare PAM05218 at the opening of time. This special exhibition will be a great opportunity to discover Panerai’s history even before the watches are made public. The exhibition will be open for two months to visit Panerai’s Florence flagship store. According to Panerai, it will open in New York on October 4th and there will also be plans to spend a few weeks (pending confirmation) before landing in Shanghai on November 14th.
Deep time traces Panerai’s evolutionary trajectory, from its fundamental role as a supplier to the royal Italian navy and royal success, after being introduced to global audiences in 1993.
Additionally, equipment such as compasses and depth gauges are displayed along with historic watches and patent copies that record Panerai’s groundbreaking work, underwater readability, and instrument design. So if you’re a Panerai fan, this is definitely worth checking out.
Panerai luminor Marina Militare PAM05218
But let’s talk about the clock. I had the opportunity to check out for a few days. As mentioned before, it is a modernized re-editing of the classic luminor ref. 5218-202/a. This model was not available to the public and quickly became famous in Panerai Collector. The brand guarantees that the new watch will look very similar to the original. Let’s start with a few specs. The new PAM05218 has a 44mm stainless steel case with a black DLC coating. The original watch comes with a black PVD coating, which is the first step up the latest technology for the new watch.
The signature luminol case matches the special dial. It’s not your typical Panerai sandwich dial, but a single layer hollow dial with indices filled with engraved numbers and Super Luminova. In addition to that, the dial has a subtle concave finish that gives the numbers a 3D look. Original ref. 5218-202/a is specially designed for the Italian Navy, with the new version featuring the inscription “Marina Miriturn” on the dial. Take this opportunity, the Panerai team will reproduce text and numeric fonts to reflect the original typography of the 1993 release.
Signature “non-match” dial
Luminor ref. The signature element of the first dial used for. 5218-202/a is the difference in room colors between the hand and the dial. The dial producer used a transparent lacquer layer to ensure Lume stayed in place. However, the chemical reaction between the lacquer and the tritium room led to a change of color. The numbers on the dial were orange, but the room on the hand remained the familiar pale green. Panerai Collector calls these dials “non-matching” due to inconsistency in room colors.
When Panerai discovered a difference in color, the brand asked the dial producer to stop using protective lacquer. As a result, the subsequently generated dials became what is called “matching” dials. As you know, some pieces with non-matching dials are looking for collectors’ items. For the new PAM05218, the brand recreated this special dial using caramel super luminova on the engraved matte black monorary. It is paired with hands filled with bright tones of Lume. I have to admit, it produces a very wonderful effect that gives the watch plenty of appeal.
Caseback, straps and p.6000 movements
The new PAM05218 is 300 meters resistant and has a screw-in case of all steel. Along with the 1993 watch, the caseback features an Ophisyn Panerai Fairenze signature and a historic OP logo. Hidden behind the caseback is the brand’s P.6000 caliber, replacing the Unitas 6497 that powered the original watch. P.6000 has 19 gems and offers a 72-hour power reserve with a manual winding movement operating at 21,600VPH. It is the brand’s go-to move against entry-level models, showing time in hours and minutes.
Panerai finished off the historic look with a golden brown Calfskin strap and a large black DLC-treated steel trapezoidal buckle. The buckle is sewn onto the strap, as was the case with the 1993 model. It gives the watch a great vintage look. But if you want to change your aesthetic, you’ll also get a black rubber strap and an additional buckle.
Wearing the new Panerai Lighter PAM05218
This rather minimalist approach to dial design is both practical success and the visual appeal that defines Panerai’s classic time-only model. It is also where I find my biggest love for the brand. For me, Panerai’s easiest model allows the iconic design style to shine brightest. So it’s no surprise that we quickly enjoyed the looks of the new PAM05218. As a tall man, I am also not stepped down by the oversized presence. But certainly, the blackened case tightens the overall effect slightly.
The first thing that stands out when you place the watch on your wrist is the sturdy leather strap with a huge black DLC front Bendem style buckle. That buckle definitely packs a visual punch. This reminds us of the functional intent of the original Panerai model, created as a pure tool watch. When I get on my wrist, I often wear the PAM05218. There’s no problem pulling out a 44mm watch with an 18.5cm wrist, but it still makes an impact. However, I was immediately impressed by the attractive retro looks of this new lighting fixture.
Final Thoughts on Panerai luminor Marina Militare PAM05218
I’m not usually the biggest fan of blackened clocks, but this lighter Marina militia isn’t. Thanks to the dial and sturdy leather straps, there is plenty of charm and colour, giving this special piece a vintage feel. Once it reaches your wrist it is sturdy and well built. If you’ve ever worn a Panerai, you’ll recognize the qualitative sense that this watch will occur. It’s encouraging to be wearing the right tool watch developed for a specific task.
The brand has changed from a military-only watch supplier to a modern luxury watch brand, but the unique feel of the watch remains the same. The Panerai luminor Marina Militare PAM05218 is the perfect watch to tell a lively, two-sided story in 1993.
Plus, if you have unusual lighting fixtures, then ref. The wish list is 5218-202/a, but the prices are steep. This new version could be a great modern option. Panerai produces 500 Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218s each year, each costing 8,500 euros. Therefore, while production is limited for watches, they are not necessarily numbers. It’s wise, as the modern reinterpretation of the 1993 classic is a great addition historically relevant to the extensive Panerai lineup.
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