Panerai, like many other companies trapped in fascist countries, made accessories for the wrong side during WWII, but Mussolini’s autocratic demands and financial backing pushed the company to innovate quickly. Their wristwatches didn’t meet a broader audience until 1993 when they released a civilian range and earned Sylvester Stallone’s support. But their watches are really great and functional. And if you already purchased your first Panerai watch, it’s normal to want to know what other choices you have. Sometimes, you want to add more. Here are some of the Panerai watches you should consider adding to your increasing list. The antique, limited-edition versions, and discontinued Panerai styles are left out since they’ll be hard to attain when you want to.
1. Luminor Due 42mm
This Panerai Luminor Due – 42 mm ref PAM01042 features a polished Goldtech™ case and bezel, a white dial with luminous hour markers and Arabic numerals, a see-through sapphire crystal caseback, dark brown alligator strap with beige stitching, and 30-meter waterproofness. Its automatic mechanical movement is powered by P.900 caliber and has 23 jewels, 171 components, and a power reserve of 3 days. It costs $18,900 in the market today.
2. Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days
The Panerai Luminor 1950 ref PAM351 with a wider, cushion-shaped case always commands a lot of attention on the wrist. This is driven by a much more advanced in-house Caliber P.9000 movement with a 3-day battery pack. The hour can be advanced or reversed regardless of the minute resulting in changes in date, while the date does not have a quick-change system. This is fantastic and extremely useful for time zone transitions, among other things. It’s unique because it has a tobacco-colored dial and, wait for it, a titanium case. It features a beautiful case style, a Luminor Marina dial that is fairly common, high-end materials, and unique colors.
3. Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback
This is a one-of-a-kind item. The Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio ref PAM524 combines a transformer chronograph complexity with a Panerai flavor. It has a ‘dirty dial,’ with a sandy-brown, fake patina-colored lume. The dirty dial is one of everyone’s favorites, and if the stitching suits the lume, you can wear it with any strap. Then you get fantastic color combinations. The PAM524 is a 44 mm Luminor 1950 with a lot of wrist presence, and if your first PAM was a basic model, the PAM524 could be an excellent upgrade.
4. Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT
When it comes to dirty dials and complexities, the PAM533 in 44 mm must be regarded. The Caliber P.2003, which is an automatic piece with 296 parts, is used in the Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT ref PAM533. It has a linear power reserve monitor that shows how much power it has over the next 10 days. A GMT function, an AM/PM indicator, and a seconds reset function are all included. This is immensely beneficial for synchronization and time setting. It’s designed for the Paneristi who needs a lot of mechanical engineering on his wrist. Panerai also offers the PAM335 in ceramic if you want these attributes in a stealthy blacked-out item.
5. Radiomir Black Seal Acciaio
Enjoy the simple and reliable OP XI Caliber, which is a variation of the austere manually wound movement. The Marina dial on the Radiomir Black Seal Acciaio ref PAM183 is easy and has a sandwich dial. The Radiomir is often sleeker and vintage-looking than the Luminor. Panerai’s Radiomir-type case was the company’s first 45 mm diameter case. The difficult part is that you can adjust the strap on a PAM183 yourself, but it’s a much more time-consuming process. Nonetheless, it is truly breathtaking.
6. Luminor 1950 8 Days GMT
Many people regard the Panerai Luminor 1950 8 Days GMT ref PAM233 to be a timeless masterpiece in the latest Panerai series. It was Panerai’s first watch with an in-house mechanism, and it was full of personality and complexities. The P.2002/1 movement powers the 44 mm Luminor Marina case, which includes a power reserve tracker, manual wind 8-day battery life, 12-hour GMT, tiny sub-seconds, date, jumping hour, AM/PM indicator, and other specifications. This watch, obviously, has more complexities than you’ll ever want. The huge domed sapphire crystal is another awesome aspect of this timepiece which distorts the dial when viewed from certain angles.
7. Luminor 1950 3 Days
It’s no wonder that since its debut in 2011, the Luminor 1950 3 Days ref PAM372 has stayed one of Panerai’s most successful models. It is a perfect definition of the phrase “the sum of its parts,” as the watch’s various details come together to produce what many believe to be the most stunning Panerai in the latest run. PAM372 has a 47 mm Luminor Marina case with beautiful contours and edges, focused on the vintage PAM 6152-1. The raised crystal, which was formerly made of plexiglass now sapphire, allows you to see the symmetrical sandwich brown or black dial with ancient lume and gold hands. The 372 is extremely light for its size and has pleasant visuals that find it harder not to look at because of its cushion case.
8. Luminor Marina
The Luminor Marina ref PAM111 is record-breaking and favorite among Panerai enthusiasts, and it’s probably the first watch that appears when the brand is mentioned. It was first introduced in 2002 and includes a 44 mm Luminor case with a display caseback to highlight the OP Calibre XI workhorse movement. A greatly distinct black sandwich dial with an hour, minute, and second hand sits beneath the double domed sapphire. Put it on leather or Everest rubber strap, and you’ve got yourself the right profile for any event.
In A Nutshell
Panerai is among the most famous watch brands in the world. It’s no wonder that the Paneristi can’t have just one Panerai because of its overwhelming wrist existence, massive case size, and distinct design. It can be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to Panerai and that every Panerai model is a must-have classic item.