For last year’s Panerai presentation at Watches & Wonders, it was all Radiomir everything: with a collection that saw both a (genuinely charming) California dial; and the arrival of the most complicated watch in the brand’s entire history.
Now, the brand is switching gears to focus on the Submersible collection; and more specifically, adding to the range of Luna Rossa timepieces closely linked with the America’s Cup.
It was back in 2017 when Panerai first partnered with the sailing competition, becoming the official partner, as well as sponsor, of Oracle Team USA and Softbank Team Japan. Two years later, Panerai became the sponsor of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and has since created a range of watches inspired by the material and technological innovation that is at the heart of the latter yacht racing syndicate.
This year, sailing remains a creative preoccupation, with a range of releases kissed by salt and wind — and one combining material sophistication with straightforward functionality.
Our Favourite Watches From Panerai In 2024
Panerai Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition
To kick off 2024 for the Italian-founded watchmaker, Panerai has announced this serious heavy hitter: the Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition.
Limited to just 20 pieces globally, the purchase of this watch gives its owner access to a formidable ‘money can’t buy’ experience — tickets to the 37th America’s Cup.
Featuring a 45mm Carbotech case, it’s the first member of the Submersible family in this aesthetic to be kitted out with a tourbillon (making one full rotation every 30 seconds).
Enjoying no less than four days of power reserve when fully wound; it also boasts GMT functionality, a 300-metre water resistance rating, and arrives on a hybrid textile/rubber strap — the ultimate companion on any sailing vessel.
Panerai PAM Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-Ceramitech PAM01543 & PAM01466
A slightly more approachable new addition to the Submersible collection is the PAM01543 and the PAM01466, which still pack a serious punch when it comes to material innovation. Both cases measure 44mm in diameter and are made from Ti-Ceramitech, a material Panerai has filed a patent for the production of and which involves a titanium ceramisation process to create the blue colour.
The Ti-Ceramitech that’s created using this technique is reportedly 44% lighter in weight than steel and is ten times more fracture-resistant than traditional ceramic, translating to a remarkably high-performance material. The dive bezel, crown, and crown lock are all titanium, and promise a genuinely impressive 500m of water resistance.
“The launch of the Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-CeramitechTM series, PAM01466 and PAM01543, marks a significant milestone in our innovation journey,” says Jean-Marc Pontroué, Panerai CEO in a statement. “We are excited to showcase the pioneering Ti-CeramitechTM, a material seven years in the making by our Laboratorio di Idee at the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, that epitomizes our dedication to advanced technologies as well as the spirit of Luna Rossa’s quest for daring performances.”
The main difference between the two references is their dial colours, with the PAM01466 arriving in a deep shade of sunburst brushed blue and the PAM01543 featuring an attractive matte-finished white dial.
Powering both watches is the automatic P.900 calibre — a robust self-winding movement with a true 72-hour power reserve. Both arrive on high-quality rubber and textile straps secured using titanium pin buckles.
It’s a very solid offering from Panerai in 2024: with an assortment that celebrates some of the brand’s most important relationships (i.e. the America’s Cup and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team) without skimping on the ‘go anywhere, do everything’ quality central to the brand’s longevity.
