This Rugged Military Diver Moonlights As a Pilot’s Watch

Many watch brands have had military connections in their pasts, and some even continue those associations to this day. But few brands, if any, have ties that run as deep as Panerai and the Italian Navy, Marina Militare.

Panerai’s iconic Radiomir model traces its roots to a 1935 prototype that the Italian brand — with a heavy assist from Rolex — produced for the Italian Royal Navy. But even before being called upon to make watches, Panerai had been producing tools and other equipment for Marina Militare since the 1910s.

Today, that relationship continues through an ongoing series of special-edition watches from Panerai that honor the Marina Militare, and they’re among the most coveted from the brand. The latest is a pair of Submersible divers that, while still created in partnership with Marina Militare, were actually created with jet pilots in mind.

Panerai

Are You Experienced?

The most prestigious (and expensive) of Panerai’s Marina Militare watches are those that are a part of the Panerai Xperiences Program. These watches are exceptional on their own, but their buyers also have the privilege of going on literal adventures, including taking part in military training exercises with the Marina Militare.

Back in April, Panerai launched the Submersible Chrono Marina Militare Experience Edition PAM01699. The watch is a beast of a chronograph at 47mm across in Grade 5 titanium with a water resistance of 500m. It also has a pretty insane chronograph movement that includes a flyback function along with a unique countdown feature intended for military pilots going on a mission.

Panerai

The watch was Panerai’s first Experience Watch produced in collaboration with Aviazione Navale, the aviation branch of Marina Militare, and purchasing the watch gains its buyer entry to an intense military simulation experience taking place in Italy next month.

But there are several catches when it comes to this watch. For one, it costs $68,600, which is prohibitively expensive for most people. Secondly, just 35 examples were produced, so even if you can afford one, you’re probably not getting one. And third, at 47mm across, the watch is too big for the vast majority of people to wear — even uber-wealthy, well-connected ones.

So if you love the look of that watch and the unique diver-pilot connection of the Aviazione Navale, then you’re in luck, as Panerai has followed up the Experience Watch with two non-limited Submersible Aviazione Navale editions.

Migliori Pistole

Panerai

These two watches, one in stainless steel and the other in Panerai’s lightweight carbon fiber composite, Carbotech, feature all of the same Aviazione Navale-inspired style cues as the Experience Watch but in a simpler, more affordable package.

That means you get the same grained, matte green and black gradient dial modeled after the flight gear and helmets of the Aviazione Navale, along with the same gray Super-LumiNova Grade X2 lume that recalls the branch’s sophisticated aircraft.

The small seconds counter at 9:00 is also carried over directly from the Experience Watch and is designed to look like a radar display and features an engraving of the Aviazione Navale’s historical anchor insignia.

Panerai

The closed caseback is engraved with the Aviazione Navale’s wings emblem, making these the only Panerai watches outside of the Experience Watch to boast this detail. Even the green cotton canvas strap with T/T stitching, a nod to Aviazione Navale’s uniforms, has been transferred from the Experience Watch.

Obviously, the new watches don’t come with the fancy-schmancy chronograph movement or the once-in-a-lifetime Italian military training experience, but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily a downgrade.

As annual-production models, the watches are not limited, which means you can probably get one if interested. They’re also just 44mm across, which is still beefy but is a hell of a lot more wearable than 47. Basically, if you can wear a typical Luminor, you can pull off this Submersible.

Panerai

The watches’ Cal. P.900 automatic includes a date function, which the chronograph lacks, arguably making the watch even more practical for daily wear. And while the 500m water resistance of the Experience Watch has been knocked down to 300m here, that’s still more than any human will ever need.

Finally, the two new watches are far cheaper than the Experience Watch, which should go without saying. The Carbotech version, ref. number PAM01698, is the pricier of the two because of its advanced case material. It retails for $19,500. The steel model, which also features a ceramic bezel insert, has the ref. number PAM01697 and is listed at $12,500.

These watches are technically dive watches, but the pilot connection with Aviazione Navale makes a lot of sense, too. After all, what do you really need in a pilot’s watch? A big legible dial, oversized lumed indices, a massive crown that’s easy to operate, a running seconds display and maybe a timing bezel as a bonus.

By my count, the Submersible Marina Militare Aviazione Navale Editions both pass with flying colors — no pun intended.

Panerai

Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Aviazione Navale Carbotech

Specs

Case Size	44mm
Movement	Panerai Cal. P.900 automatic
Water Resistance	300m

• $19,500 at Panerai

Related Topics