Felix Scholz
It's been a strong year for the Submersible collection, with Panerai hitting home runs with the latest Bronzo, the ingenious BMG-Tech and the?luxe lusciousness of the solid gold PAM 684. And while all these models offer a little something extra, be it limited edition exclusivity, material innovation or a solid chunk of gold, there's also a Submersible for the rest of us, and that's the PAM 682.Cased in plain brushed steel, on a rubber strap, the PAM 682 is the essence of the Submersible tool-like, utilitarian and unquestionably Panerai. It's also 42mm, which opens the traditionally beefy diver up to a whole new audience. The case size is the only thing that's been reduced, all other components remain as high-quality as ever, including the movement. The robust P.9010 is visible through the clear caseback, ticking away at 4hz, and good for three days of power reserve. The broad-shouldered Luminor 1950 case is still the hero of the show, thanks to the trademark crown guard. Appropriately enough for a diver (the watch is good to 300m), legibility is the name of the game for the dial, with only the blue small seconds hand relieving the otherwise black and white colour scheme. And of course the watch is topped off with the Submersible's signature uncluttered bezel brushed steel with raised markers every five minutes, and a hashed minute scale for the first 15 minutes.Panerai hasn't messed with their winning formula with the PAM 682, with the new 42mm size being the only major update. But for people who love the strong looks of this Italian-designed diver but haven't been able to handle the scale, this smaller size is a big deal.The Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Accio Automatic (PAM 682)?Australian pricingPanerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Accio Automatic (PAM 682), $11,900
22.05.17