Tom Austin
Panerai has unveiled its latest collection dedicated to the US Navy SEALs, representing their military DNA and showcasing the brand’s dedication to creating tough, functional tool watches.The release consists of 4 specific watches, all drawing inspiration from desert camouflage, all bearing the Navy SEALs logo on the dial, and a fully engraved caseback with the Navy SEALs trident symbol.All four watches are hardcore divers and are comprised of new variations of the Submersible Chrono, QuarantaQuattro and QuarantaQuattro GMT models.Panerai’s history is deeply entrenched in the military, specifically the Italian Navy. It goes as far back as 1935 when they were commissioned to make components and tools for the Navy to use. This quickly developed into the manufacturing of water-resistant wristwatches, which became the iconic Radiomir we know today. The ethos of this instantly recognisable brand still lives on today, as they continue to make some of the toughest tool watches on the market, suited very much to those who have a necessity to exist on the extreme end of the scales when it comes to their environment.This new collection from Panerai captures that ethos all the more, as it dedicates this new four-piece collection to the US Navy SEALs, the elite military team well known for their extreme levels of training and remarkable accomplishments in the harshest of environments. This collection of four watches is made up of popular pieces from the Submersible range in the Panerai catalogue, all with their own unique styles inspired by the Navy SEALs’ desert camouflage. They also all feature the Navy SEALs insignia on the dial, along with crosshair details, paired with an intricately detailed caseback featuring an engraving of the hero-worthy Navy SEALs Trident logo.Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro Navy SEALsFirstly, the Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro, a 44mm stainless steel time-only piece, is possibly the most versatile in the collection, seeing as its case finish is simply brushed 316L stainless steel. Its unidirectional rotating bezel is also finished in brushed stainless steel and paired, of course, with that iconic Panerai trademarked crown guard system, offering a 300-metre water-resistance. The dial is a dusty grey-to-black vignette colour, which has a textured finish and is paired with sandy beige Super-LumiNova lume plots and hands, matching the dial text.Inside beats the P900 automatic calibre from Panerai, powering the watch for three days straight and delivering reliable and clear time indication on that huge dial. Finally, the watch is finished with a bi-material rubber and Camo AOR1 patterned textile strap, a pattern used on the US Navy SEAL’s uniforms, which is connected to a brushed stainless steel pin-buckle.BrandPaneraiModelPanerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro Navy SEALsReferencePAM01518Case Dimensions44mmCase MaterialBrushed 316L Stainless SteelWater Resistance300 MetersCrystal(s)SapphireDialGrey – Black GradientStrapRubber & Camo AOR1 Pattern Textile – Steel pin buckleMovementAutomatic P.900 CalibrePower Reserve3 DaysFunctionsHours, Minutes, Small Seconds, Dive-timeAvailabilityAvailable nowPriceUS$10,200Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro GMT Navy SEALs CarbotechGunning for the award for the watch with the longest name, the Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro GMT Navy SEALs Carbotech is a slightly more advanced version of the QuarantaQuattro, not only in its function but also its construction. The 44mm case is the same shape and size as the standard steel watch but is constructed from Carbotech, Panerai’s proprietary carbon fibre material. It offers all the advantages of stainless steel and titanium but is much lighter and offers a higher resistance to shocks, impacts and corrosion. The rotating bezel is also finished in Carbotech.The GMT features a similar movement, the P.900 GMT calibre, and as the name suggests, comes equipped with a bright yellow GMT hand for monitoring times in alternative timezones. This model also features a date window at 3′ making this a slightly more functional piece for the extreme traveller. It’s finished with the same camouflage textile and rubber strap however this model is equipped with a titanium DLC pin buckle rather than the standard steel version.BrandPaneraiModelPanerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro GMT Navy SEALs CarbotechReferencePAM01513Case Dimensions44mmCase MaterialCarbotech – Carbon FibreWater Resistance500 MetersCrystal(s)SapphireDialGrey – Black GradientStrapRubber & Camo AOR1 Pattern Textile – Titanium pin buckleMovementAutomatic P.900/GMT CalibrePower Reserve3 DaysFunctionsHours, Minutes, Small Seconds, Dive-time, GMT, DateAvailabilityAvailable nowPriceUS$19,700Panerai Submersible Navy SEALs TitanioPushing the materials even further for this model, Panerai has used the Carbotech rotating bezel from the previous model and paired it with a full titanium Submersible case. Brushed all over, the watch is a combination of finishes and tones, combined with the same gradated dial and sand-coloured dial furniture. The result is a hard-wearing, lightweight and durable watch with the best of all options when it comes to material choices. The size of the Titanio is more befitting of its name, as it sits at a girthy 47mm on the wrist.The Titanio comes complete with the P.9010 calibre movement and automatic calibre with Panerai’s trusted Glucydur balance and twin-barrel design. This offers a higher level of accuracy over the three-day power reserve and also throws in a date function for good measure. Once again, the watch comes finished with the camo textile and rubber strap, complete with a brushed titanium pin buckle.BrandPaneraiModelPanerai Submersible Navy SEALs TitanioReferencePAM01669Case Dimensions47mmCase MaterialBrushed Titanium with Carbotech BezelWater Resistance300 MetersCrystal(s)SapphireDialGrey – Black GradientStrapRubber & Camo AOR1 Pattern Textile – Titanium pin buckleMovementAutomatic P.9010 CalibrePower Reserve3 DaysFunctionsHours, Minutes, Small Seconds, Dive-time, DateAvailabilityAvailable nowPriceUS$13,700Panerai Submersible Chrono Navy SEALs TitanioNow to the real technical behemoth of the collection, the Chrono Titanio. It’s a black DLC-coated titanium chronograph with a monster 47mm case size. This Titanio features a DLC-coated bezel with a black ceramic insert and a screw-down caseback with pushers, squeezing the water resistance to a whopping 500 meters. Once again, the dial comes finished in the grey and black vignette, but this time, it is much busier to accommodate all the details you’d expect from a chronograph.Powering the watch is the Panerai P.9100/R calibre, an automatic chronograph movement with a Glucydur balance and twin barrel design offering the same three day power reserve as the other pieces. The functionality is pushed a little further with this watch, pairing the typical dive watch functions with a flyback chronograph and an interesting “Time to Target” function on the dial, which I hope you don’t need to use very often.BrandPaneraiModelPanerai Submersible Chrono Navy SEALs TitanioReferencePAM01521Case Dimensions47mmCase MaterialBlack DLC Titanium with Ceramic BezelWater Resistance500 MetersCrystal(s)SapphireDialGrey – Black GradientStrapRubber & Camo AOR1 Pattern Textile – Titanium pin buckleMovementAutomatic P.9100/R CalibrePower Reserve3 DaysFunctionsHours, Minutes, Seconds, Dive-time, Flyback Chronograph, “Time to Target”AvailabilityLimited to 80 pcs. Available October 2024PriceUS$34,200
30.09.24