Introducing: The Panerai Submersible Chrono Marina Militare Experience Edition
Panerai has unveiled the new Submersible Chrono Marina Militare Experience Edition PAM01699. This tool-ish 47mm titanium watch is a limited edition of 35 pieces worldwide. However, as its name and €50K+ price suggest, the whole package includes much more than a heavy-duty timekeeper…
The relationship between Panerai and the Italian Navy is a key part of the brand’s history. Panerai says that the relationship began in the 1910s. It certainly heated up during the Second World War, when Italian frogmen used Panerai watches. This latest release, however, the Submersible Chrono Marina Militare Experience Edition PAM01699, is inspired by the Aviazione Navale, the Italian Navy’s aviation branch.
The Panerai experience watch
In 2019, Panerai launched the Xperiences Program. According to the brand, this “provides owners with access to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities where they can connect deeply with Panerai’s essence, embarking on three different types of experiences, each one dedicated to the core value of the brand: adventure, military, and Italianity.”
In essence, accompanying this new watch is a new experience. Panerai says owners will be granted a “once-in-a-lifetime adventure.” That adventure goes something like this: “Participants will step into the shoes of a modern hero for three days. They will learn the uncompromising discipline of the Military Corps, participating in thrilling military training activities while gaining rare insight into their usual naval aviation operations through tactical simulations and helicopter missions. Beyond that, guests will have the opportunity to flank aircrew during their flight activity and soak in the authentic atmosphere of southern Italian culture.”
The Panerai PAM01699
I will leave our readers to make up their minds on mixing the military with tourism, but it’s certainly a novel idea to tie a watch purchase in with an adventure experience. Let’s get to the watch, which is why we’re here, after all.
At the heart of PAM01699 is the Panerai P.9100/R automatic caliber, a flyback chronograph with a vertical clutch and column wheel. This 9.55mm-thick 37-jewel movement has a three-day power reserve, a 4Hz (28,800vph) frequency, two barrels, and 332 individual components. Most notably, though, it also offers a countdown function. By pressing the pusher at 4 o’clock, the wearer can move the central chronograph minute hand back in one-minute steps. Upon activation of the chronograph via the pusher at 10 o’clock, the hand will display the “time to target” before tracking standard elapsed minutes after reaching zero.
With the watch’s crown pulled out, the wearer can also adjust the hour hand forward or backward in one-hour intervals without moving the minute hand or stopping the running seconds. This means the caliber provides the standard hours, minutes, and seconds, a 12-hour flyback chronograph, time-to-target countdown, and a time-zone-jumping function for travel. Plus, with the crown pulled all the way out, the hacking small seconds hand resets to zero for easy time synchronization.
A seriously durable Panerai
The watch offers water resistance to 500 meters, which is much more than enough for any real daily usage. In fact, Panerai says it tests an additional 25% on top of that resistance to ensure durability. The large 47mm case is brushed Grade 5 titanium, and its unidirectional titanium bezel has a matte black ceramic insert. According to Panerai, the designers opted for gray Super-LumiNova to take on the colors of the Aviazione Navale aircraft. As it is Grade X2, it should glow rather brightly.
Concluding thoughts
The Panerai Submersible Chrono Marina Militare Experience Edition PAM01699 costs £48,200. It’s unusual, at least to me, for a luxury watch and a multi-day experience to be sold together like this. I can’t think of any other brands besides Panerai that do this, and from a marketing point of view, I can sort of understand it. The watch has an impressive caliber, to boot. The design of this watch speaks to its overengineered nature, and there is something to appreciate in that.
What do you think, Fratelli? Do you like the design of this Panerai? And would you pay not just for the watch but the experience as well? Let me know in the comments.
