Discovering The New Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01757 Destro And PAM01758 GMT
Panerai has delivered some excellent releases this year. From the new, smaller 42mm Luminor series to watches celebrating the 100th anniversary of the brand’s Florence boutique, there has been plenty to enjoy. What stands out is how well Panerai balances its heritage with modern watchmaking. A great example is the new Marina Militare duo. The Submersible Marina Militare PAM01757 Destro and PAM01758 GMT draw on Panerai’s history as a watch provider to the Italian Navy to create two distinctive contemporary dive watches.
Before writing this article, I reviewed Panerai’s 2026 releases. The Italian brand has unveiled several impressive watches, but my favorites are the four Luminor models that Mike reviewed in April. They perfectly demonstrate the appeal of the classic Luminor design. Of the four, the Luminor PAM01731 Tobacco and PAM01732 Destro immediately caught my eye. I also love the PAM01735’s matte ivory sandwich dial and beige Super-LumiNova details, although its 47mm case is too large for my taste. Now, however, these classics face some serious competition for my favorite Panerai releases of the year. The new Submersible Marina Militare models give the brand’s signature aesthetic a distinctly contemporary twist.
The Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01757 Destro
Let’s start with the Submersible Marina Militare PAM01757 Destro. It features a fully brushed 44mm stainless steel case measuring 13.93mm thick. Like several other Submersible models, it has a unidirectional bezel with a matte ceramic insert, here in dial-matching black.
The insert features a 60-minute dive scale with white and steel markers. I particularly like Panerai’s execution of this scale; it gives the bezel plenty of character. Another defining feature is the Destro configuration, with the oversized crown and its protective bridge on the case’s left side.
The matte black dial features applied indexes filled with beige Super-LumiNova. The Destro configuration also moves the small seconds sub-dial to 3 o’clock. Panerai has omitted the date, keeping the dial clean and uncluttered. Thomas introduced the PAM01756, which shares this minimalist dial layout, although that model has a distinctly sportier, more modern appearance than the new PAM01757 Destro.
The movement and straps
Behind the screw-in stainless steel case back sits Panerai’s P.980 caliber. This automatic movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, contains 23 jewels, and provides a three-day power reserve from a single barrel. It also features Incabloc shock protection and 163 components.
The watch comes on a 24mm Ponte Vecchio gold-brown leather strap that tapers to 22mm at the trapezoidal brushed steel buckle. Panerai also supplies a black rubber strap for diving and other aquatic adventures. Both look good, but I prefer the more handsome leather option. The package also includes a travel pouch for convenient storage and transportation.
Wearing the Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01757 Destro
On the wrist, the PAM01757 makes an immediate impression. Its 44mm case feels right at home on my 18.5cm (7.3″) wrist, and the watch has the reassuring solidity I associate with the brand. The substantial proportions, robust construction, and distinctive styling make it practically impossible to mistake this watch for anything but a Panerai. I particularly appreciate this Submersible’s understated, fully brushed appearance. Unlike the shinier Radiomir and Luminor models, the brushed case and matte black bezel make it look more subdued.
The Submersible also has a more contemporary character, making it an appealing everyday watch for someone who prefers less vintage-inspired styling. I have nothing against the Radiomir or Luminor, but this model would probably suit my daily rotation better. The destro layout pleasantly surprised me, too. I’ve generally found watches like this a little awkward-looking, but Panerai is an exception. Perhaps that’s because the brand moves the entire crown-protection assembly to the opposite side rather than simply relocating the crown. Whatever the reason, the arrangement works remarkably well here.
Overall, the Submersible Marina Militare Destro impressed me enough that I could easily see myself owning one as a daily dive watch. Having spent considerable time with several Panerai models recently, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for the brand’s offerings. This PAM01757 is certainly one of the highlights.
The Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01758 GMT
But can it compete with the Submersible Marina Militare PAM01758 GMT? After all, GMT watches are my favorite category, so a Panerai GMT diver naturally has my attention. I’m particularly interested in how the brand has incorporated a second time zone into the Submersible’s design. The watch has a fully brushed 42mm stainless steel case measuring 14.38mm thick, with the crown and its signature protective bridge on the right side. Its unidirectional bezel features a polished finish and a matte black ceramic insert with the same 60-minute dive scale as the Destro.
The matte black dial has applied markers filled with beige Super-LumiNova, a date window at 3 o’clock, and running seconds at 9 o’clock. Panerai has placed the 24-hour GMT scale on the rehaut, a familiar solution for GMT dive watches. Although this adds visual information to the dial, the layout remains logical and easy to follow. The familiar Panerai handset is joined by an orange-tipped black GMT hand to indicate the home time.
Powering the Submersible Marina Militare PAM01758 GMT
The PAM01758 houses the automatic Panerai P.900/GMT24H caliber. This caller-style GMT movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, contains 23 jewels, and provides a three-day power reserve. As expected from a caller GMT, the 24-hour hand can be adjusted independently to display the home time. The caliber also features Incabloc shock protection and comprises 189 components.
The watch comes on a similar 24mm Ponte Vecchio gold-brown leather strap, secured by a large trapezoidal brushed steel buckle. As with the PAM01757 Destro, Panerai includes an additional black rubber strap and a travel pouch.
Wearing the Submersible Marina Militare PAM01758 GMT
The GMT wears differently from its Destro counterpart. Despite having a smaller 42mm case, it is slightly thicker, giving it a chunkier feel. However, its proportions should make it suitable for a wider range of wrist sizes. I found it comfortable on my wrist, and the additional heft never became an issue. Panerai watches are supposed to have some presence, particularly when they’re designed as capable dive watches.
Visually, the GMT is busier than the Destro. Whereas the latter stands out for its clean aesthetic, this model emphasizes the functionality of a dive watch with an additional time-zone display. The dial reflects that difference. One practical consideration is that adjusting either the local or home time requires unlocking the crown. This adds an extra step, although it is hardly a major inconvenience.
Still, I never found the PAM01758 GMT’s dial too busy. In fact, Panerai has done an excellent job integrating the additional functionality without compromising the watch’s overall appeal. It is one of the coolest GMT dive watches currently available, alongside the Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT. Fittingly, that is another military-inspired model.
Final thoughts on the new Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01757 Destro and PAM01758 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with both watches. They make an appealing pair of Submersibles, combining capable dive-watch specifications with a healthy dose of Panerai’s vintage military-inspired character. Both strike an attractive balance between heritage and modern styling. Although they belong to the Marina Militare collection and have the specifications and functionality expected of military-inspired dive watches, they are equally appealing as daily wearers.
Both models are available now. The Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01757 Destro costs €12,300, while the PAM01758 GMT retails for €12,700. Choosing between them isn’t easy, but I’d opt for the Destro. It captures what I like about modern Panerai watches particularly well and might even be my favorite currently available model from the brand. Considering the number of excellent releases Panerai has introduced this year, that’s quite an achievement!
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