Panerai Luminor 1950 Marina 42 Acciaio ref. PAM00523

In 1860 Officine Panerai started life as a watchmaker’s shop where the brand’s founder, Giovani Panerai, also sold maritime equipment. Years later, in the early 1900s, the brand became the official supplier for the Italian Frogmen, who famously used its watches – partially designed and produced by Rolex SA – to time and synchronize their attacks on docked enemy ships. As you can imagine, a dependable and legible underwater instrument was an absolute must for the Frogmen, so that’s exactly what Panerai provided. The brand also supplied the Royal Italian Navy with all manner of technical equipment and precision instruments, thus further cementing its place in the history of professional watches.
Since Panerai tends to follow a similar design language for all of its watches, the watch on offer here – the PAM00523 – strongly resembles its predecessors. Its large cushion-shaped case and protruding crown guard are both considered defining staples of Panerai design, and it’s not at all hard to see why they’re so beloved by Paneristi. However, the dial is rather unusual in that it comes in white instead of black. Nothing about its layout has been altered, but it does feature a good deal more Arabic numerals than we’re used to seeing from the brand. It’s fascinating to see how much the choice of dial affects how the watch wears, and in this case, the PAM00523 gives off a decidedly more sophisticated vibe than its dark siblings. Of course, its surprisingly understated size of 42 mm also has something to do with that.
The PAM00523 is powered by the in-house caliber P.9000, whose most notable feature is its 3-day power reserve.
Our offering is in very good condition, comes in a full set of boxes and papers, and is outfitted with a brown leather strap. Ticking per specs.

Covered by a limited warranty of 1 year, starting on the date of purchase.