Panerai Luminor Marina 44 Carbotech ref. PAM01661 – Full set, 2021, Superb condition

In 1860, Officine Panerai started life as a watchmaker’s shop, which, somewhat unusually, also sold maritime equipment. Decades later, at the turn of the 20th century, the brand became the official supplier of the Italian Frogmen, who famously wore their watches – developed in collaboration with Rolex SA – while riding atop torpedos aimed at docked enemy ships. They would then attach limpet mines to those ships and try to make it back in time to avoid the explosions that followed. As you can imagine, a legible and dependable timekeeping device was an absolute must for these specialized soldiers, so that’s exactly what Panerai provided. The brand also supplied the Royal Italian Navy with a wide array of technical equipment and precision instruments, which further cemented its place in horological history.

Since Panerai tends to follow a similar design language for all of its watches, the watch on offer here is strongly reminiscent of its historical predecessors. However, despite this resemblance, the PAM01661 is a thoroughly contemporary – if not futuristic – timepiece. The unmistakable Luminor case is fashioned out of Panerai’s proprietary material, Carbotech, which is just as technologically impressive as it is visually striking. This cutting-edge black substance is made by layering carbon fibers in alternating directions and then subjecting them to mindbogglingly high pressures and temperatures, mirroring the natural processes through which diamonds are formed in the Earth’s upper mantle. The result is a nearly indestructible weave that can withstand blows from any angle, masterfully dispersing the energy from the impact through its molecular structure.
As for the dial, it follows Panerai’s “sandwich” architecture and is adorned with blue Arabic numeral indices and sword hands, which further contribute to the 01661’s futuristic aesthetic. As per usual, the small-seconds display is located at 9 o’clock, and a stealthy date display is peering out from the 3 o’clock position.
The movement tucked safely behind the solid caseback – the in-house caliber P.9010 – features a Glacydur Balance, boasts a 72-hour power reserve, and operates at 28,800 bph.

Our offering is in superb near mint condition, comes in a full set of boxes and papers, and is outfitted with its original strap.

Covered by manufacturers international warranty (started in 08.2021).