The unmistakable shape of a Panerai timepiece carries with it a rich heritage dating back to the early 1900s. It’s an iconic design born from the Italian watchmaker’s partnership with the Royal Italian Navy, from a time when these watches earned their reputation under some of the most rigorous environments at sea. It was these demands that would eventually lead to the creation of the signature Luminor case design with a distinctive crown protector.
Now in 2020, Panerai continues the evolution of its Luminor line by recreating the watch in ultra-lightweight Carbotech – a high-strength carbon fibre composite material developed in-house by Panerai.
PAM 1661 is fundamentally lighter than titanium whilst also being tougher than steel and more scratch resistant. The uniquely layered composite construct also adds shock-resistant properties to the case, making this one of the most robust watches ever produced by Panerai.
Inside the hefty 44mm case sits the traditional Panerai P.9010 movement which boasts the standard hours and minutes functions along with a three-day power reserve. There’s also a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock and a date window at 3 o’clock, which sit on a black sandwich dial with blue Super-LumiNova coating on the bottom layer to maximise legibility underwater.
The caseback is finished in black DLC-coated titanium and paired to a Sportech black nylon strap with contrast blue stitching. There’s also an additional black rubber strap designed to wrap around a wetsuit. PAM 1661 also comes ready for divers thanks to its 300m water-resistance rating.
Specifications
Model: Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech
Case: 44mm Carbotech (carbon composite)
Dial: Black with blue Super-Luminova numerals, indexes and hand markings
Movement: Panerai P.9010 automatic
Power reserve: 3 days
Strap: Panerai Sportech nylon in black with blue stitching
Water resistance: 300m
Price: $18,000
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