Panerai Luminor Blue Mare 44mm (PAM010185)
The Panerai Luminor Blue Mare 44mm (PAM010185) is presented in a 44mm highly polished steel case paired with a blue calfskin strap. The blue dial is adorned with a sunray motif and a small seconds display. Perhaps of most interest to the brand’s loyal fans, the Paneristi, is that this new timepiece features the ‘OP’ logo on the dial, a detail which harks back to the 1980s and the ‘pre-Vendôme’ era.
Until Covid-19 reared its ugly head, Formula One races attracted vast numbers of spectators, manifest with packed grandstands. Often these die-hard fans would be attired in red clothes, an indication of their loyalty to the ‘prancing horse’ of Scuderia Ferrari. These animated fans are often termed the ‘Tifosi’. While this devotion for the brand is very apparent at race tracks, it is also the reason many individuals crave Ferrari’s road cars. Legions of admirers talk of references and subtle details, both of which influence desirability.
Panerai provokes a similar reaction. The so-called ‘Paneristi’ immerse themselves in a world of serial numbers, movements and brand history. Discussions often include talk of ‘pre-Vendôme’ and ‘post-Vendôme’, a reference to the company’s change of ownership. The Vendôme Luxury Group was acquired by Richemont in 1997. Although the company relocated to Neuchâtel, Switzerland in 2002, it has never lost its Italian flair for design.
It is 70 years since Panerai unveiled its Luminor case (1950) and the luxury marque has chosen to mark the event this year by releasing a plethora of new Luminor models. These various models encompass a variety of dial designs, case materials and even more luminescent accents. The Panerai Luminor Blue Mare 44mm (PAM010185) is presented in a highly polished 44mm steel case and upholds the proven Luminor styling with its broad lugs, crown protection device and small seconds display positioned at 9 o’clock.
However, there are some new elements to note. The watch is fitted with the in-house Calibre P.6000 movement. Despite the 1950s model being a utilitarian object, made for the Royal Italian Navy, this latest creation sports a sumptuous blue dial with a sunray motif. Most notably for the Paneristi, the dial is marked with the ‘OP’ logo, a detail that dates back to the 1980s and is highly prized by collectors.
The brand’s press release
Evoking its glorious history and exhibiting a proud and daring character, Panerai continues in the tireless pursuit to expand and enhance its legacy with the Luminor Blu Mare – 44 mm (PAM01085), which possesses a strong, unmistakable presence. The name “Blu Mare”, or “blue sea” in English, is a clear reference to the marine heritage of Panerai.
Forged and turned in AISI 316L steel, a high-performance low-carbon metal characterized by good resistance to corrosion, the Luminor Blu Mare – 44 mm has a look that recalls in the clean, angular lines of the case the visual codes of the Luminor of the 1990s.
Revived in the aesthetic dimension with carefully perfected mechanical components, it conforms its design codes to the latest generation of manual Luminors.
The first Luminor Blu Mare in the collection to feature a blue dial, it is enhanced by satiné soleil decoration along with hour and minute hands with a rhodium finish and with a view to respecting tradition – includes a strap attached to the lugs with the Panerai Screw System.
The typeface applied to the numerals at the cardinal points of the dial is a further reference to models from the end of the 20th century. They have been etched exactly like the linear indexes and then filled with green Super-LumiNovaTM enabling a sharper and more lasting legibility in low light conditions.
The presence of the double arrow “OP” logo is another distinctive brand signature. The stylized representation of the Officine Panerai’s initials dates back to the 1980s and has become an icon of the brand.
Consistent with Panerai’s long tradition of mechanical watchmaking, Luminor Blu Mare – 44 mm contains a manually wound movement, entirely designed and developed in-house by the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel. Extremely secure, thanks to the twin bridges supporting the regulator, the Caliber P.6000 is equipped with an IncablocTM shockproof device and possesses a three- day power reserve driven by a single barrel.
Water-resistant up to 10 bar (about 100 meters), the new Luminor Blu Mare – 44 mm is completed by a calfskin strap in blue with beige stitching and secured with a pin buckle in brushed steel. An additional complementary blue rubber strap is also included as part of the package, along with a special screwdriver for changing the straps and removing the buckle.
Further reading