Late last year, Panerai presented the first Luminor Marina with a case made of bronze.
After the launch of the new Luminor Marina in steel and titanium at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2025, Panerai Late last year, it introduced bronze for the first time in its most iconic collection. We are talking about the new Luminor Marina with Ref. PAM01678, which represents an important milestone for the Maison, being the first Luminor Marina with a case and trapezoidal buckle on the strap made of bronze.
Known for its inherent resistance to the wear and tear of time and the erosive action of sea water, bronze has historically been favoured in the manufacture of naval components, long before the use of steel became widespread. Panerai first introduced bronze in 2011 with the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronze 47mm (Ref. PAM00382), highlighting the natural connection between this material and the identity of its watches.
Unlike other bronze alloys used in watchmaking, Panerai's bronze has a peculiar composition. The use of pure copper and tin causes a special patina to form on the surface. The ageing process of bronze is particularly evocative, as each piece transforms over time in a unique and distinctive way, depending on the life and habits of its owner. When new, bronze displays a warm, golden hue, but over the years it gradually develops a patina, the result of interaction with external elements such as air, humidity, heat and friction.
"Bronze for us is not just a material, it is a territory of expression. The new Luminor Marina Bronzo PAM01678 has the power to immediately evoke the marine world and combines our most iconic design with a material that perfectly embodies our historical connection to that world. The patina that transforms allows us to tell a story that speaks of time and the sea, intertwining with the uniqueness of the story of the wearer of the watch', said Alessandro Ficarelli, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Panerai.
Panerai Luminor Marina PAM01678: Manufacture Calibre
Powering the first Luminor Marina with a bronze case is the new P.980 automatic calibre, mechanical atuomatic.
All the key elements of the Luminor Marina collection are obviously present in this new model: from the bridge device that protects the crown (historically developed to protect the case from water infiltration) to the sandwich construction of the dial, which enhances luminescence and readability even in the lowest light conditions. Up to the small seconds counter at 9 o'clock, initially added to allow Italian Navy raiders to easily verify the watch's operation.
The bronze case of the new Luminor Marina PAM01678, 44 mm in diameter, is combined with the aforementioned sandwich construction dial, protected by a sapphire crystal and distinguished by matt blue hues that gradually darken from the centre outwards. These shades harmonise with the warm colours of the bronze case and the beige SuperLuminova used for the indices and hands. Inspired by historical models from the 1960s, The dial does not have a date window, but only bears the name of the Maison and the words Luminor Marina, for a clean and essential design.
The titanium case back is fitted with a sapphire crystal porthole that allows one to admire the new IWC-manufactured P.980 calibre (28,800 vibrations per hour, Incabloc shock-absorption device), an automatic movement with a 3-day power reserve. This calibre has a transversal balance bridge, which ensures greater stability in the event of a collision, as well as a stop-seconds function that allows the time to be adjusted quickly and accurately.
Panerai Luminor Marina PAM01678: water resistance of 50 atmospheres
The watch comes with two straps, one in calfskin and the other in rubber.
In line with the new watches in the collection, the Luminor Marina Bronzo PAM01678 boasts enhanced water resistance to 50 atmospheres (approximately 500 metres depth), reaffirming Panerai's heritage in the creation of professional instrument-watches designed to meet the high standards of the Italian Navy's raiders. Water resistance is the chosen territory of the Panerai Idea Laboratory, which in fact carries out rigorous tests at a pressure of 25% higher than that declared.
Finally, the new Panerai Luminor Marina PAM01678 features the new, more tapered lugs that characterise the collection and is presented with a blue calfskin strap with beige stitching, a detail that emphasises the watch's vintage aesthetic. An additional rubber strap, also in blue, offers a more sporty and water-friendly alternative.
Price17,000 euro.
