Panerai: Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218

Florence, September 10, 1993: a legendary moment when Panerai emerged from its classified past and into public view. From the 1910s, when the first documents attest to initial commissions for the Royal Italian Navy, until 1993, Panerai watches were exclusively worn by military personnel. Conceived as precision instruments built to withstand the most challenging missions of the Italian Navy, they were shrouded in military secrecy. It was only in 1993 that these functional timepieces became accessible to the civilian public for the first time, bearing the hallmarks of purpose-built design and marking a breakthrough moment in the world of watchmaking. This year, on the anniversary of its 1993 debut, Panerai unveils “The Depth of Time” a historical exhibition honoring its legacy as a supplier to the Italian Navy and celebrating the pivotal moment that launched Panerai’s ascent as an international name in mechanical watchmaking. 

To commemorate this momentous occasion, Panerai hosts an exclusive preview event, welcoming clients and press, and presents the new Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218 – a timepiece directly inspired by that transformative moment in the brand’s history. This new model is a faithful reinterpretation of the Luminor ref. 5218-202/A created exclusively for the Italian Navy personnel and introduced in 1993 after the presentation of the first Luminor ref. 5218-2021/A and Mare Nostrum 5218-301/A to the civilian public. 

The exhibition retraces the trajectory of Panerai’s evolution—from its foundational role as a supplier to the Royal Italian Navy to its emergence in 1993 as a watchmaker known beyond the world of defence. On show are never before seen archival materials, including personal correspondence between the Panerai family and the Marina Militare, technical drawings, early catalogues, and original historical photographs. Instruments such as compasses and depth gauges are displayed alongside historical watches and reproductions of historical patents that document Panerai’s groundbreaking work in luminosity, underwater readability, and instrument design.

The story culminates in a reenactment of Panerai’s debut on the civilian market, which took place on September 10, 1993, aboard the defense vessel Durand de la Penne (D560). The Luminor ref. 5218-201/A and Mare Nostrum ref. 5218-301/A were presented in the presence of Duke Amedeo d’Aosta, son of Duke Aimone of Savoy, founder of the Assault Craft of the Italian Royal Navy. At the same time, the Luminor Marina Militare ref. 5218-202/A was also unveiled. It was created exclusively for the Marina Militare, underscoring its role as a professional instrument, unlike the other two models, which were intended exclusively for the civilian public.

The exhibition is set up inside the Panerai Boutique in Florence, the birthplace of the Maison, and will be open for two months, starting September 10, 2025. Florence will be the first stop on an international tour that will reach Europe, the United States, and China.

LUMINOR MARINA MILITARE PAM05218 

Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218 revisits one of the most significant milestones in the Maison’s modern history. Unveiling on September 10th, 2025, in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition “The Depths of Time,” it pays tribute to Luminor Marina Militare ref. 5218-202/A, which also debuted in 1993, the same year as Luminor ref. 5218-201/A and Mare Nostrum ref. 5218-301/A.

For the first time, Panerai reinterprets the original reference in this configuration, remaining faithful to its historic codes while subtly enhancing the construction. The 44mm diameter of the case is maintained, recalling how the original ref. 5218-202/A marked a departure from the standard 47mm cases typically supplied to the Marina Militare. This change reflected Panerai’s mission to create a watch that retained the essence of larger cases while incorporating a minimalist and modern aesthetic, resulting in a clean and linear design. This daring design choice set a new benchmark for the watch industry, cementing Panerai’s status as a leading player and trend setter in the world of horology. 

The 44mm steel case of PAM05218 is now coated in DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), offering a color finish visually consistent with the original PVD treatment of the 5218- 202/A. This results in a striking all-black case, preserving the appealing aesthetic of the original ref. 5218-202/A, which stood out among the other steel references presented in 1993. DLC is a carbon-based coating applied to metal surfaces that offers hardness, resistance to wear, and corrosion protection—while giving the case its distinct black appearance. 

The watch is powered by the P.6000 calibre – a hand-wound movement with a three-day power reserve. It measures 151⁄2 lignes in diameter and features a balance wheel that oscillates at 21,600 vibrations per hour. A traversing balance bridge that securely positions the oscillator enhances the movement’s stability and precision. 

The dial bears the ‘Marina Militare’ inscription, a tribute to Panerai’s long-standing historical partnership with the Marina Militare, one that began in the 1910s and has spanned over a century. In addition, the font used for the numerals and letters has been specially redrawn to reflect the original typography of the 1993 reference. Unlike Panerai’s signature sandwich construction, this is a monolayer hollowed dial: engraved and filled with Super- LumiNova, with a subtly concave finish that gives the numerals a three-dimensional appearance.

A defining visual trait of the 1993 model has been carefully revived: the “non matching” dial and hands. Originally caused by a chemical reaction between tritium and varnish, the early production pieces developed orange-brown numerals while the hands remained greenish – a contrast that later became highly collectible. This unintentional anomaly was corrected in later batches, but only few “non matching” pieces were produced, making them especially rare. The PAM05218 recreates this effect intentionally using caramel Super-LumiNova on the engraved monolayer matte black dial, paired with hands in a lighter tone – an exacting nod to one of the most cherished details in Panerai’s civilian debut.

The case features a closed, screw-down caseback with a water resistance up to 30 bar (~300 meters). On the caseback, the Officine Panerai Firenze signature, historic OP logo and watch features appear just as they did on the original. Completing the tribute is a straight, vintage shaped golden brown calf leather strap with a black steel DLC trapezoidal buckle, sewn-in by construction, as on the 1993 model, imbuing the timepiece with a captivating vintage allure. The watch also features a second black rubber strap, paired with an additional buckle. 

Debuting in boutiques September 2025, the PAM05218 is available upon request at the price of €. 8,500.