Panerai Booth at Watches and Wonders Features Underwater Training Tank
Panerai recreated a 1966 Italian Navy diver training tank at Watches and Wonders, showcasing its heritage and introducing new materials like Forged Titanium and Afiniotech™ with a 31-day power reserve in its latest Luminor collection.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 03:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 19:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 15:40 (116h 38m after Collected)
Panerai, which completed its first professional diver's watch at the request of the Italian Navy in 1935, has recreated the training tank designed by Panerai in 1966 and installed at the COMSUBIN base (Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori) in Le Grazie (La Spezia, Italy), which is still in use today, at this year's Watches and Wonders exhibition. This facility serves as a controlled environment for the Italian Navy's special diving forces to observe and improve underwater techniques and equipment handling. Designed with transparent methacrylate panels, instructors can observe the movements of divers from the outside, making training safer and more measurable. It is constructed using a lightweight alloy frame with adjacent panels bolted together, designed to maintain watertight integrity. It also features an upper platform accessed by an external staircase and a ladder for internal access. Far from being a mere relic, it is a living testament to the brand's enduring relationship with the sea, an element that has shaped the brand's identity from its inception.
Water defined one of Panerai's most significant breakthroughs. In 1955, the invention of the crown-protecting device to enhance water resistance transformed the historic timepiece into the icon we call Luminor today. It was an innovative solution born from significant constraints. Within the tank, archival tools and modern testing techniques reveal a continuous, generational pursuit of water pressure performance beyond limits. This spirit is carried on in the latest Luminor collection. The new four hand-wound models, Luminor PAM01731, Luminor Destro PAM01732, Luminor Otto Giorni PAM01733, and Luminor PAM01735, are a direct homage to the functional design of the iconic reference 6152/1 from the 1960s, translated into modern 44mm and classic 47mm sizes. Iconic Luminor elements such as the robust cushion case, the distinctive crown protection bridge, the vintage domed sapphire crystal, and the unmistakable sandwich dial are immediately recognizable. A vintage flair is evident in every detail, from the case and dial to the strap.
From left: Luminor Destro ¥1,364,000 (incl. tax), Luminor 47mm ¥1,844,000 (incl. tax), Luminor 44mm ¥1,364,000 (incl. tax), Luminor Otto Giorni ¥1,683,000 (incl. tax), Luminor Forged Titanium ¥3,520,000 (incl. tax)
Within the booth, time itself becomes a journey. For Panerai, progress has always been tangible, living within materials. Chosen not only for their appearance but for their properties and the performance they offer, materials ranging from bronze and ceramic to titanium and advanced composites like Carbotech™ and Ti-Ceramitech™ each respond to Panerai's purpose-driven DNA. In 2026, this quest reaches new frontiers: Forged Titanium, crafted by bonding two grades of titanium under heat and pressure, makes its debut. The forging process reveals natural wavy layers throughout the case, ensuring no two pieces have the same pattern, giving each watch unique surface characteristics while maintaining titanium's lightness and resistance. Furthermore, Afiniotech™, a case material composed of over 95% hafnium, is introduced to the watch industry. Hafnium, a rare metal found only in trace amounts within zirconium ore, is valued for its density, mechanical strength, and exceptional corrosion resistance. Its ability to absorb neutrons makes it essential in nuclear environments and it is also used in advanced industries where reliability under pressure is paramount.
Submersible Navy Seals Afiniotech™ Experience ¥15,191,000 (reference price) Luminor Trenta Giorni ¥16,027,000 (reference price)
Furthermore, the pursuit of Panerai's long power reserve, born out of necessity, also finds an expression. From the early long power reserves offered by historical calibers to modern ones, this journey culminates in a remarkable achievement: a 31-day power reserve, a new horizon in Panerai's mechanical durability. The new P.2031/S caliber, featuring a patented torque limiter, automatic stop function, and four barrels, enables the most stable 31-day power reserve.
Water defined one of Panerai's most significant breakthroughs. In 1955, the invention of the crown-protecting device to enhance water resistance transformed the historic timepiece into the icon we call Luminor today. It was an innovative solution born from significant constraints. Within the tank, archival tools and modern testing techniques reveal a continuous, generational pursuit of water pressure performance beyond limits. This spirit is carried on in the latest Luminor collection. The new four hand-wound models, Luminor PAM01731, Luminor Destro PAM01732, Luminor Otto Giorni PAM01733, and Luminor PAM01735, are a direct homage to the functional design of the iconic reference 6152/1 from the 1960s, translated into modern 44mm and classic 47mm sizes. Iconic Luminor elements such as the robust cushion case, the distinctive crown protection bridge, the vintage domed sapphire crystal, and the unmistakable sandwich dial are immediately recognizable. A vintage flair is evident in every detail, from the case and dial to the strap.
From left: Luminor Destro ¥1,364,000 (incl. tax), Luminor 47mm ¥1,844,000 (incl. tax), Luminor 44mm ¥1,364,000 (incl. tax), Luminor Otto Giorni ¥1,683,000 (incl. tax), Luminor Forged Titanium ¥3,520,000 (incl. tax)
Within the booth, time itself becomes a journey. For Panerai, progress has always been tangible, living within materials. Chosen not only for their appearance but for their properties and the performance they offer, materials ranging from bronze and ceramic to titanium and advanced composites like Carbotech™ and Ti-Ceramitech™ each respond to Panerai's purpose-driven DNA. In 2026, this quest reaches new frontiers: Forged Titanium, crafted by bonding two grades of titanium under heat and pressure, makes its debut. The forging process reveals natural wavy layers throughout the case, ensuring no two pieces have the same pattern, giving each watch unique surface characteristics while maintaining titanium's lightness and resistance. Furthermore, Afiniotech™, a case material composed of over 95% hafnium, is introduced to the watch industry. Hafnium, a rare metal found only in trace amounts within zirconium ore, is valued for its density, mechanical strength, and exceptional corrosion resistance. Its ability to absorb neutrons makes it essential in nuclear environments and it is also used in advanced industries where reliability under pressure is paramount.
Submersible Navy Seals Afiniotech™ Experience ¥15,191,000 (reference price) Luminor Trenta Giorni ¥16,027,000 (reference price)
Furthermore, the pursuit of Panerai's long power reserve, born out of necessity, also finds an expression. From the early long power reserves offered by historical calibers to modern ones, this journey culminates in a remarkable achievement: a 31-day power reserve, a new horizon in Panerai's mechanical durability. The new P.2031/S caliber, featuring a patented torque limiter, automatic stop function, and four barrels, enables the most stable 31-day power reserve.