PANERAI’S BRONZE LEGACY CONTINUES WITH IT’S DEBUT ON THE ICONIC LUMINOR MARINA COLLECTION
Following the success of the new Luminor Marina series in steel and titanium, unveiled atWatches and Wonders 2025, Panerai introduces bronze to its most iconic collection for thefirst time. The new Luminor Marina PAM01678 marks a significant milestone as the first-ever Luminor Marina crafted in bronze, poised to become the Maison’s next highly coveted tool watch.
Historically valued in the construction of vintage yachts and ship components for itsdurability and resistance to seawater, bronze was a crucial material before the widespread adoption of stainless steel. Panerai pioneered its use in watchmaking with the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo 47mm – PAM00382 in 2011, establishing bronze as a natural fit for its timepieceS.
Setting apart from typical watchmaking bronze alloys, Panerai’s bronze boasts a special composition, where the use of pure copper and pure tin promotes the creation of a distinctive patina on the surface. Thanks to this special evolution, this alloy has become a true asset for the Maison, solidifying Panerai’s bronze timepieces as some of the most sought-after. The aging process of bronze is truly fascinating, as every piece evolves with the owner’s life, acquiring a distinctive appearance: when new, it exhibits a warm, gold-like hue, gradually developing a patina that arises from its interaction with external elements such as air,moisture, heat, and friction. While this patina doesn’t alter the material’s inherent properties, this protective layer imbues each piece with a unique character while safeguarding the material itself.
The Luminor Marina Bronzo PAM01678 exhibits all the signature elements that define theLuminor Marina series along with the recent upgrades applied to the design and technicalfeatures
“Bronze is more than just a material for us: it’s a territory of expression. The new Luminor Marina PAM01678 immediately evokes the world of the sea, blending the design of our most iconic timepiece with a material that embodies our maritime heritage. Its evolving patina allows us to tell a story of time and the sea, ultimately reflecting the wearer’s journey”says Alessandro Ficarelli, Chief Marketing and Product Officer of Panerai.
Key elements remain steadfast: from the signature crown-protecting bridge, originally designed to prevent water seepage from entering the case, to the essential luminescent dial with sandwich construction, offering optimal readability in low-light conditions, until the classic rhodium small seconds display at 9 o’clock born to allow Italian Navy commandos to verify the watch functionality with ease.The PAM01678’s bronze case is paired with a matte dark blue sandwich dial, shifting from a deep blue at the edges to a lighter tone towards the center. This perfectly complements the warm tones of the bronze case and the beige Super-LumiNova® used to fill the numerals and hands, ensuring the watch readability even in low-light conditions. Drawing inspiration from Panerai’s historic models of the 1960s, the dial is intentionally designed without adate window, displaying only the Maison’s name and ‘Luminor Marina’, resulting in a clean, essential aesthetic
The open sapphire case back provides a captivating view of the new P.980 calibre, a3-day power reserve automatic movement developed for precise timekeeping. This movement features a traversing balance bridge, enhancing stability against shocks. A stop-second function allows for precise time-setting by halting the seconds hand when the crown is pulled out. Further demonstrating its commitment to accuracy, the P.980 has undergone rigorous six-position testing to guarantee reliable chronometric performance.The movement’s construction incorporates finishing touches for an essential design, and it operates at a frequency engineered to maintain consistent, accurate timekeeping overextended use. PAM01678 showcases the modernized case design of the new Luminor Marina collection, where the calibre’s sleeker proportions, measuring just 12½ lignes, guarantee a comfortable and ergonomic experience on the wrist, all while preserving the watch’s signature bold identity.
Like the other new Luminor Marina timepieces, the Luminor Marina Bronzo PAM01678 boasts upgraded water resistance up to 50 bar (~500 meters), reinforcing Panerai’s legacy of professional tool watches developed for the demanding needs of the Italian Navy commandos. This evolution is also made possible by the compact architecture of theP.980 movement, which allowed for improved proportions and weight of the watch. These advancements, alongside innovations in case construction and pressure resistance, contribute to enhanced water resistance. Water resistance is a domain mastered by the Panerai Laboratorio di Idee, with rigorous testing conducted in water a practice few brands undertake at a pressure 25% greater than the guaranteed water resistance value.
