Panerai's penchant for "survival instruments" is expressed in the Submersible collection, whose latest timepieces pay tribute to the brand's history and our blue planet.
An image of a commando of the Italian Navy and "Survival Instruments" is engraved on the caseback of the Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech, while sea creatures are depicted on the Submersible Mike Horn Edition.
Panerai will also host a Survivor experience for owners of special editions, who can join intensive training with an Italian commando group or the South African-born explorer and environmentalist.
The bold Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech recalls military ties, which date back to 1916 when the Florentine watchmaker created Radiomir, a radium-based powder that illuminated the dials of sighting instruments and devices, to meet the needs of the Royal Italian Navy. For decades, Panerai watches and precision instruments have equipped the commandos of its special forces.
The new military-style 47mm Submersible model is housed in a robust case made of Carbotech, which is lighter than titanium and stronger than stainless steel.
Its composition -- consisting of thin layers of carbon fibre bound together by a special polymer -- gives every individual watch a unique camouflage pattern.
Also in Carbotech, the unidirectional rotating bezel enables calculation of the times of immersion. Legibility in the dark is ensured by Super-LumiNova applied to markers and skeleton hands on the black camouflage carbon dial. The black design of the watch extends to the rubber strap.
The Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech Special Edition differs, with details and strap in military-green as well as the Comsubin logo, instead of a frogman, engraved on the caseback.
The 33 owners of these limited editions can count themselves among the Comsubin, as they will have the rare opportunity to experience a training session with the diving and commando group under the Italian Navy.
Likewise, buying one of the 19 pieces of the Submersible Mike Horn Special Edition, also sized at 47mm, will take each owner on an adventurous Arctic trip, for a few days, with the Panerai ambassador.
Horn is one of the world's greatest living explorers, whose feats include travelling towards the North Pole in the darkness of winter and climbing peaks of 8,000m without oxygen assistance.
He is committed to saving the planet as much as Panerai, who reaffirms its commitment on the occasion of World Oceans Day, which falls on June 8 each year.
The colour of the sea is reflected on the strap and luminous substance of the special edition, whereas the non-limited Submersible Mike Horn model has a black strap and green Super-LumiNova against the black sandwich dial.
Both versions boast cases made of EcoTitanium obtained from recycled titanium. The crown-protecting device, bezel and caseback are also made from the same sustainable material.
The company's green practices extend to using straps obtained from recycled PET and special packaging in recycled materials, not to mention operations at the eco-friendly Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Water-resistant to 30 bar (300m), the four new Submersible professional divers' watches are powered by an in-house-developed and -manufactured automatic calibre with a power reserve of three days.
