The brilliant watchmaker Panerai is famous for its big watches, as well as numerous big names among its fans, such as Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Micheal Jordon. However, there are few people knowing that Panerai has been the exclusive watch supplier for the Italian Navy for almost 100 years. In 1943, Panerai produced the Mare Nostrum chronograph for the army and gained great fame with the watch. Unfortunately, the flood that hit Florence in 1966 destroy almost all the prototypes and relative documents about the sought-after timepiece.
So, remaking such a historic watch of frustrations and surges requires is very difficult and requires painstaking effort. Eventually, Panerai made it. The one and only prototype now lies at the Officine Panerai Museum in Florence in Florence, and the new Mare Nostrum watch will be reissued in a special edition of just 99 pieces available worldwide.
The new Mare Nostrum is almost exactly like the original and only a few updates has been made to stay contemporary. I really like this move, the inheriting and innovation of the legacy. The new edition features an iconic 52mm case and offers a sapphire display back that’s not highlighted in the original. The wide, flat bezel is crafted in AISI 316L brushed steel, making the actually tonneau shaped case look round. The dial lay out remains identical with the prototype: a minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small seconds timer at 9 o’clock. The black dial underscores two levels with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. Engraved on the winding crown is the inscription Mare Nostrum. At the 2 and 4 o’clock are two brushed steel push-buttons for the chronograph functions.
As is the same with the original model, the new version employs the exclusive OP XXV caliber, a hand-wound movement that measures 12¾ lignes and originates from a Minerva caliber from Panerai stock that measures 16 ¾ lignes. The sapphire case back allows to admire perfect and delicate craftsmanship of the OP XXV caliber movement: Incabloc anti-shock device, Swan’s neck regulator, Côtes de Genève decorations on the bridges and all the levers polished with rounded corners. The new Panerai Mare Nostrum comes with a PANERAI personalized green fabric and leather strap with a large-size brushed steel buckle. The water-resistance is up to 30 meters.
The new watch will be on sale in Octorber. The estimated price goes to 24,900 euro (I don’t want to say something about the price, since it’s the brand’s old habit).
