Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01697 and PAM01698 Inspired by the Aviazione Navale
Strong link to military aviation heritage and classic Panerai dive watch look.
Panerai and its Submersible line of dive watches hardly need an introduction as these robust, military-inspired timepieces, crafted for modern adventurers yet rooted in Panerai’s mission to develop precision instruments for the Italian Navy’s underwater commandos, have excited enthusiasts since 1998, first as part of the Luminor collection, and as a standalone series since 2019. The two new models, the Submersible Marina Militare PAM01697 in stainless steel and the PAM01698 in Carbotech, pay tribute to the brand’s historic collaboration with the Marina Militare, a partnership dating back to the early 20th century. This legacy is now extended to honour the Aviazione Navale, the naval aviation division, whose pilots operate in some of the most extreme environments.
The Submersible Marina Militare PAM01697 comes with a 44mm brushed 316L stainless steel case, featuring a unidirectional rotating bezel with a green matte ceramic insert. The screw-down caseback is engraved with the Aviazione Navale wings emblem, an element making its debut in the Panerai collection. The PAM01698 is constructed from Carbotech, a proprietary carbon fibre-based composite developed by Panerai, a material lighter than titanium or ceramic and resistant to corrosion and external forces. Composed of layered carbon fibre sheets compressed with PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) at high temperatures, each Carbotech case exhibits a unique grain and texture, ensuring that no two watches are exactly alike. The caseback here is in DLC-coated titanium and also features the Aviazione Navale wings. Both models offer 300 metres of water resistance, with Panerai testing each piece to 25% beyond the rated depth, in line with its standards for professional-grade diving instruments.
These new Submersible Marina Militare references introduce design cues inspired by the uniforms and equipment of Italy’s naval aircrew. The dials of both models are presented in a green-grained matte finish with a black gradient fade, mirroring the tones found in naval flight gear and helmets. Applied indices have been enlarged for an increase in Super-LumiNova surface area, now in a tactical grey tone (Grade X2), offering excellent readability in low-light or underwater conditions. The small seconds subdial evokes a radar screen, complete with a subtle engraving of the Aviazione Navale’s anchor insignia, and the Marina Militare signature at six o’clock links the design directly to Panerai’s military roots.
Both watches are powered by the Panerai calibre P.900, an automatic movement manufactured by ValFleurier, Richemont Group’s shared movement facility. While branded by Panerai, the P.900 shares its architecture with Cartier’s 1847 MC, IWC’s 32000 series and Baume & Mercier’s Baumatic. Compact and efficient, the calibre measures 28mm in diameter and is 4.2mm thick, enabling a relatively slim profile despite the watches’ tool-watch appearance. It operates at a 28,800 vibrations/hour frequency, uses a single barrel for its 3-day power reserve, and incorporates a stop-seconds mechanism for precise setting. An Incabloc anti-shock system improves shock resistance, befitting the watches’ mission-oriented design.
Matching the rugged construction of these Submersible Marina Militare models is a green canvas strap with tone-on-tone stitching, evoking military textile gear, and both watches are also delivered with an additional black rubber strap, ideal for diving or wet conditions. The PAM01697 features a stainless steel pin buckle, while the PAM01698 is paired with a DLC-coated titanium buckle, matching the dark, matte aesthetic of its case.
The Submersible Marina Militare PAM01697 is priced at EUR 12,100, the PAM01698 in Carbotech sells for EUR 18,900. Surely, not the most accessible watches, yet these Aviazione Navale-inspired models have some proper flair. For more details, please visit panerai.com.
5 responses
The pricing fun continues!
Just when they were finalkly on the right track with the W&W2025 releases after over a decade long of missteps, they release these “inspired by Aviazione Navale”. Good grief.
It looks like a $500 watch. Honestly, to verify a well-made replica, you’d have to open the caseback and closely examine the tiny components inside the movement. That alone proves how overpriced these watches are, and how the remaining watch enthusiasts are being milked for their money. If you need to open the caseback with a tool just to tell a fake from the real one, then what’s the point of calling it ‘genuine’ in the first place?
18k for an average movement, purposely hidden behind a close caseback? Who will buy a “yet an other version” of an admittedly iconic model, when there are so many alternatives for the asked price, e.g. from Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Omega, Rolex or even Panerai itself?
@Brice, thank you. Terrific these do. I own a Rolex sub, like everyone else, and would far prefer to have a Panerai sub. The version I want is a 42mm, and will ring their boutique today to inquire and verify these have stop-seconds.