Perhaps the most recognisable Panerai is the Luminor Marina 44 mm. A modern-day creation inspired by a vintage military-issue watch, the Luminor Marina was introduced in 1993, and a decade later became one of the watches that kickstarted the fashion for bigger watches.

While the Luminor Marina was historically all about black dials for a no-nonsense military look, Panerai has been injected more colour into the line up for a civilian-friendly style. The new Luminor Blu Mare 44 mm PAM01085 – blu mare translate as “blue sea” – retains the traditional design codes of the Luminor plus a fashionable blue dial.

Initial thoughts

While earlier Luminor models like the PAM1663 and the PAM1033 have had blue dials, but the new Luminor is arguably the cleanest, harking back to the entry-level Luminor Marina “Logo” of about a decade ago. The blue is metallic, subdued and finished with a radial-brushed finish that’ll definitely catch the light nicely.

A colour that’s been in vogue for a couple of years, the blue dial gives the Luminor Blu Mare a slightly more elegant and contemporary feel than the typical Panerai, a useful quality for someone who likes the functional Panerai design but prefers lighter colour palette.

The design, however, is strictly traditional. With the vintage originals designed as functional instruments for navy frogmen of the Second World War, the new Luminor is expectedly utilitarian, with large, eminently simple hands and indices – very much the quintessential Panerai dial.

Classic Luminor

Similarly, the case is classic Luminor with the signature oversized crown-lock bridge. Large and squarish at 44 mm wide and 13.05 mm tall, it wears well thanks to its manageable case length and short, sloping lugs.

And as is traditional for Panerai, the lugs featured screw bars to hold the band, allowing for easy switching of straps. The Luminor Blu Mare is sold with two straps, blue calfskin and blue rubber.

The Luminor Blu Mare is powered by the P.6000 that boasts three days of power reserve on a single barrel. Introduced in 2018, this fuss-free, in-house movement is found in many entry-level Panerai watches, replacing the ETA Unitas movements once standard. It’s hidden under a solid, press-fit back, and not a screw-down back. Both case-back types are functionally identical, but a screw-down back does feel more appropriate on a diver’s watch.

Key Facts and Price

Panerai Luminor Blu Mare 44 mm
Ref. PAM01085

Diameter: 44 mm
Height: 13.05 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: Cal. P.6000
Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
Winding: Manual-wind
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Calfskin with additional rubber strap

Availability: At boutiques and authorised retailers
Price: €5,400; or 8,000 Singapore dollars

For more information, visit Panerai.com.