A limited edition created to mark the opening of the revamped Panerai boutique in Singapore – which is now almost a decade old, having opened in 2011 – the Luminor GMT ION Special Edition PAM01177 is a variation on the standard-production PAM01033. Featuring a 44 mm case, it’s accented in red, the key colour of the Singapore national flag, and bears the island nation’s emblem on the case back.

Initial thoughts

The highlight of the new Luminor GMT are aesthetic tweaks – although Panerai is doing a red crown for the first time here. It is not majorly different, but the design is on point for a sports watch, with the red elements easily blending in without disrupting the typical clean style of the Luminor.

Despite the simplicity of the colour palette, it manages to stand apart from most current sports watches because it avoids being blue, the colour that’s all the rage now. And it is very much a contemporary Panerai in style, doing away with the heavily-traditional designs of the brand’s historically-inspired models.

With the tweaks being modest, it is priced reasonably as such things go. This costs S$13,850, about 7%, or S$900, over the standard PAM01033. But it’s worth keeping in mind the P.9010 inside the ION edition is a noticeably simpler movement than the P.9011 found in the PAM01033, lacking the power reserve indicator on the back for instance. Overall, it is a good-looking sports watch, though the simpler movement is a bit of a downer.

Singapore details

While not obvious at first glance, the national symbol of Singapore is found on both the case back and strap. On the case back it’s engraved writ large in the centre, while the leather strap is embossed with the emblem just below six o’clock. The red accents are also a nod to Singapore, with the red crown being the most unusual and a first for Panerai.

The rest of the watch is pretty much standard Panerai. The sandwich dial, quick-release lug bars, and screw-down case back are all appealing features that put this a step up from the brand’s entry-level Luminor “Logo” watches.

And the P.9010 inside has a three-day run time thanks to double barrels. But it loses the zero-reset seconds function and power reserve indicator found on the P.9011.

Key Facts and Prices

Panerai Luminor GMT ION Special Edition
Ref. PAM01177

Diameter: 44 mm
Height: Unavailable
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 300 m

Movement: Cal. P.9010
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and GMT
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Calfskin with additional red rubber strap

Limited edition: 100 pieces
Availability: At Panerai Boutique in ION Orchard Mall
Price: 13,850 Singapore dollars (about US$10,200)

For more information, visit Panerai.com.