Panerai Luminor Marina Logo 3 Days Acciaio

This article is about the new Luminor Marina Logo 3 Days Acciaio by Panerai, presented at SIHH in January 2018. Like the Panerai Luminor Base Logo 3 Days Acciaio that I wrote about in the previous post, this watch provides all the fascination of the Panerai Luminor case and dial at a comparatively accessible price – €4,800 – with a choice of three alternative dials, two black and one white. But before we get to the watch, I’d like to take you on a quick visit to Florence, Italy, birthplace of the brand in 1860.

Florence – art on all sides

Florence is world-famous for its Renaissance art, but what struck me on my last visit was the way in which you are surrounded by art, ancient and modern, at all times. On a short stroll through the city centre, I loved the Porta del Paradiso by Ghiberti on the Baptistery, now a copy but still incredibly beautiful.

This is a more recent sculpture, by Jean-Michel Folon in the rose garden, accessible from the steps leading up to Piazzale Michelangelo from where you get that incredible view over the Florentine rooftops. I hope to return in May one year when the 400 varieties of roses in this small botanic garden are in flower.

Down on the banks of the River Arno, someone had created some sculptures from driftwood, amongst which this alligator. At least this specimen could rest assured that he wasn’t going to end up on someone’s wrist in the form of a watch strap.
It was very much a crocodile day, and some young Italian had got to work on a piece of crumbling plaster, transforming a hole into a tooth-laden croc head.

All around, the ancient architecture reveals the extraordinary instinctive brilliance that Italians have for creating evocative shapes. This building in the Oltrarno district reminds me of the sharp, assured forms of the Luminor case, in which everything is perfect, a symphony of tight forms and angles.

Back in the city centre, I couldn’t miss a visit to the place where the Panerai story began, Piazza San Giovanni 14R. That’s not quite true, because Giovanni’s first shop was on Ponte alle Grazie in Florence. It moved to its current location in the early years of the 20th century. The amazing Cathedral is reflected in the shop windows.

The boutique was recently refurbished with design by Patricia Urquiola, and it is now much larger than it was originally: you can still see some of the original furnishings in walnut and glass in one section of the store, while the rest features an extensive use of timber and bronze, recalling the world of classic yachts. There is space for some watches from Panerai’s historic collection, and a watchmaker is present for repairs and maintenance, or just to have a chat about the brand and its watches. All this in the shadow of the spectacular Santa Maria del Fiore. (Photo below courtesy of Panerai).

Things have changed for Panerai, and its watches are made in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, now with in-house movements. But they are careful to retain links to their Italian origins, as can be seen from the names of the watches, and by the immaculate design. The Luminor Marina is similar to the Luminor Base, the only difference being the small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock. The difference in price is just €200, and so it’s principally a question of taste. The dial is well balanced with small seconds taking the place of the numeral 9.

The watch is powered by the new P.6000 movement which replaces the ETA 6497 used up until now in Panerai’s entry-level watches. From now on, all Panerai’s movements will be in-house. Panerai haven’t provided any photos of this movement, and in the Luminor Marina it won’t be visible to the wearer as it is hidden by the solid caseback. It runs at 3 Hertz, is hand-wound, provides 72 hours – 3 days – power reserve, and has the stop-seconds function, stopping the balance when the crown is pulled out, enabling precision time-setting.

Below are the three versions of the Panerai Luminor Marina Logo 3 Days Acciaio. Panerai make an extensive range of straps for their watches, and so a visit to a Panerai boutique such as that in Florence can provide an opportunity for you to personalize your Luminor Marina with a touch of colour. The watches will be available from about April 2018. Further information from the Panerai website.