Panerai Luminor Marina Specchio Blu

No other brand, with the possible exception of Rolex and Audemars Piguet, has a fanbase as loyal and constantly growing as that of the faithful followers of Panerai, and perhaps the reason for this trend is rooted in the fact that this cult Italian brand enjoys a superb reputation, offering high quality and a unique design. Another reason for this is perhaps because Panerai, founded in 1860 in Florence, was chosen as the official supplier to the Italian Navy at the beginning of the last century. Certainly, no less a reason for the attachment to the brand is the unmistakably recognizable design of the case, which has become its distinctive feature. At present, Panerai offers four main collections: Historic, Contemporary, Manufacture, and of course, Special Editions. An interesting fact is that most of the models are produced in limited annual volumes of about 500 pieces and bear their individual number on the case back. The model was first introduced in 2020 under the official name Panerai LUMINOR Marina Specchio Blue (PAM01316), and the main reasons are visible to the naked eye – the model's incredible blue dial. The other distinctive feature is that the model is one of the few offered with a bracelet, and this one is the newest model, with the 1316 having the honor of launching it on the market! Personally, I was surprised to learn that Panerai is changing the design of its bracelets, as the previous ones were also very recognizable and comfortable. With the new one, however, the thickness of the links has been reduced, thus reducing its weight; furthermore, it is assumed that the thin profile of the links increases wearing comfort. The folding clasp with a double button now includes a highly polished square section engraved with the brand's "OP" logo. Finally, the new bracelet and case are equipped with the brand's quick-change system, which allows the user to easily swap the bracelet for another strap. Strong and light, the new steel bracelet is a product of the engineering know-how of the Laboratorio di Idee, a state-of-the-art think tank founded on Panerai's heritage. Composed of links that echo the silhouette of the protective guard that shields the crown, a unique element of the Luminor case, the bracelet has a fundamentally rethought shape, derived from a construction that reduces the number of screws located on the sides of the links. Developed to combine function, design, and resistance, it incorporates a large number of carefully considered components whose purpose is to raise the standard of ergonomics and comfort. The watch continues the series of the brand's contemporary models using in-house calibres, and this specific one is built upon the brand's revolutionary in-house calibre P.9010. This is one of the timepieces that boldly ranks among the top in the "most versatile watch" category – at least in my humble opinion, this is precisely the case. In my view, at least as far as the case shape is concerned, not many manufacturers today offer a case as convenient and comfortable for the various occasions in life as Panerai provides. I think that if someone wants a Panerai that is cool, in the most popular 44 mm case size, beautifully made and produced entirely in-house, with a sufficiently "steely" presence and insists on the classic style of the brand with the crown protector – the Panerai PAM01316 is the right choice. The watch is sufficiently muscular with its 44 mm, but at the same time, it is also very elegant with its case made from a combination of polished and brushed steel and the possibility of pairing it with numerous variations of leather, rubber, and metal straps. This timepiece is extremely comfortable, mainly due to its flat shape and incredibly ergonomic and curved vintage lugs that wrap around the wrist, and the superb lume of the so-called sandwich dial prompts you to gaze at it often, even in the dark.