Panerai revisits 1993 with the new Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218, a faithful tribute to ref. 5218-202/A and its military heritage. Price €8,500
1993 marked a turning point for Panerai. For the first time, the Luminor and Luminor Marina were presented to the public, ending decades of exclusivity to the Italian Navy.
Among the models introduced that year was the Luminor Marina Militare ref. 5218-202/A, created specifically for military personnel, while the Luminor ref. 5218-201/A and Mare Nostrum ref. 5218-301/A became the first Panerai watches available to civilians.
Panerai now pays tribute to that pivotal year with the new Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218.
This boutique-exclusive edition is a faithful reinterpretation of the historic ref. 5218-202/A, recalling the robust design and military character that symbolised Panerai’s shift from professional instrument supplier to internationally recognised watchmaker. For more background, see our in-depth article “The history of the Panerai Luminor”.
The launch coincides with the opening of "The Depths of Time" exhibition in Florence, retracing the Maison’s evolution from its origins as a supplier to the Royal Italian Navy to its global ascent.
On show are never-before-seen archival materials, including correspondence between the Panerai family and the Marina Militare, technical drawings, early catalogues and historical photographs. Instruments such as compasses and depth gauges are displayed alongside vintage watches and reproductions of patents documenting Panerai’s innovations in luminosity, underwater readability and instrument design.
Held at the Florence flagship store, the birthplace of Panerai, the exhibition runs for two months from 10 September before beginning a world tour that will travel to the US and China.
The Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218 remains faithful to its historic codes while subtly refining the construction. The 44 mm case preserves the proportions of the 1993 model, which at the time marked a departure from the 47 mm cases typically supplied to the Marina Militare.
The stainless steel case is coated in DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), a modern treatment visually consistent with the PVD finish of the original 5218-202/A.
The result is a striking all-black presence that captures the aesthetic of the early reference while offering improved hardness, wear resistance and corrosion protection.
The matte black dial bears the historic “Marina Militare” inscription, a tribute to Panerai’s century-long partnership with the Italian Navy. The typography for the numerals and letters has been redrawn to replicate the original 1993 design.
Unlike Panerai’s sandwich construction, this is a monolayer hollowed dial: engraved and filled with Super-LumiNova, with a subtle concave finish lending depth to the numerals.
A defining trait of the 1993 reference has been revived: the “non matching” dial and hands. Caused by the chemical interaction between tritium and varnish, early production pieces developed orange-brown numerals while the hands remained greenish, a quirk that became highly collectible.
The PAM05218 recreates this effect intentionally, pairing caramel Super-LumiNova on the dial with lighter-toned hands as a meticulous nod to this rare historical anomaly.
Powering the watch is the P.6000 calibre, a hand-wound movement with a three-day power reserve. Its traversing balance bridge secures the oscillator, operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, to enhance stability and precision.
The caseback is a closed, screw-down design ensuring water resistance to 30 bar (300 metres or 1,000 feet). It is engraved with the Officine Panerai Firenze signature, the historic OP logo and key specifications, just as on the 1993 model.
Completing the tribute is a straight-cut golden brown calf leather strap with sewn-in construction and a black DLC trapezoidal buckle, complemented by a second black rubber strap with an additional buckle.
The new Panerai Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218 is priced at €8,500 / US$8,800. panerai.com
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