Panerai’s latest Submersible additions, the PAM01697 and PAM01698, dive deep into the brand’s century-old bond with the Marina Militare and the daring spirit of Aviazione Navale. These two tool watches aren’t just timekeepers, they’re badges of honour wrought in rugged utility and aviation-navy synergy.
The first Submersible was launched in 1998 as part of the Luminor collection. With its rugged design and historical connection to Italian naval diving watches, the Submersible soon had its own line within Panerai, offering watch collectors a dive watch with a very strong identity.
The two new 2025 models are powered by the slim yet robust P.900 automatic calibre, both watches boast a 3-day power reserve and a meticulous 28,800 vph beat rate, fitting for precise mission timing. A stop-second function makes syncing a breeze. The movement’s compact dimensions (12½ lignes and just 4.2 mm thick) speak volumes of Panerai’s mastery in shrinking power without compromising reliability.
Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01697 in a stainless-steel case and ceramic bezel. The caseback features the Aviazione Navale wings insignia; extra Super-LumiNova guarantees legibility in the most challenging light conditions.
Design-wise, the PAM01697 flaunts a 44mm brushed 316LVM stainless steel case crowned with a matt-green ceramic bezel; outfitted for stealth and substance. Its counterpart, the PAM01698, swaps metal for Carbotech – a feather-light, ultra-resilient carbon-fibre composite laced with PEEK (a high-performance thermoplastic polymer known for its exceptional mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance) for superior durability. Its uneven matte black surface means every watch is subtly unique.
Both models wear dials in green-grained matt finish, filtered into moody black gradient – an aesthetic nod to the Air Force flight helmets and gear of Italy’s naval aviators. Large indices, boosted by +20 percent diameter and 45 percent more Super-LumiNova, deliver outstanding low-light legibility. The small-seconds subdial cleverly mimics radar display, adorned with the Aviazione Navale’s anchor-wing emblem. A first in Panerai design: the caseback bears an engraved Aviazione Navale wings insignia.
Panerai Submersible Marina Militare PAM01698 in a Carbotech / PEEK case. As with the PAM01697; the Aviazione Navale wings insignia is engraved on the caseback and extra Super-LumiNova guarantees legibility.
With a water resistance rated at 300 meters and tested to +25 percent excess, these Panerai Submersibles are ready for deep-sea duty. The dual-strap system – durable green canvas (with military-style stitching) plus added black rubber – blends rugged flair and functional swappability.
In short, PAM01697 and PAM01698 are the kind of high-spec, personality-rich instruments that feel equally at home on a deck, over a cockpit, or on your wrist during urban exploration. Panerai has once again proven that its tool-watch legacy, born at the intersection of design, innovation, and military precision, is still in full force.
Author: Julia Pasarón
If you are a fan of tool watches, you may be interested in the Bell & Ross BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic, the Micromilspec x Black Badger Milgraph Sabotage, or the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph
Show Comments +