Panerai Luminor Marina

The Panerai Luminor Marina is defined by its cushion-shaped case, crown-protecting bridge, and small seconds dial. The largest models are true statement pieces at 47 mm across. A massive crown guard also catches the eye from a distance. This feature protects the crown against impacts and holds it tightly in the case.

The premium models in the series are crafted from Panerai's own proprietary materials. These include Goldtech, a rose gold alloy; Carbotech, a composite material based on carbon fiber; basalt-based Fibratech; and their latest creations, Platinumtech and eSteel. While Platinumtech is a newly developed and particularly robust platinum alloy, Panerai manufactures its eSteel almost exclusively from recycled steel.

Alongside the Luminor Marina Platinumtech and eSteel, Panerai also added the Carbotech Blu Notte to their lineup in 2021. This timepiece has a dark case made of Carbotech and is limited to a run of just 500 pieces. Certain models in the Luminor Marina collection are outfitted with the in-house caliber P.5000, which boasts an incredible 192-hour power reserve, i.e., eight full days.

The most affordable model in the Panerai Luminor Marina collection is the ref. PAM00776. This watch is made of stainless steel and sells for around 4,800 USD new. The eSteel models made from recycled steel, such as the ref. PAM01157 (Blu Profondo) and PAM01358 (Grigio Roccia) are in the middle tier and change hands for roughly 8,400 USD. More extravagant models such as the Luminor Marina Goldtech ref. PAM01112 and Marina 8 Days ref. PAM00511 run between 18,000 and 19,000 USD. However, you'll need to make an investment of roughly 35,000 USD for platinum models such as the ref. PAM01161.

The Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic is water-resistant to 300 m (30 bar, 984 ft). A generous coating of luminous material on the hands and hour indices means you can always keep an eye on the time, even in the dark. The dial has Arabic numerals at 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, a line index at 3, and dot markers for the other hours. The date display also sits at 3 o'clock. Across the dial, you'll find a small seconds at 9 o'clock. This feature glows brightly in the dark as well.

Panerai outfits this timepiece with the automatic in-house caliber P.9010. This movement is comprised of 200 individual components and has an impressive three-day power reserve thanks to its double barrels. If you're interested in the Luminor Marina 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic ref. PAM00661, be sure to have around 9,700 USD on hand for a new model.

The Luminor Marina 8 Days Oro Rosso ref. PAM00511 is this collection's second highlight. This 44-mm gold watch features a brown dial with luminous line indices and Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 12 o'clock. A small seconds dial is located at 9 o'clock. The "8 Days" inscription at 6 o'clock refers to this timepiece's jaw-dropping power reserve.

The in-house caliber P.5000 ticks away inside the timepiece. By turning the watch over, you can view this manual movement at work through the sapphire glass case back. A mint-condition Luminor Marina 8 Days Oro Rosso demands a good 17,800 USD.

Luminor Marina 8 Days in Stainless Steel or Titanium

The Luminor Marina 8 Days also comes in 361L stainless steel. This version comes with your choice of a black dial (ref. PAM00510) or white dial (ref. PAM00563). The latter displays the hours using Arabic numerals and minutes with small line indices. The black edition has Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 12 o'clock, while line indices mark the other hours. As always, the small seconds dial sits at 9 o'clock. These stainless steel watches cost between 4,800 and 5,100 USD in mint condition.

There's also a titanium Luminor Marina model. The ref. PAM00564 has a brown dial and a satin-brushed finish. You can purchase a never-worn PAM 564 for around 5,400 USD.

In 2020, Panerai celebrated 70 years of the luminous material Luminor with the release of the Luminor Marina PAM01117. Its 44-mm titanium case is produced in a process called direct metal laser sintering. In layman's terms, this refers to a 3D-printing process where layers of titanium only 0.03 mm thick are fused together. The resulting hollow spaces in the material lead to the watch weighing only 100 grams, including its strap.

The new luminous material, Super-LumiNova Grade X1, promises a longer and a more intense glow than the material previously used. The blue sunburst dial preserves the well-known Luminor Marina design, which is largely dictated by the reliable P.9010 caliber. The watch comes with two bands: a blue textile strap and a blue rubber strap. If you decide to buy this reference, you'll need to spend around 18,500 USD for a new example.

The Luminor Marina Fibratech PAM01663 also premiered in 2020. The model measures 44 mm across and is made from a specialized material derived from mineral basalt fibers, which are melted down and bonded with polymers to form thin layers. The result is a matte gray finish with a unique texture. According to Panerai's specs, Fibratech is 60% lighter than stainless steel, and the fibers are organically produced. The distinctive crown protector is made of Carbotech, Panerai's carbon composite material. The blue dial features the usual sandwich construction, Arabic numerals and line indices to mark the hours, a small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock, and a date window at 3 o'clock.

The ref. PAM01663 is powered by the celebrated in-house caliber P.9010 with a three-day power reserve. The watch comes with both a blue rubber strap and a blue textile strap. Panerai lists this model for 16,000 USD. Listings on Chrono24 demand similar sums.

In September 2021, Panerai presented the Luminor Marina Carbotech Blu Notte with a case made of a dark, carbon-based material. Limited to a run of 500 pieces, the ref. PAM01664 is 44 mm wide. Its blue sandwich dial features a stunning sunburst pattern. You'll find the familiar Arabic numerals punctuating 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, line indices marking the remaining hours, a small seconds at 9, and a date display at 3.

The automatic in-house caliber P.9010 powers this timepiece and provides an impressive three-day power reserve thanks to its double barrels. It also boasts water resistance to 300 m (30 bar, 984 ft). Panerai mounts the Marina Carbotech Blu Notte on a dark blue alligator leather strap. Listings for this model on Chrono24 come in at around the 12,000 USD mark, while Panerai's MSRP is 14,300 USD.

Spring 2021 saw the release of the Luminor Marina Platinumtech ref. PAM01116. This platinum alloy, Panerai's new development, guarantees increased resistance to scratches compared to traditional platinum alloys. The olive green sandwich dial features the typical Luminor Marina design.

The in-house caliber P.9010 inside the case offers a 3-day power reserve and is partially visible through the sapphire crystal case back. It is concealed by an eye-catching seal that bears the inscription "70 Years Warranty." Panerai produced only 70 pieces. The watch is paired with a brown leather strap with white stitching and is listed on the Panerai website for 39,600 USD. On Chrono24, this reference changes hands for an average of 35,000 USD new.

At Watches & Wonders 2021, Panerai announced the addition of the Marina eSteel to the Luminor Marina family. This model is made primarily of recycled materials: The 44-mm case and dial are crafted from an alloy of recycled steel. Options include the Blu Profondo with a blue dial, Verde Smeraldo with a green dial, and Grigio Roccia with a gray dial.

The textile straps are made from recycled fabric and are color-coordinated with your chosen dial. The in-house caliber P.9010 keeps the watch ticking. Mint-condition examples sell for around 7,200 USD on Chrono24, regardless of the dial color.

The Luminor Daylight Slytech ref. 5218-207A was developed especially for movie star Sylvester Stallone. Naturally, the timepiece is extremely rare and highly coveted among collectors. You can recognize this model by the "SLY TECH" inscription at 6 o'clock and the words "LUMINOR DAYLIGHT" stamped beneath the 12. Another defining feature of this 44-mm Luminor Marina is its white dial. The manual ETA caliber 6497-1 ticks away inside the case, which is water-resistant to 150 m (15 bar, 492 ft). This movement has a 46-hour power reserve.

The Luminor Daylight Slytech comes from the "pre-Vendôme" period. This era lasted from 1992 until 1997 when the Vendôme Luxury Group acquired Panerai. The Vendôme Luxury Group was itself purchased by Richemont later that same year. If you're interested in purchasing a ref. 5218-207A, be sure to have around 35,000 USD on hand.