MARE NOSTRUM ACCIAIO - 42MM PAM00716 The Mare Nostrum was the first chronograph in the history of Officine Panerai. Its origins are somewhat mysterious: according to respected historians, the first prototypes appeared in 1943 and were intended for deck officers of the Royal Italian Navy, but they ne
MARE NOSTRUM ACCIAIO - 42MM
PAM00716
The Mare Nostrum was the first chronograph in the history of Officine Panerai. Its origins are somewhat mysterious: according to respected historians, the first prototypes appeared in 1943 and were intended for deck officers of the Royal Italian Navy, but they never went into production. One of these prototypes was discovered and acquired for the collection of the Panerai Museum just a few years ago, enabling the appearance and functions of this model with its unique characteristics to be reconstructed accurately at last. Until then, the Mare Nostrum had been known only through the limited documentation which survived the flood in Florence in 1966, and it was on the basis of this documentation that Panerai made a first re-edition of the chronograph in 1993 (Ref. 5218-301/A), the date of the first collection of Panerai watches made for civilian use and the start of the period known to enthusiasts as pre-Vendôme (1993-1997).
The 1993 model, which inspired the new Mare Nostrum Acciaio - 42mm, had the same design and functions as its predecessor but it also had some differences, resulting from the desire to make the watch more portable, and also because of the lack of information available about the 1943 prototype. The AISI 316L stainless steel case was 42 mm in diameter instead of 52 mm, and it was fitted with a broad, flat brush-finished bezel engraved with the tachymeter scale in km/h. The two push-buttons controlling the chronograph functions were in traditional style and the screw back was personalised with the inscription Officine Panerai Firenze and the OP logo engraved upon it. Its water-resistance was 5 bars (about 50 metres), the same as that of the new Special Edition.
The dial of the new Mare Nostrum Acciaio - 42mm is a sophisticated deep blue, like the 1993 model, and it coordinates perfectly with the alligator strap, with matching stitching and a sewn-on steel buckle. The chronograph minute counter is at 9 o’clock while the small seconds dial is at 3 o’clock and the chronograph seconds hand is centrally mounted. The engraving on the dial and the markers coated with beige Super-LumiNova® ensure excellent legibility and follow the Panerai aesthetic which in this model, with its unique, distinctive characteristics, can be discerned on the closest inspection. The new Mare Nostrum Acciaio – 42mm (PAM00716) uses the same movement as the pre-Vendôme model: the OP XXXIII calibre, created and personalised by Panerai on the ETA 2801-2 base with a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module. With a diameter of 13 ¼ lignes, the hand-wound calibre has a power reserve of 42 hours and is C.O.S.C. certified.
Unique edition of 1000 units
Movement Hand-wound mechanical, exclusive Panerai OP XXXIII calibre, 13¼ lignes, 6,25mm thick, 17 jewels, 28,800 alterations/hours. Power reserve 42 hours. It is tested and certificated by C.O.S.C.
Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph
Case Diameter 42mm, AISI 316L brushed steel
Bezel brushed steel with tachimeter scale engraved
Back screw, steel
Dial Blue with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. Chronograph counters at 3 and 6 o'clock.
Crystal sapphire crystal formed of corundum
Water Resistance 5 bar (~50 metres)
Strap Alligator, Dark blue, Blue, 22/22 MM Standard
