Officine Panerai

We are all well aware of, and appreciate the Panerai history as THE supplier of diving watches and tools to the Italian Navy. The last watch supplied by Panerai to the Navy was the reference 5218-202/A

 

(photo by Nico)

 

Since 2005 the official watch supplied to the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) is the MMT500. This watch is made to the specifications of the Navy which stipulate that the watch has to be mechanical with a depth rating of 500 meters. The MMT500 that was supplied was designed following specific details which included oversized luminous markers and hands and a larger legible marked bezel. The sapphire crystal is rated with a hardness of 1000 vickers.

The MMT500 was designed by Umberto Panzeri, a watchmaker from Viareggio.

 

 

(photos by Volker and Fastre)

 

Part of the Marina Militare is the diving unit called Com.Sub.In. This unit was founded in 1954 and united the various diving commandos units. In times of peace the main mission of this unit is to assist submarine troops in distress (as far as 300 meters), clear unexploded sea mines and cooperate in special missions of offshore defense. Upon special request of the Comsubin, the MMT500 delivered to the unit is made with PVD coating and sapphire crystal is made with an increased rating of 2000 vickers. I was lucky to obtain on of these specimens.

 

OK,  I admit this watch is not a design masterpiece (understatement), just look at the imbalanced "swiss movement" inscription at 6 - BUT, it makes a very nice and reliable daily sport wear AND it is the REAL DEAL- the watch that's used today.  An added bonus is the link to the Italian Navy, as is our favorite brand

 

 

 

 

 

The Comsubin logo left of the date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The watch comes in a simple and functional box with a sharky strap (fantastic btw), rubber strap and a kelvar strap,,,

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed, HAGWE

 

 

Cheers,

 

Asi

 

 

 

I bet this watch glows as bright as a flashlight in the dark with those huge luminova hands and markers!

Cheers,
Anthony

 

 

Cheers,

Asi

watches using that case. They've been popping up around the internet for years!

I am not sure that it's any more an issued watch than the JLC SEALS  watch is.

Do you have any further info on them?

 

 

These Military inspired watches are no longer actively used in the military.  Today's militaries simply don't provide super-expensive watches to its soldiers, however indulge them in other expensive weaponry and costly electronic devices. 

My understanding is that the JLC Navy Seals watch and the IWC Top Gun watches have only been presented to a few members of the military, particularly powerful military leaders. 

I would find it unlikely for the Italian Navy to dole out these diving watches to a large percentage of its men and women in the Navy. 

Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers might get an issued G-shock. They usually buy their own to get something better. The Dive Supervisors get Citizen Aqualand II's. No more caseback markings either, they just record the serial number.

I suspect this is no more than a marketing hook-up, as you state, per the JLC and IWC.

Didn't know there were so many military experts on board, wow.

 

Asi

Marketting doesn't do all, BDLJ...

You shoudln't say that, or let's say that you should have been more prudent, because in this case, Asi is right.

Best.

Nicolas

Just wanted to know how to address your statement, because obviously you do not know me.

 

Cheers,

 

Asi

Opinion; my perceptions only.  Please forgive me if I am indeed mistaken. 

I have been told that the Navy did not buy Top Gun watches nor Navy Seals watches in considerable numbers from employees of Jaeger-LeCoultre and IWC. 

However, I have no official knowledge nor facts about what the current Italian Navy purchases and I can only infer from what the United States Navy has purchased. 

Hope that clears it up. 

All good .

 

Asi

This message has been edited by Asimut on 2009-02-14 23:06:39

Umberto Panzeri is a watchmaker (Rolex certified service) from Viareggio who in 2005 won a tender to supply watches to the Marina Miltare and Comsubin. As he is not a watch company, he approached a casemaker, dial maker, ETA for the movement, etc. It is true that AFTER his first watches were supplied to the MM, other companies/brands used this same case (coming from the casemaker) but they never supplied them to the MM, just to the general public.  I met Umberto at one of the Italian Paneresti GTGs and in fact, traveled with him to Viargeggio and witnessed the delivery of 50 MMT500 watches to the Marina Militare. It was on that occasion that Umberto presented 2 prototypes, one of them being a PVD coated case, as per the request of the Comsubin. I asked Umberto if I can have the opportunity to purchase one and after a few months Umberto answered positively. My enthusiasm was placed when I learned that the MM wanted mechanical watches only as opposed to quartz mechanisms that I thought were the issue these days. Contrary to what was posted by some, these watches are used by the divers and are not specimens for high ranking generals.

For the ultra-skeptic, I also saw the exclusive contract signed my the MM and Umberto. 

Just to let you know - I have no business interests to promote (shill) this watch, I am not even sure if anyone can purchase it even if he wanted to.

 

Cheers,

 

Asi

That's really great!  It's official, the MM has an official watch. 

I'm actually a bit less surprised now that the Italian Navy actually has a standard issue watch that is so expensive.  Come to think of it, the Italian Police and Caraberini (pardon my spelling if it's incorrect) all use uniforms designed by Gucci and Fendi.  The esteemed brand Loro Piana provides uniforms for the Italian Winter Olympics team as well as for some Italian military forces (presumably winter clothing). 

Because of this, it makes perfect sense that they would issue a military watch. 

In light of this, I realized it isn't fair to say just because the Jaeger-LeCoultre Navy Seals watch and the IWC Top Gun watches aren't used by the US Military that the Italian military doesn't have official watches from esteemed manufactures; I forgot that the Italians are very design oriented and their Gucci-attired police is a good example of that. 

This message has been edited by patrick_y on 2009-02-14 23:44:24

JLC never said that their Navy Seals watches were used as a tool watch by the Navy Seals.

JLC said that the Navy Seals was an ewtraordinary Laboratory test for their watches.

I mean that the JLC Navy Seals watches will be tested in extrem situations, and that further common projects will see the light.

That's all.

Best.

Nicolas

I wasn't aware that the watches were made for testing in extreme conditions, I was under the assumption that they were marketed as "approved for military use."  Because of this approval gained, I was thinking that the company such as IWC and JLC were implying that the military departments actually used the watches they were named after.  Obviously the Navy Top Gun pilots and Navy Seals don't use these watches so I was confused with the disconnect.  After reading your post, I realized that I was the one making the assumption of this implication that I suspected JLC and IWC to be making and I have therefore altered my original thoughts and perception. 

Thanks for clearing that up and in the future I won't assume that a company is implying that a military group uses their product just because it's a product that was tested with that military group.  This is not an accurate assumption for me to make. 

It's kind of assuming that Ferrari gives Panerai watches to its race car drivers, which is another example of a bad assumption. 

 

Then we should be able to see a NSN for this watch.

I have no doubt is was delivered to the Italian Navy and even used by members. This is however, different to being issued.

 

This message has been edited by BDLJ on 2009-02-15 14:07:36

The MMT500 is considered 'personal equipment' (like the diving mask) and therefore does not get a NSN, it gets a Brevet No., from the Navy database. This Brevet No. is engraved on the caseback and mine does not have one, naturally.

 

Cheers,

Asi

No message body

I've had so much work these last days that I missed your post.

Very interesting, Asi.

Yes, I get what you say.

The MMT 500 is not really what I'd call a model of esthetism, but, as you perfectly stated, a Tool Watch, and a real one used by the Italian Navy.

And YES, I know this Story behind these watches.

Next time you come, you will show ime this one, I hope!

Best, and thanks for having taken the time to post such an interesting topic!

Nico

Thanks for sharing Asi. Your posts are always interesting!