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1027Σ

Panerai

Ref. PAM 00006, OP 6501

Mare Nostrum

A fine and rare limited edition stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with presentation box, one of a limited edition of 400 pieces

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The Panerai Mare Nostrum was the first chronograph produced by the firm in 1943 for the Italian Navy. Modelled as “Mare Nostrum” or “Our Sea” in Latin after the victory of the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea in the Second World War, the original example from the 1940s featured a large case dimension at 52mm diameter. Designed for the Navy’s deck officers, the original example featured an Angelus cal. 215 column wheel movement with an escapement operating at 18,000 vph.

In 1993, Panerai during its pre-vendome days released their first ever re-edition of the Mare Nostrum. It is believed the production spanned from 1993 until 1997 with a total of 400 examples produced. Encased in a reduced 42mm diameter case, the design of the re-edition is rather entertaining as the friendly case size allowed for a comforting fit. Retaining essentially its iconic case design and dial layout for nostalgia, the Mare Nostrum re-edition case be categorized by two differentiating traits, pre and post Vendome. Pre-vendome examples featured a bezel without the “TACHYMETER” inscription while post-vendome examples featured “TACHYMETER” engraved on the bezel.

The present example Panerai Mare Nostrum from circa 1997 is of the latter post-vendome example. Offered in attractive overall condition, with its original box, the present chronograph by Panerai will surely garner interest from the passionate community of Panerai collectors.

Panerai

Italian | 1860

Known for its robust designs and large case sizes, Officine Panerai was established in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai in Florence, Italy. Around 1900, Giovanni's grandson Guido Panerai took over, and Panerai became the supplier to the Regia Marina — the Royal Italian Navy. After supplying the navy with high-precision instruments for a number of years, Officine Panerai created Radiomir, a radium-based powder that gives luminosity to the dials of sighting instruments and devices. By 1936, the Royal Italian Navy approached Panerai again with the request to design a watch resistant to extreme underwater conditions. The watch they created became known as the "Radiomir".


Panerai's watches made during the early twentieth century era were comprised of cases designed and manufactured by Rolex SA, with Cortébert, a Swiss manufacturer, supplying the majority of their movements. The most recognizable designs from the firm are the Radiomir and Luminor. To date, vintage models from the first half of the 1900s, such as the reference 3646 and 6152 models, remain the most desirable among collectors.

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