Manufacturer: Panerai Year: Circa 1993 Reference No: 5218-301/A Case No: 6'048 Model Name: Mare Nostrum Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Mechanical, 2801-2, 43 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Navy Panerai calf leather strap Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Panerai buckle Dimensions: 42 mm. diameter Signed:Case and dial signed Literature: For another example of a reference 5218-301/A, please see Panerai Watches from 1936 to 1997 by Mario Paci, pages 255 to 259.
Catalogue Essay
The original Mare Nostrum was initially designed for deck officers of the Italian Navy in 1943. Panerai produced very few prototypes only and the model never went into full production due to the war. In 1993, Panerai re-introduced the Mare Nostrum collection created in tribute to the original model for the public. Based on the looks of the original prototype, the present watch features a blue dial and the bezel is fitted with a tachymetre scale. Offered in excellent overall condition, the present watch is extremely rare and highly collectible.
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.