Some watch anniversaries are celebrated with a new color or a limited-edition caseback. Panerai has gone a little deeper.
To mark 100 years in Florence, the brand has introduced two new Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni editions, the PAM01734 and PAM01794. Both draw inspiration from a historic Panerai prototype from the 1960s, bringing an unusual piece of the brand’s past into two very different modern watches.
Florence is particularly important to Panerai. The city is where the company established its roots, initially supplying precision instruments before its work with the Italian Navy helped shape the watches that would eventually become synonymous with the Panerai name. So, for an anniversary centered on Florence, reaching back into that history makes considerably more sense than simply putting a commemorative engraving on an existing model.
The watches take their cues from a rare Ref. 6152/1 prototype from the 1960s. The original was a substantial 47 mm watch, while these modern interpretations measure 44 mm. They retain several of its visual signatures, including the sandwich dial, pencil-shaped hands, and “Panerai Firenze” inscription, but the execution is unmistakably contemporary.
PAM01734: The Collector’s Version
The more extravagant of the two is the PAM01734.
Its 44 mm case is made from Panerai’s Platinumtech, giving the watch a considerably more luxurious character than the historical military inspiration might suggest. The green circular-brushed dial is perhaps the biggest visual departure from the conventional black Panerai aesthetic, while the gold-colored hands add a warmer, almost vintage feel.
There is still plenty of familiar Panerai DNA here, from the sandwich construction to the distinctive crown-protecting bridge. But the combination of platinum, green, and gold makes the PAM01734 feel more like an anniversary statement than a straightforward everyday Luminor.
It is also the rarer of the two, with production limited to just 100 pieces.
PAM01794: The More Wearable Interpretation
The PAM01794 takes a different route.
Its stainless-steel case and black dial make it instantly recognizable as a Panerai, while blue-finished hands provide the main splash of color. It may not have the precious-metal drama of the PAM01734, but that is arguably what makes it the more approachable watch.
At 44 mm, it still has the wrist presence expected from a Luminor, but the steel construction and more restrained dial give it a much more everyday personality. It also offers 300 meters of water resistance, compared with 100 meters for the platinum model.
The PAM01794 is limited to 1,000 pieces, making it considerably easier to find than its platinum sibling. It is also dramatically less expensive, priced at around €10,700, while the PAM01734 comes in at approximately €55,000.
Eight Days, The Panerai Way
Both watches are powered by the hand-wound P.5000 caliber, which offers an eight-day, or 192-hour, power reserve.
That long reserve is more than just a useful modern specification for Panerai. Extended running times have long been part of the brand’s story, particularly given the practical demands of its historic military watches. The idea was simple enough: less frequent winding meant less need to disturb the watch’s crown and winding system.
The Florence connection continues through the details. Both watches are paired with Tuscan calfskin straps featuring the Florentine lily, while the presentation boxes also draw on the city’s heritage.
None of this feels particularly subtle, but subtlety has never exactly been Panerai’s specialty.
And that is perhaps why these two watches work. The PAM01734 and PAM01794 are clearly anniversary pieces, but they do more than celebrate a number. They take a relatively obscure historical prototype and reinterpret it through two very different personalities.
The PAM01734 is the extravagant collector’s option, with its Platinumtech case and limited production. The PAM01794 is the more accessible expression of the same idea, pairing the historical design with stainless steel and a far more approachable price.
After 100 years in Florence, Panerai could have simply looked back. Instead, it has taken something from its past and given it a modern reason to exist.
And for a brand whose identity is so closely tied to its history, that feels like a fitting way to celebrate the next chapter.