A Deep Dive Into the Panerai Submersible Watch Collection

A look at the esteemed Panerai Submersible watch collection, its history, and features, as well as the similarities it shares with the iconic Luminor watch.

Expanding our luxury watch offerings to accommodate Italian watch manufacturer, Panerai has been one of the most exciting moments so far this year for us here at Jura Watches. To mark the event, we’re highlighting collections like the Panerai Submersible, arguably one of the best dive watches on the market right now. The history of the watch and how it came to be such a popular tool for amateur and professional divers alike is nothing short of fascinating. Join us as we look at the watch and its key features.

Panerai’s Professional Diving Watch

The Panerai Submersible watch is designed to go underwater and stay underwater. It’s an important feature for the watch since many water-resistant watches aren’t made to withstand very long periods submerged. Unlike those, the Submersible is primed for diving, swimming, and water sports, among many other pursuits. Whether exposed to salt water or freshwater environments, it will hold up, thanks to its design, which is now a separate entity from the Luminor watch – another iconic Panerai design. The Submersible actually started in the Luminor category but, deserving of its own recognition now sits in its very own range.

In observing the appearance of the Submersible, you’ll see characteristics that are shared with the popular Luminor range. These include the cushion-shaped case and crown-protecting bridge among some other features. However, it can be set apart from other models in the brand’s portfolio for several reasons. For a start, it features a unidirectional rotating bezel, designed for use underwater. The bezel can be aligned with the central minute hand on the dial to measure elapsed time once submerged in water The handy feature of the bezel is that it can only move in the counter-clockwise direction, ensuring that dive time can never accidentally become extended with a quick knock or bump to the bezel.

ISO-certified Standards

With the Submersible watch by Panerai, you can venture down to 300 meters of water. All the while, its luminous dial will present the time accurately and with clarity. The brand not only coats the dial elements with luminous material but crafts the case from reliable, robust materials and equips the case with a strong piece of sapphire crystal glass to protect the surface of the display. Whereas many of Panerai’s other watches are slimmer in design, the Submersible is bulkier and heftier, enabling it to stand up in harsh conditions.

Even though the design of the Panerai Submersible is hardy and robust, it should not take away from the fact that the design is created by artisan Swiss watchmakers who use only those techniques of the highest standards in watchmaking. The Panerai Submersible watch was launched in 2019 and soon became the watch-collecting community’s modern dive tool. The brand had, of course, been supplying the Italian Navy with watches for diving since the 1930s and was more than experienced in the area. Although the dive watch-inspired Radiomir and Luminor watches carry the same aesthetics as the Submersible, they are not as capable of underwater activity as the brand’s professional dive watch. The models from the Submersible range meet ISO standards and have the crown lock mechanism that extends from the case.

The dial of the Submersible watch is home to sword-shaped hands that have luminous tips, making them incredibly visible for underwater activity. In addition to this, the dials also feature a running seconds indicator and a date window for use outside of the water. There are chronograph versions of the Submersible available too. The majority of the models currently produced by Panerai are equipped with automatic movements and offer a 300-meter water-resistant capability. While the 47mm versions are the broadest of them all, the model is also available in a 44mm version, but more commonly, the 42mm size. Since the case depth is thicker for the design of the Submersible, its smaller case diameter makes the watch more manageable on the wrist.

The Key Differences Between the Luminor and Submersible

Submersible watches today can be purchased in case materials that include stainless steel, titanium, red gold, bronze, Carbotech a BMG-TECH – a material that is harder and lighter than steel. Typically, these dive watches are fitted on rubber bands that give them a practical and sporty advantage. The main difference between the Submersible and the Luminor is that although the Submersible takes on the Luminor blueprint, it comes with underwater capabilities that are more advanced for use as a military diving tool. Some top models in the range, for example, can withstand depths of 2,500 meters underwater. Another key difference between the Luminor and the Submersible can be seen in the hour markers on the sandwich dial. Although the Radiomir and Luminor models feature hour markers represented by Arabic numerals and stick indexes, the Submersible watches denote the hour markers as luminous dots. The luminous material used for all modern Submersible watches and Luminor watches is phosphor-based, as opposed to the Radiomir’s earlier Radium-based luminous material and the old Luminor watches with their tritium-based dial elements.

Why Buy a Panerai Submersible?

The Panerai Submersible collection offers the popular dive watch in various case materials, as well as limited edition variants that make for great investment pieces. These professional dive watches have unidirectional rotating bezels that are great for measuring elapsed time whether underwater or not. What’s more, they offer a water-resistant capability of at least 300 meters. With flyback chronograph versions available, those who like to use the stopwatch features of a watch frequently can utilise this tool by the water’s edge or in the water itself. The Submersible is also offered in a GMT complication for those who frequently travel on business or for leisure.

Buy Panerai Submersible Watches from Jura Watches Today

If you’d like to learn more about the Panerai Submersible watch collection, you can explore the entire range here at Jura Watches, or call our sales team on 01335 453453. Alternatively, you can email us a question at help@jurawatches.co.uk.