Officine Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM 00024 and PAM 00243

Diving heritage. Most of Panerai's Luminor watches would make decent divers watches. With their large luminous hands and markers, and, 300 meter water resistance ratings (except for the chronograph and manifattura models), all one has to do is strap on a Panerai rubber strap. This is not surprising as Panerai watches were built for the Frogmen of the Italian Navy. The one ingredient missing is a rotating bezel which can be used to measure immersion time. This is what the Submersible line brings to Panerai Luminor line.

Panerai Luminor Submersible Divers Professional PAM 00024

Panerai Luminor Submersible Divers Professional PAM 00024. The Panerai Luminor Submersible has the same 300 meter water resistance rating as the other watches in the Luminor line, but with its rubber strap, rotating 60 minute timer bezel and matte finnish, it is built for rough underwater use. The Luminor trademark clamp keeps water from entering from the crown assembly.

The PAM 24's dial

The PAM 24 is powered by a self-winding COSC certified Panerai OP III calibre movement that 28,800 vibrations per hour (vph) and provides a 42 hour power reserve. The 44 wide case and bezel are made of 316L stainless steel brushed to a matte finish. Date is displayed at the 3 o'clock position under a magnifying lens.

Panerai Luminor 1950 Submersible 1000M PAM 00243

Panerai Luminor 1950 Submersible 1000M PAM 00243. The Panerai Luminor 1950 Submersible PAM 00243 has the same movement and construction as the PAM 24, but it has a thicker caseback a thicker 5.1 mm crystal (3.5 mm for the PAM 24). This gives it a 1000 meter water resistance rating. Interestingly enough, Panerai was able to thicken the glass and keep the magnifying lens. The Rolex Perpertual Sea Dweller, with a 1mm thicker lens than the Submariner resulted in having to drop the magnifying cyclops lens.

The 1000 m. water resistance rating is proudly displayed on the dial and clamp

Complementary to its 1000 meter rating is a helium gas release valve into the case. The helium release valve, like the one in the Rolex Sea Dweller, activates automatically. While its 1000 meter water resistance rating is not class leading, it is really more than enough for any serious work.

The helium gas release valve

About Panerai. Officine Panerai was founded in 1860 in Florence, Italy by Giovani Panerai. Panerai was acquired over by Swiss watchmaker Richemont S. A. in 1997.