I’ve owned my Panerai Luminor Base Logo PAM00777 for years. I bought it in Florence with my wife during our anniversary, at Panerai’s flagship boutique. There’s enough personal history wrapped up in that watch that I don’t think I could ever sell it. But, Panerai just released a watch that makes me wish I could separate the watch from those memories for a minute.
The new Luminor PAM01710, PAM01711, and PAM01714 measure 42mm wide and 13.8mm thick, with 500 meters of water resistance. The PAM01710 has a black dial and steel case, the PAM01711 goes green, and the PAM01714 pairs a blue dial with black DLC-coated steel. Prices start at $6,700, with the DLC model coming in at $7,700. To me, the black PAM01710 is the obvious choice.
A lot of that reaction comes from living with my PAM00777. When I bought that watch, I spent way too much time worrying about its 44mm case. Eventually, I came around to the size. I think Panerai’s oversized proportions are part of what gives these watches their identity. The big cushion case, huge numerals, and that ridiculous crown guard all make more sense together than they probably should. For years, my take was that downsizing a Panerai too much would mess with that formula. Looking at the PAM01710, I’m starting to think 42mm might be where I draw the line.
Panerai already makes smaller Luminors, including 40mm models. Those watches never really did much for me. With these new references, I think the 500-meter water-resistance rating changes the conversation. It gives the 42mm case the kind of excessive capability I associate with Panerai, even if almost nobody buying one will ever test that number.
The design also reaches back to Panerai’s early civilian watches from 1993, including the Luminor Ref. 5218-201/A and Luminor Marina Militare Ref. 5218-202/A. You still get the crown-protection bridge, oversized printed numerals, small seconds at nine, and a simple matte dial. Panerai skipped the sandwich construction this time. I’m sure there are Paneristi already typing furiously about that somewhere. Personally, I’m fine with it.
Inside is the automatic P.980, measuring 4.2mm thick and running at 28,800 vph with 72 hours of power reserve. Panerai covers it with a solid caseback, which I think suits this watch better anyway.
My take on the movement is pretty simple. I don’t care that it’s automatic. I’ve been perfectly happy winding the P.6000 in my PAM00777 (check out my review and buying journey here). What interests me is that Panerai can package the P.980 into a 42mm Luminor with 500 meters of water resistance and keep the whole thing at 13.8mm thick.
Starting at $6,700, the PAM01710 is still an expensive watch. In my opinion, though, that number is much easier to process than the pricing attached to some recent Panerai releases. I’ve wanted to see the brand get closer to this territory for a while, and I think the combination of price, size, and capability makes more sense here.
I still need to see one in person. A 42mm diameter doesn’t tell me whether this thing actually feels like a Panerai on the wrist, and I don’t want a smaller Luminor if the character disappears along with those two millimeters. But if I walked back into that Florence boutique today without years of memories attached to my PAM00777? I think I’d buy the PAM01710.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.