In the world of Panerai collecting, no two words carry the power to activate the salivary glands like “pre-Vendome.” The innocuous-sounding phrase refers to a specific time in Panerai history when the brand, previously only available under military contract, was first sold to the public in strictly limited numbers. It was then acquired by the Vendome Group, now known as Richemont.
The pre-Vendome pieces were originally made for the Italian Royal Navy’s elite underwater commandos. The extreme rarity of the pre-Vendome pieces and their ancestry as true military instruments make them holy grails for Paneristi. Reproducing one now is a clever move for Panerai as originals go for hundreds of thousands of dollars if you can even find one.
Mare Nostrum Acciaio
The model in question is neither a Panerai Radiomir or Luminor, the two pillars of the Panerai watch product range designed for use underwater. It is instead the brand’s first chronograph, a Mare Nostrum, originally designed specifically for naval officers to keep track of nautical miles and other important data on the deck of a ship. Despite its origin, the watch never made it past the prototype stage.
Details
The new Mare Nostrum Acciaio-– 42 MM (PAM00716) is a reproduction of the pre-Vendome version created in 1993 based on the original prototype in the Panerai museum. Although the mechanics of the watch have been somewhat updated, its hand-wound, a OP XXXIII calibre, is described as a “pre-Vendome movement.”
The Panerai created and personalized an ETA 2801-2 base with a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module for the piece. Perhaps they are emulating something similar to the homage on the Sea-Dweller released at Baselworld 2017.
With a diameter of 13 1⁄4 lignes, the hand-wound calibre is C.O.S.C. certified and has a power reserve of 42 hours. The dial of the new Mare Nostrum is a stunning, deep blue set off by a blue alligator strap with matching stitching and a sewn-on steel buckle. The chronograph minute counter is at 9 o’clock while the small seconds dial is at 3 o’clock and the chronograph seconds hand is centrally mounted. The engraving on the dial and the markers is coated with beige Super-LumiNova. Limited to just 1,000 units, the presentation box includes a model of the Luigi Durand De La Penne, the Italian Navy destroyer launched in 1993. It was named after Admiral Durand De La Penne, a famed commando and war hero who wore Panerai instruments on his raids during World War II. Learn more about this timepiece from Panerai.
