Panerai understands that ultra-luxe watches are just as much about the experience of owning them as it is the physical watch itself. That’s why they introduced their Experience Edition concept, where purchasing the watch includes an invitation to attend an exclusive experience as well. Those editions tend to lean in one of two directions: for their precious metal dress watches it’s an equally refined experience such as a city break or trip down the coast, for their military tool watches it’s off to boot camp with you. For the new Submersible Navy SEALs Afniotech Experience PAM01089, it’s the latter.
Specifically, collectors will be invited to attend a 3-day immersive experience in Florida in March 2027 where they will take part in a series of challenges designed to encourage endurance, teamwork and camaraderie. All the while putting the Submersible Navy SEALs Afniotech Experience PAM01089 through its paces. And as a 1,000m dive watch, it’s no shrinking violet when it comes to tool watch performance.
The headline feature of the watch is that its 47mm case is made from Afniotech, Panerai’s proprietary alloy of the metal hafnium. According to Alessandro Ficarelli, Chief Marketing and Product Officer of Panerai, it’s the first time a wristwatch has ever been made from this material. As a brief introduction to hafnium, it’s most famous for its use in the control rods of nuclear reactors. On a watchmaking level, what it brings to the table are exceptional corrosion resistance, great pressure resistance and of course the novelty and rarity of its use.
Part of that novelty is also the material’s high density, which translates to a high weight to volume ratio meaning that it’s very heavy. In fact, it’s 70% heavier than stainless steel. I can barely imagine how that would feel on the wrist, especially given that it’s a 47mm behemoth to begin with. If you don’t have the forearms of a Navy SEAL already, wear this for a while and you’ll get them.
Aesthetically, the metal is a cold blue/grey silver colour. It has a matte finish with a bead-blasted texture to ensure there are no aggressive reflections, in keeping with its position as a military dive watch. The same texture has been used for the dial, which is a darker shade of grey with a dual-time display featuring hours, minutes, small seconds, second time zone and date. It has yellow accents on the second time zone hand and small seconds to aid readability further.
Beneath the dial is the P.9010/GMT automatic calibre with 3-day power reserve. It has a double power barrel construction to provide that power reserve, although when it comes to Panerai and power reserves that’s child’s play compared to the crazy 31-day power reserve of the new Luminor 31 Giorni. The movement itself is hidden by the Submersible Navy SEALs Afniotech Experience’s solid caseback with Navy SEALs logo.
It’s limited to 35 pieces at a price of £65,500. One thing’s for sure, owning this watch would be one hell of an experience between its Florida expedition, hafnium case, 1,000m water resistance rating and exclusivity. Not a watch for the faint of heart and weak of wrist.
Price and Specs:
More details at Panerai.
