Review: Panerai Luminor Submersible Bronze
With the discovery of bronze, commonly used objects that were made for years and years could be made better than ever before. From tools, to weapons, to majestic statues we see all across the world. What more fitting of a material to use to create one of the most iconic Panerai models to date than the same metal used to depict sculptures of the gods in ancient Greece and beyond?
To Paneristis (die-hard Panerai followers), the Panerai PAM382 - limited to 1000 units - is simply known as the Bronzo. The powerful 47mm bronze case featuring a brushed bezel and polished edges was not always met with the fanfare that it receives today. In fact it took a while for the purists to embrace the watch, and it sat on boutique shelves collecting dust. Slowly, over time, the Bronzo became more and more sought-after to the point that the value rose. When the PAM382 was shown at SIHH 2011, the MSRP was set around $11,600 USD. In today's soft market you are still hard-pressed to find one under $25,000. The Bronzo has such a cult following within the community, even becoming a grail piece to Panerai collectors and watch collectors alike.
The Panerai PAM382 got even more exposure after its release thanks to the biggest backer of Panerai in the film industry, Sylvester Stallone. Much like he did in 1995 in the early years of the rebirth of Panerai with the movie 'Daylight', he brought the Bronzo to the silver screen in the movie 'Expendables 2'. In the 2012 film, the whole team sported the bronze goliath throughout the entire picture.
The most unique aspect of the watch is that each one will form its own greenish-brown patina over time. Each Bronzo - made from Phosphor Bronze, a specific alloy of copper and tin with phosphorus - will create a unique identity of its own - like a fingerprint. Many PAM382 owners will allow the patina to grow, then use various methods to clean the bronze and get it back to its original state and start the patina process all over again.
The Bronzo features the in-house, automatic calibre P.9000 movement. It has 28 jewels and a three-day power reserve, and is executed entirely by Panerai. The caseback is made with a transparent sapphire crystal so you can bask in its beauty. The green dial features a dot and baton style design for the hours and rose gold hands filled with green lume. There's also a unidirectional rotating bezel that lets you calculate the time of immersion. After all, this is a Submersible model made for diving down 300 meters.
?Panerai has always taken pride in creating very simple yet timeless pieces that still make a statement, and the Panerai PAM382 probably makes one of the loudest statements in the Panerai family. At the end of the day, this patinated sculpture wrote a new chapter for the Italian brand, changing the way we look at bronze forever.
Watch Spec | Panerai Submersible Bronze PAM 382
Case: Bronze Dimensions: 47mm dia Crystal: Synthetic sapphire Water Resistance: 300m Movement: Calibre P.9000, automatic Frequency: 28,800 vph Power Reserve: 3 days Strap: Leather Functions: Time, date, rotating countdown bezel | Shop Now
