Panerai celebrates 100 years of its Florence boutique with two tasty limited editions
Zach Blass- Panerai’s Florence Boutique celebrates its 100th anniversary with two limited editions inspired by the famed ref. 6521 prototype.
- The first is a stainless steel iteration with a light black radially brushed dial; the second is a Platinumtech-cased variant with a radially brushed green dial.
- Both are housed in 44mm cases and feature the ghost ‘Panerai Firenze’ dial branding, but the platinum variant is the first production model to include the grooved flat-crown protection system inspired by the prototype.
Despite the Panerai brand launching in 1993 for civilian commerce, its watchmaking roots date all the way back to 1860. However, G. Panerai & Co. had various homes for its landmark watchmaking destination – full of timepieces from various brands, timepiece parts, and home to a watchmaking school – but its home at Piazza San Giovanni, under the name Orologeria Svizzera, opened in 1926, and the Panerai Florence boutique remains at this location to this day. A centenary is a milestone well worth celebrating, and in honour of this anniversary, and on the very same day, 13 years later, that Panerai watches became available for purchase by civilians, the brand has unveiled two limited editions: the Panerai Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734 and Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01794.
Both watches are housed in 44mm-sized Luminor cases, but the PAM01734 is a 100-piece limited edition in Platinumtech, while the PAM01794 is a 1000-piece limited edition in stainless steel. The stainless steel model has the advantage of being 300 metres water-resistant, but, while both take inspiration from the famed ref. 6512/1 prototype, like this year’s Watches and Wonders novelties, the Platinumtech PAM01734 has the proud distinction of being the first Panerai production watch to carry over the crown protection bridge with parallel grooves cut into the inner sides facing the crown. This is not just for visual intrigue, but rather a functional design element that was created to make it easier for a gloved hand to grip and operate the crown.
Returning to shared elements between the pair, both dials have a radially brushed surface, and the ghost-style branding of ‘Panerai Firenze’ on the dial aligns with the 6512/1 prototype, but the stainless steel model has a light black dial with oxidised blue hours and minutes hands, while the Platinumtech variant has a more vibrant green dial paired with gold-toned hands.
As the model name suggests, both Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni watches are driven by the manually wound 8-day P.5000 movement, but the stainless steel model has a commemorative engraving on its solid caseback, while the Platinumtech model has an exhibition caseback. And, in line with what we have come to expect from Panerai in recent times, both watches come with two bundled straps, a leather strap and an additional rubber strap, with a screwdriver tool that affords owners the ability to swap the trapezoidal buckle between the pair.
While more 1:1 reissues can be favoured by watch buyers worldwide, I appreciate how Panerai is able to deliver all the signature elements of a historic model while also renewing and refreshing its aesthetic for the modern era. The result is a tempting offer for Panerai lovers worldwide with a clear historical throughline, but one that does not step on the toes of its precious predecessors too much – retaining the allure and rareness of the vintage pieces.
Panerai Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734 and Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01794 pricing and availability
The Panerai Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01734 and Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01794 are both available now for purchase, with the PAM01734 limited to 100 pieces and the PAM01794 limited to 1,000 pieces. Price: €10,700 (PAM01794), €55,000 (PAM01734)
| Brand | Panerai |
| Models | Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni |
| Reference | PAM01734 PAM01794 |
| Case Dimensions | 44mm (D) |
| Case Material | Platinumtech (PAM01734) Stainless steel (PAM01794) |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown (PAM01734) 300 metres, screw-down crown (PAM01794) |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back (PAM01734) Sapphire front (PAM01794) |
| Dial | Green, radially brushed (PAM01734) Light black, radially brushed (PAM01794) |
| Strap | Tuscan leather strap, hot-stamped pattern of the Florentine lily, case-matching trapezoidal buckle. Additional rubber strap. |
| Movement | P.5000, manually wound |
| Power Reserve | 192 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes |
| Availability | Now, limited to 100 pcs. (PAM01734) Now, limited to 1,000 pcs. (PAM01794) |
| Price | €10,700 (PAM01794) €55,000 (PAM01734) |