This year Panerai focused their SIHH novelties around their Submersible line and released a dozen Submersible timepieces. The new Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech Special Edition PAM 961 is one of our absolute favorites and the buyers of this 33-piece limited edition will have the opportunity to participate on a spectacular experience that includes one day of training with the COMSUBIN —Comando Subacquei ed Incursori— “Raiders and Divers” Commandos of the Italian Navy. The number of pieces in this limited edition is 33 like the number of gold medals earned by COMSUBIN for Military Valour. First and foremost the COMSUBIN is a secret special operations unit. Its membership is a fairly well-guarded secret and estimates account for this group to have around 700 specialized men.
Things to Know About the Watch
Cased in a generous 47 mm carbotech case, the PAM 961 features a very military color combination with a carbon dial with olive green solid luminous hour markers and dots and equipped with a matching green rubber strap with trapezoidal pin buckle.
A diving watch in true essence, the Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech Special Edition is water resistant to 300 meters —1,000 feet— and its Carbotech case based of carbon fibers features a very unique texture and look, resembling wood grain with a zebra pattern. Enhancing the strong personality of this watch the unidirectional rotating bezel is also made of carbotech with black DLC titanium inserts to mark each of the 5-minute increments on it and a matching green luminous dot at 12 o’clock.
The Movement
The new Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech Special Edition PAM 961 is powered by the in-house Panerai calibre P.9010. This 31-jewel automatic movement is composed of 200 parts and fitted with two spring barrels to guarantee a power reserve of 3 full days. The movement is protected by a black DLC titanium solid case back with the COMSUBIN —Comando Subacquei ed Incursori— logo.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, this is a very cool watch that makes you feel like a COMSUBIN member as soon as you put it on your wrist. The watch wears true to its size and very comfortably due to the lightweight nature of the carbotech case. Watch is available in a limited edition of only 33 pieces.
Now, as far as pricing goes for this watch, we are not sure it is worth paying double the price of the Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech PAM979 just to have green dial markers, a green strap and to attend a so called ‘day of training’ with the COMSUBIN.
In our opinion, an extremely steep price for what you’re getting. To put it in context, $36,750 USD will get you a Rolex GMT Master II Everose ‘Rootbeer’ and that’s a lot of watch for the money. Nevertheless, the Submersible PAM 961 is a great looking watch with a very stealthy and military look.
Sticker Price $41,000 USD. For more info on Panerai click here.
