Panerai has built its reputation on one unshakeable foundation: its century-long partnership with the Italian Navy. From those early 1930s Radiomir prototypes strapped to the wrists of elite frogmen to today’s collector darlings, the Marina Militare designation has always stood for the pinnacle of Panerai’s military ethos. But this time around, the brand’s newest Submersible Marina Militare models aren’t just honoring underwater commandos. They’re paying tribute to the pilots who take those same military principles to the skies.
Taking Off From Tradition
The Submersible Marina Militare PAM01697 and PAM01698 are Panerai’s first dedicated collaboration with the Aviazione Navale, the Italian Navy’s aviation branch. These pilots operate some seriously demanding aircraft in extreme maritime conditions, and their gear needs to reflect that reality. The watches capture this with a matte green dial that gradually fades to black toward the edges, mirroring the flight helmets and gear worn by naval aviators.
Both models share the same 44mm case architecture, which is large enough to command presence without venturing into unwearable territory like some of their more extreme offerings. The PAM01697 comes in brushed stainless steel with a green ceramic bezel insert, while the PAM01698 steps up to Carbotech, Panerai’s proprietary carbon fiber composite that’s lighter than titanium and tougher than it has any right to be. While both watches maintain the 300m of water resistance, the steel is a bit thinner at 13.3mm compared to the Carbotech’s 14.25mm thickness.
Radar Screen Aesthetics
The most compelling detail here is the small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, designed to evoke a radar display complete with subtle track markings. The historical Aviazione Navale anchor insignia is engraved within this subdial, while the caseback features the aviation branch’s wings emblem — a first for Panerai outside of their ultra-exclusive Experience pieces.
Panerai has also increased the size of the hour indices by 20%, resulting in 45% more luminous surface area. The gray Super-LumiNova X2 matches the sophisticated avionics these pilots work with daily, and frankly, it’s a nice change of pace from the typical green lume you see on most military-inspired watches.
A Solid Foundation
Inside, the in-house P.900 automatic movement is a solid caliber with a 72-hour power reserve that’s perfectly suited for the tool watch category. While it may not have the exotic complications found in some of Panerai’s flagship pieces, it delivers exactly what’s needed like bulletproof reliability with practical features like a date display and hacking seconds.
Both models come with green canvas straps that reference military textile gear, plus an additional black rubber strap for diving duties. The former gets some T/T stitching, which mirrors the construction methods used on actual military equipment.
Spec Sheet
Model: Submersible Marina Militare PAM01697 (Steel) and PAM01698 (Carbotech)
Case Size: 44mm
Lug-to-Lug: 53.5mm
Case Thickness: 13.3mm (Steel), 14.25mm (Carbotech)
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel or Carbotech
Movement: Panerai P.900 Automatic
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Water Resistance: 300m
Lume: Gray Super-LumiNova X2
Strap: Green canvas strap with T/T stitching and additional black rubber strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
The steel PAM01697 is priced at $12,500, while the Carbotech PAM01698 commands $19,500. Both models are available now through authorized dealers and aren’t limited editions, which should please collectors who’ve been priced out of recent Marina Militare releases.
Recap
Panerai Marina Militare Aviazione Navale
Known for its legendary partnership with the Italian Navy, Panerai now collaborates with the Aviazione Navale aviation branch for the first time with a pair of 300m divers.
