Brand:
Panerai
Model:
Luminor
Year:
2012
Reference:
PAM00298
Original Box:
Included
Original Papers:
Included
Warranty:
12 months
Overall Condition:
Very Good
Wear level Case:
Barely visible
Wear level Caseback:
Barely visible
Wear level Dial:
None
Wear level Crystal:
Barely visible
Wear level Bezel:
Barely visible
Wear level Bracelet Clasp:
None
Movement Type:
Automatic
Caliber:
OP III
Case Material:
Steel
Case Diameter:
40 mm
Case Thickness:
16.0 mm
Bezel Material:
Steel
Crystal:
Sapphire crystal
Dial Color:
Black
Dial Numerals:
Arabic Numerals
Bracelet Material:
Rubber
Bracelet Color:
Black
Clasp Type:
Double-fold clasp
Clasp Material:
Steel
Functions:
Date, Small seconds, Luminous numerals, Luminous hands, Luminous indices
Panerai began as a Florentine watch shop and became the supplier of instruments to the Italian Navy. The Radiomir of 1936 was made for navy divers, with a dial that stayed readable in dark water. In the late 1940s a new luminous compound, Luminor, replaced radium, and in 1956 Panerai patented the crown protecting bridge that gave the watch its name. The lever clamps the crown against the case, and it is still the feature people recognise first.
The PAM00298 is the Luminor in its smaller 40mm size, which makes the case easier to wear than the 44mm watches that made the brand famous. The dial keeps the sandwich layout, with Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 and baton indices between them. A small seconds counter sits at 9 and the date at 3, both placed so that the symmetrical dial still feels balanced. The case is a polished cushion of steel with a closed back, and the black rubber strap on a double folding clasp suits the diving history. For a first Panerai, this is the version that most clearly shows where the brand comes from, from a navy requirement for legibility in the dark.