Panerai 47mm Straps for PAM968 – Luminor Submersible 1950
Rubber B has become well-known as a highly respected crafter of custom rubber watch bands for timepieces from some of the most respected watchmakers in the field, including such brands as Patek Philippe, IWC, and Breitling. Rubber B has a variety of straps in different colors and styles in our product portfolio that are appropriate for both business/formal wear and more casual situations as well.
One of the most highly anticipated panels at this year’s Watches and Wonders 2022 panel this year came from Panerai, the storied Italian watchmaker well known for its history of making high-quality dive watches. Being that we’ve already covered their most notable releases from that panel this year in a prior blog post, we decided to take a look back at one of their most popular watches – the PAM968.
Originally released in 2019, the PAM968 quickly became one of Panerai’s more popular watches, primarily because it was a new Submersible model, which was always fairly popular to begin with, but also because it was a bronze watch. Let’s take a quick moment to learn more about bronze watches, as they aren’t very commonly seen outside of collector’s circles, and this will help provide some insight into the popularity of the watch.
We will also take a look at the technical specifications of the watch and help you learn more about its design style as well.
What is a Bronze Watch?
As its name implies, a bronze watch is a watch that is encased in bronze. The reason why you don’t see too many of these watches is that watchmakers were, for a long time, hesitant about the idea of using bronze, which is not a precious metal, for the casing of their watches.
However, the PAM968 was not the first bronze diving watch that Panerai ever produced. That actually occurred back in 2011, with the original Submersible Bronzo. In recent years, bronze watches have become more popular for two distinct reasons. The first is that manufacturers always tend to produce them in very limited quantities, so they tend to become collector’s items in a relatively short amount of time.
The other is that each bronze watch has its own unique patina, which is a light film that occurs on bronze when it is exposed to oxygen over a long period of time. The important thing of note is that each piece of bronze oxidizes in a slightly different fashion, so each watch has a different patina, making each timepiece distinct, which is a quality that many collectors value.
The Technical Specifications of the PAM968
One of the most immediately striking things about this watch is how much bigger it is than the average timepiece – it measures in at an imposing 47 mm, which is well above the standard industry average of 42 mm or so for a luxury timepiece. And while dive watches do tend to be a little larger because of both durability needs and the number of additional complications added for safety reasons, the size increase here is simply impossible to ignore. For some consumers, a watch that large will simply be too big for their wrists.
The PAM968 is powered by the P.9010 caliber, which is automatic, mechanical, and manufactured in-house by Panerai. It is 6.0 mm thick, has functions that detail hours, minutes, small seconds, and the date, and has a power reserve of 3 days. The movement is comprised of 31 jewels, which implies a fairly high level of technical complexity in its construction. It has a water resistance of 300 meters and a power reserve of 72 hours.
How Does the PAM968 In Terms of Its Aesthetic?
The PAM968 has a very vintage look, and that is very much by design. The piece has an aesthetic that looks, in many ways, like it would be more at home in the 18th or 19th century than our own in some ways.
The dial is large, clear, and incredibly legible, and the date window helps the wearer easily know what day it is as well. There is also a subdial on the dial as well, which is also clearly presented and very easy to read.
There is nothing at all modern about the look of this watch, but that in no way impedes its elegance. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, because the case is made of bronze, none of these watches will age exactly the same way, so the watches will become uniquely personalized with the passage of time.
What Are Our Final Thoughts on This Watch?
Panerai rightfully made a lot of waves when they initially jumped into the bronze watch diving market, but for many collectors, the PAM968 was one of the more superior iterations of that product line.
It successfully managed to combine modern engineering and technology and a vintage, elegant design style into a watch that, even though it was large, somehow didn’t feel overly bulky when you wore it.
In fact, the only real drawback to this watch is that it is somewhat hard to track down now, so if you’re interested in procuring one, it may require some dedication on your part.
Are You in Need of a Custom Rubber Watch Band For Your Luxury Watch? Visit Rubber B Today
Every Rubber B custom rubber watch strap is made only from 100% vulcanized rubber, and all of our products are FDA and BVGG compliant as well. Rubber B also offers both domestic and international shipping to its clients based on their current location.
If you would like to learn more about our complete list of products, shipping policies, pricing, or have questions about our custom rubber watch straps, please visit the Rubber B website today for more information. One of our team members will be happy to answer your inquiry in a timely manner.
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