Luminor Marina 1950 (PAM01392)

The PAM01392 offers modern watchmaking in a package boasting not only an iconic, vintage aesthetic but also a size that would wear well on the largest possible audience, from the burliest man to the lady with a preference for the robust.

The PAM01392 offers something truly rare among Panerai timepieces: a case diameter of only 42 mm, making it one of very few attractive propositions for those with small wrists or who prefer an inconspicuous wear. While "inconspicuous" is not a word that comes up often in conversations about the brand, unless preceded by "not", it bears reminding that a Panerai was the Italian Royal Navy's wristwatch of choice for countless covert operations, during which inconspicuousness was rather important. It is from these military watches which Panerai had borrowed proportions to produce the Luminor 1950 case, present here and famed for wearing more modestly than it looks on paper due to short, downturned lugs that pull the strap both right up to the case and straight down over a small wrist. The brand dubs the Luminor collection "the essence of Panerai", and that essence is enhanced even further in the PAM01392, which features a matte black sandwich dial with an underlying disk of "dirty" Super-LumiNova, a colourway that carries through to the black alligator and sand stitch strap. As a refreshing departure from the vintage vibe, however, there is a youthful pop of colour in the second hand, which stops when the crown is pulled to its outermost position. An intermediate crown position also exists and allows for independent, bidirectional adjustment of the hour hand, which would be useful for those who travel – an activity delightfully evoked by the sky blue of the second hand.

The dial, hands, and movement appear flawless. The case and buckle exhibit no sign of refinishing with only fine marks not visible at arm's length. The original alligator strap exhibits some signs of wear, particularly at the holes and towards the pointed end, but remains secure and comfortable.

What do the different grading scores mean?

• BN 9.9: Brand new and unworn, with no signs of use.
• UN 9.5: Like new and unworn, but may lack original packaging or materials such as the box, links, tags, or bezel protector.
• LN 9.0: Like new and unworn, but only includes the watch without papers, box, or accessories.
• MT 8.5: Mint condition, lightly used with minor surface scratches or wear. Unpolished.
• VG 8.0: Moderately used, with scratches and one or two nicks on the case or crystal. Shows signs of polishing. The bracelet remains snug with minimal wear.
• GD 7.5: Shows signs of daily wear but is not abused, with noticeable polishing on the case. The bracelet shows clear signs of daily wear.

Watches with a rating below GD 7.5 are not listed for bidding to ensure that only high-quality timepieces are available to our members.