Panerai Luminor Submersible 2500M PAM00194 Luxury Watch Review

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The tank-like Panerai Luminor Submersible 2500M PAM 194 is a grand prix winner. In general, tanks don't win too many Grands Prix, but when the race is the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, miracles do happen. Panerai won the 2004 Sports Watch category with the PAM 194 in watchmaking's version of the Oscars. And it's one of only 1,000 limited edition 2500M Submersibles produced.

The Luminor Submersible 2500M PAM 194 brought Panerai's vintage combat dive tradition into the 21st century with the latest dive watch technology. Panerai fortified its super-sub with a hulking 47mm titanium case, a helium release valve for decompression from extreme dives, and a 5.9mm sapphire crystal to resist the pressure at 8,333+ feet below the surface.

The entire PAM 194 is constructed like a self-sealing layer cake designed to compress and increase its resilience as pressure increases. For good measure, Panerai adds the features required to meet the ISO 6425 definition of a dive watch; a unidirectional bezel and constant-seconds hand are present and correct.

Thanks to the titanium case, the PAM 194 wears with no more mass than a Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller. While huge, this Luminor Submersible cuts the profile of a take-no-prisoners professional instrument, and all that makes it hale and hardy at 2500M pays dividends on the surface; it's darn hard to shatter a 6mm crystal on a door knob. A Rolex Submariner crystal? No so much.

The Luminor Submersible 2500M PAM 194 marked the arrival of extreme dive watches in the Panerai lineup. As a result, it is a milestone watch on that basis alone. Add the PAM 194's pedigree as a winner of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, and you've got a Submersible superstar.

See this Panerai Luminor Submersible 2500M PAM 194 with full factor boxes, technical manuals, accessories, and documentation on www.thewatchbox.com. Regarding documentation, Panerai includes a bonus for PAM 194 owners; a copy of the certificate of recognition from the 2004 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Video and content by Tim Mosso.