Luminor Panerai Marina 1950 3 Day GMT - PAM 1312 - A Review

So you’ve made the monumental decision to go ahead and buy your first Panerai watch.  And now you’re at a crossroads wondering which one to get. Don’t worry, you are not alone! Known to be one of the most popular Swiss luxury watch brands, Panerai has an iconic collection and so many variables that it is often confusing for a first-time luxury watch buyer.

When you hear the word “Panerai”, the first thing that comes to any watch connoisseur’s mind is the robust build of the watch, just like most celebrities who swear by this horological masterpiece. Sylvester “Sly” Stallone was one of the first movie icons to endorse Panerai watches, and Arnold Schwarzenegger and “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson continued the legacy. Panerai is a great brand that attracts a type of customer that’s looking for a high-end timepiece that is a bit out of the ordinary.

Coming to the most popular watch models of Panerai, The Luminor Panerai 1950 3 Day GMT or PAM 1312  is one of the most popular Panerai models in the market. And for good reason. With its robust build and the stellar looks, the Luminor Panerai 1950 stands out in a crowd and is quite the collector’s watch, because of the heads it turns.

Did you know? The Panerai Luminor Marina earned its nickname “1950” because of it’s close resemblance to the case that housed the Panerai watches produced in the early 1950’s.

The Panerai Luminor Marina was probably one of the first models that helped Panerai create history, and was one of the first great successes of that time, and even till date.

Although there are many different variations of the Marina, like the PAM 1104 Automatic, PAM 1441 Ceramica and more, 1950 3 Day GMT has an irresistible appeal of its own. Let’s take a closer look at why this model is so loved worldwide and has such a universal appeal among horologists.

How it looks: The combination of the beautifully contoured 1950 case with 44 mm dimensions make this an ideal choice for those who have smaller wrists, or those who haven’t warmed up to the 47mm model. The key measurements are 16 mm thickness, and 55 mms lug-to-lug.

Made from 316L stainless steel, with a dial that has scratch-resistant sapphire crystals, the Luminor Panerai 1950 is sure to make a mark on anyone.

How it feels:

Although it has substantial depth, this watch is not overbearing at all. The lugs are quite short and downturned, so is very comfortable on your wrist, even for the smaller wrists. The rare use of alligator leather minimally bolstered gives this watch a high-scale personality. The bowl-shaped case nestles nicely into your skin and lets your sleeves ride up without getting stuck.  The supple calf-skin on the back makes it super comfortable and you can wear it all day long.

The Case:

Remaining faithful to the now historic Panerai design, the PAM 1312 case is quite similar to the original model but has now come with proportions that are so subtly modified you wouldn’t catch the difference if you were an amateur watch collector.  

The case is constructed beautifully according to Panerai standards and is tamper proof. The crown protector that Panerai is famous for is much thinner on the PAM 1312 when compared to the rest of the models, making it an ideal watch for ladies too. The major difference from this case, as opposed to its predecessors, is that the lugs on the new Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days PAM 1312 are also much thinner.

The Dial:

The new Officine Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days PAM 1312 comes with an exquisite black dial that has 'ecru' superluminova, a stellar blue seconds hand, and a date aperture at 3 o'clock.

In our humble opinion, the ecru luminova and combination of the blue second's hand, that seems to pop out against the black dial, make it much more appealing than the other models. And the fantastic part is that the change is so subtly executed that you don’t feel that it’s too jarring on the eye either.

The Movement:

What lies behind is what matters the most in a watch, the movement. The Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 is powered by the calibre P.9010. This movement that is automatic measures about 6.0 millimetres thick unlike the usual thickness of 7.9 mm and consists of around 200 parts, unlike the usual 197. Although there isn’t much visible difference when you look at it through the display case back, it adds immense value to the watch in itself.

The best part about the movement is that the hours on this watch can be very easily adjusted without really affecting the minute hand movement. This is especially useful when you are changing time-zones when you are travelling or adjusting between Daylight savings and other times.

Additional features:

The Luminor Panerai Marina, as the name suggests is water-resistant up to 3300 feet or 100 meters and comes with a 72-hour power reserve

What we loved:

Even though this particular model is now used as a watch you wear daily, we love the fact that the roots of the purpose intended for this watch is diving, so it is water resistant.

You can submerge the watch until about 100 meters which is more than enough for a lap or two in the pool, snorkelling or even surfing. You could even try it out for recreational diving if you’re up for the adventure. What we particularly like is the compatibility of the watch - from running to running errands, you could wear this watch to any place, even a casual night out.

What we also love is the brilliant legibility of the dial, because of the sandwich dial, with the hour markers that are prominent. Adding to that legibility  Adding to this is the sapphire crystal on the simple clock-like dial and Panerai’s unmistakable font that can be read from any distance.

The Cons:

It took us quite a while to think of anything even slightly negative this watch, but the only thing we could come up with is the fact that the slight bulkiness makes it not so compatible to wear with a suit or a tuxedo.

Alternate/Similar Models:

There are quite a number of similar models to the PAM 1312 - like the PAM 1392, which is more or less in the same price range, if you’re looking for alternatives to this spectacular piece

Summary:

The Luminor Panerai 1312 is indeed an eternal timepiece extraordinaire. Featuring a 44 mm case which is made of steel, and with a sandwich black dial, that has indices which are cream coloured to give it a more mature look.

The most important part is that this beautiful model has one of Panerai’s best in-house calibers or movements, the P.9010. Panerai has long been making a substantial effort to convert the entire model line into in-house calibers, and is truly succeeding.  The best part is there is no additional premium for the extra movements. What really sets the Luminor Panerai 1312 apart is it’s 72 hour or let’s say 3-day power reserve. Compared to a vast number of watches in the same price range which only offer about 50 or so hours of power reserve, this is certainly a nice advantage.

Pricing:

Phoenix Watch Company offers the best possible deals on pricing for all Swiss Luxury Watches. Please contact us at info@phoenixwatch.hk for more information.

Just to give you a background on our history, established in 2011, the Phoenix Watch Company specializes in the sales of luxury watches in partnership with our company in Europe in operation for well over 20 years.

Located in the center of the busy shopping and tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong and our core expertise is the sale of new and used watches belonging to some of the best Swiss brands like Luminor Panerai, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin and more.

Over the years we have built an invaluable suppliers database with companies around the world, attended an extensive list of watch conventions thereby giving us a solid reputation in the industry and a company that you can trust in. We have significant experience satisfying the needs of customers all over Europe, Asia & America, with a reputation for having the best deals both on new and used luxury watches. Our new watches are sold with box, international warranty and kits provided by the manufacturer.

We at Phoenix Watch Company, hope that you choose us to be your partner in selecting the watch of your dreams.

Want to see the Panerai 0312 in action? Watch our unboxing video here: