One of the bigger watch events, SIHH or the Salon Internationalde la Haute Horlogerie, kicked off yesterday. The annual Genève event, currently in its 20th iteration, gathers 19 different brands (JLC, IWC, GP, Cartier and Richard Mille, to name a few). While the event might not to draw quite as much attraction as BaselWorld, quite a number of interesting watches are sure to pop up.
One very interesting coincidence is the fact that not even two weeks ago, we told you about the 1993 Panerai Mare Nostrum reissue that turned up on JamesList. Wouldn’t you know it, Panerai just released some pictures of the all new and beefier Mare Nostrum (PAM300) that will be unveiled at SIHH. Panerai haven’t really been to keen to do anything small and discreet in the past (although the brand have also unveiled some “smaller” watches for SIHH which we will write more about in the future), and the reissue is no exception. At a monstrous 52mm, who knows who will actually be able to wear it – even if that was the size of the 1943 original. Regardless, it would be cool if Panerai actually pushed the Mare Nostrum as their “Daytona” of sorts, i.e. a recognizable chronograph that would be as well-known as its diving cousins. The movement is reported as being based on a hand wound Minerva chronograph movement, dubbed the Panerai OP XXV caliber.
I’m loving the canvas strap, personally. The price is estimated to be $36,000. 99 will be made. Here’s a bonus pictures of the original watch that currently is in the Panerai museum:
