Exploring New Territory With The 42mm Panerai Luminor PAM01710, PAM01711, And PAM01714

Ask watch fans about typical Panerai characteristics, and one of the first things they’ll mention is size. The watches’ large cases have become synonymous with the brand, along with Panerai’s iconic design style, sandwich dials, and the signature crown-protection bridge. But what if you like the Luminor but can’t pull off a 44mm or 47mm watch? Panerai technically has the Luminor Due collection, but those models have a sleeker, more style-focused presence instead of the tool-watch characteristics that enthusiasts love. There are also 40mm versions in the regular Luminor collection, but their 100m water resistance also makes them feel less capable. With the introduction of three new 42mm Luminor references inspired by the first two publicly available Luminor models from the ’90s, the brand now has something for people who want a smaller Panerai diver with all the proper tool-watch characteristics.

As some of you may know, in 1993, Panerai unveiled the Luminor ref. 5218-201/A and the Luminor Marina Militare ref. 5218-202/A alongside the Mare Nostrum ref. 5218-301/A. These watches introduced Panerai to the public and set the brand’s great success story in motion. Now, Panerai designers have drawn inspiration from those two legendary Luminor references to create three smaller 42mm Luminor models. The first is the PAM01710, which combines a stainless steel case with the classic black dial with ecru numerals and markings. The second is the PAM01711, which pairs the stainless steel case with a green dial with ecru numerals. The last model combines a black DLC-coated stainless steel case with a blue dial with darker beige markings for a slightly different overall look. I had a chance to try all three to see how they compare to the 44mm models.

The details of the new 42mm Panerai Luminor models

First, let’s look at the specs for some context. All three watches feature a new 42 × 13.8mm case, weigh 126 grams, and are water resistant to 500 meters. As a result, these are proper dive watches that can go deeper than most of their bigger Luminor brothers.

The regular stainless steel case used for the PAM01710 and PAM01711 features a mix of brushed and polished finishes, while the fully matte black case of the PAM01714 presents a completely different look. On the right side of the case, you will find the signature crown-protecting bridge that adds a ton of character.

Unfortunately, these three watches don’t have Panerai’s signature sandwich dial. Instead, the black and green dials feature ecru Super-LumiNova numerals and indexes printed on top of an ivory Super-LumiNova base. The blue dial contains slightly darker beige printed numerals and indexes, creating a warmer overall tone.

All three new Luminors feature a sub-seconds register at 9 o’clock with a combination of thin white hash marks and four Super-LumiNova markers, so you can keep track of the seconds in the dark as well. Hovering over all the dials are black hour and minute hands with index-matching Super-LumiNova, which glows green in the dark.

The PAM01710 comes on a dial-contrasting beige canvas strap, while the PAM01711 and PAM01714 have dial-matching canvas straps in green and blue, respectively. All three straps feature an oversized trapezoidal steel buckle with a brushed finish. The blue-dial model’s buckle also has a black DLC coating to match the case.

Panerai P.980 caliber

Hiding behind the all-steel case back is the Panerai P.980 caliber. This 23-jewel automatic movement comprises 177 parts, operates at 28,800 vph, and offers a three-day power reserve. The single-barrel caliber also features Incabloc shock protection. Panerai also uses the P.980 for its 44mm Luminor Marina models.

But while those larger Luminors include a date window, these smaller ones eschew it for a cleaner overall look. In my opinion, the cleaner a Panerai dial, the better, as I recently explained in my review of the Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni PAM01794.

Overall, I love the look of these three models. While I prefer Panerai’s classic sandwich dials, these three watches’ dials follow the construction of the Luminor ref. 5218-201/A and Luminor Marina Militare ref. 5218-202/A they were inspired by. Of the three, I immediately gravitate towards the classic black-dial version because it is the quintessential Panerai look. However, I must admit that I quickly warmed up to the blue-dial version with the black DLC case.

Wearing the Panerai Luminor PAM01710, PAM01711, and PAM01714

That became particularly apparent when I put the watches on. The PAM01710, with its classic configuration, felt immediately at home on my wrist. It has the familiar look you would expect from a Panerai. The one thing that immediately stands out, of course, is the slightly smaller case size. For me, it didn’t make much of a difference. I can easily pull off a 44mm Luminor, so it’s not a choice I have to make. I also find some romance in wearing a larger Luminor because the original sizes give the proper Panerai feel.

That said, the smaller 42mm models will be great for people who struggle to wear a 44mm or 47mm Luminor, and the watches have the same tool-watch charm as their bigger brothers. The 22/20mm canvas straps are comfortable and taper slightly toward the buckle. Currently, Panerai doesn’t offer these watches on a thick leather strap, which true Panerai fans will miss.

That’s also one reason why I quickly fell for the blue-dial PAM01714. I love the PAM01710’s beige strap, but the blue-and-black aesthetic also works really well. I like the darker case quite a bit, and with the blue canvas strap, this model offers something nice and different. Of the three, the green-dial version looks the classiest — or the most military-inspired, depending on how you look at it and pair it with your outfit.

Final thoughts on the new Panerai Luminor PAM01710, PAM01711, and PAM01714

Overall, these new Luminors are for those who love Panerai watches but have never bought one because of the larger sizes. These three 42mm models are nice alternatives to their larger counterparts. Priced at €6,500 for the black-dial PAM01710 and green-dial PAM01711 and €7,500 for the black DLC PAM01714, they are great entry-level models and undoubtedly a smart commercial choice for Panerai.

As mentioned, the design takes cues from the first two publicly available Luminor models from the 1990s. Consequently, they don’t have sandwich dials. This may be a point of contention with some watch fans. Additionally, purists will state that a Luminor should have a 44mm case, a manual-winding caliber, and a thick leather strap.

If you like your Luminor larger, with a sandwich dial, and/or on a leather strap, Panerai has you covered. The brand offers a plethora of 44mm Luminor models catering to those needs. These new 42mm models answer a different, size-related question, making them an understandable addition to the lineup. For me, spending time with multiple Panerai watches awakened my love for the brand’s design.

Over the past few years, I’ve mostly been wearing sub-40mm watches, so Panerai hasn’t been on my radar. But after wearing the new releases, it’s hard to deny the charm and iconic appeal of the Panerai style. It definitely gets me excited about the brand, and the new PAM01710 and PAM01714 played a big part in that.

What do you think of these new 42mm Panerai Luminor models? Please share your opinions in the comments below.

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