Panerai Mare Nostrum Titanio 52mm PAM 603: Weight and Sea

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Panerai Mare Nostrum Titanio 52mm PAM00603 Special Edition. Introduced in 2015, it features the OP XXV manual-winding movement which uses a base Minerva 13-22. The dial of this 52mm diameter Mare Nostrum is “tobacco brown” and this PAM 603 is limited to 150 pieces. Priced at EUR37,000. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. 2015 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

Panerai Mare Nostrum Titanio 52mm PAM00603 Special Edition. Introduced in 2015, it features the OP XXV manual-winding movement which uses a base Minerva 13-22. The dial of this 52mm diameter Mare Nostrum is “tobacco brown” and this PAM 603 is limited to 150 pieces. Priced at EUR37,000. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. 2015 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

The feel of the 2015 Mare Nostrum or PAM00603 unveiled in Geneva at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie came with a surprise.

That is because it is very lightweight relative to its 52mm diameter case. The reason for this is a case made of titanium. The previous re-edition, the PAM 300 Mare Nostrum of 2010 came in steel.

The case and crown of the 2015 PAM 603 Mare Nostrum have a brushed titanium finish. Titanium, as the brand reminds us, is not just lighter than steel but has non-allergenic properties and is able to withstand high pressure, external stress and corrosion.

The 52mm diameter case should not come as a surprise, especially for those who have come across or read of the PAM 300 Mare Nostrum of 2010 as it is said that this is the same diameter of the prototype that was produced in 1943 for deck officers of the Italian Navy.

However, the Mare Nostrum never went into production due to the escalation of the Second World War. Only two or three prototypes were made, notes Mario Paci in the book Panerai watches.

The PAM 603 Mare Nostrum houses the Calibre OP XXV which uses the base Minerva 13-22 manual-winding movement with the column wheel chronograph. While there is no doubting that this is a quality movement with high-finishing, the PAM 603 has a closed case back.

This is unlike the 2010 PAM00300 Mare Nostrum which features the same Minerva base movement and has an open display case back.

For those not in the know, the Latin word mare nostrum means “our sea” when translated to English. According to our progress on its website ourprg.com, the term mare nostrum began to be used by Romans following their conquests of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica after the first Punic wars.

By 30 B.C., as Roman rule extended from the Iberian Peninsula to Egypt, mare nostrum could be used to refer to the entire Mediterranean sea.

The Panerai Mare Nostrum PAM 603 is limited to 150 pieces. The 2010 version of the Mare Nostrum PAM 300 was limited to 99 pieces.

IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic: View from the rear

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The IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic (Ref. IW511101). Introduced in 2014, it is powered by the Calibre 59060 manual-winding movement with 192 hours or 8 days of power reserve and is housed in a 43.5mm diameter case in 18K red gold. The stainless steel version is the Ref. IW511102 (priced at SGD13,400). The gold piece shown here comes with a dark brown alligator leather strap made by Santoni and red gold pin buckle. Priced at SGD26,100 / MYR62,500. Photo: © IWC

The IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic (Ref. IW511101). Introduced in 2014, it is powered by the Calibre 59060 manual-winding movement with 192 hours or 8 days of power reserve and is housed in a 43.5mm diameter case in 18K red gold. The stainless steel version is the Ref. IW511102 (which is priced at SGD13,400). The gold piece shown here comes with a dark brown alligator leather strap made by Santoni and red gold pin buckle. Priced at SGD26,100 / MYR62,500. Note: Prices are correct at the time of writing and may differ due to exchange rate differences. Photo: © IWC

On the dial side, IWC’s 43.5mm Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic Ref. IW511101 looks like a simple two-hand watch.

However, its looks are deceiving; flip the watch over and there will be collectors who will recognise this movement: the Manufacture Calibre 59060 manual-winding movement with eight days or 192 hours of power reserve once fully wound.

The first question collectors might ask is: Why isn’t the power reserve display shown?

Rear view of IWC’s Calibre 59060 manual-winding movement for the Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic (Ref. IW511101). Can you spot the power reserve display? Photo: © IWC

Rear view of IWC’s Calibre 59060 manual-winding movement for the Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic (Ref. IW511101). Can you spot the power reserve display? Photo: © IWC

Well, that is because it has been moved to the back which makes the rear view even more interesting. Do look again and see if you can spot the power reserve display.

Having this feature at the rear makes this Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic a really understated watch.