Cover Sailing on the Eilean
Sailing on the Eilean
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From sailing aboard a nearly century‑old ketch to trekking an active volcano, Panerai’s Mediterranean Experience in Taormina, Italy, celebrates the brand’s heritage, its close‑knit community and the spirit of once‑in‑a‑lifetime adventures
Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, erupted this June 2, sending towering plumes of smoke and ash into the Sicilian sky. Dramatic images of molten rock cascading down its slopes and tourists evacuating quickly captured global headlines. Although Etna is known for its frequent activity, Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology confirmed this was its most powerful eruption since 2014.
Just four days earlier, Tatler had traversed those very slopes on a guided trek—likely among the last to do so before the eruption transformed the landscape. The thought that our experience could have played out so differently had we gone just days later is a poignant reflection of life’s unpredictability and the transience that gives certain experiences their resonance.
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Above Cocktails at Villa Sant’Andrea in Taormina, where guests of the Panerai Mediterranean Experience stayed
Above The Sicilian town of Taormina
Cocktails at Villa Sant’Andrea in Taormina, where guests of the Panerai Mediterranean Experience stayed
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This sense of timing—and the importance of carpe diem—lay at the heart of why we were on the picturesque island of Sicily: to take part in Panerai’s Mediterranean Experience, a three‑day immersion in the brand’s distinctive Italian heritage and universe. Since 2019, Panerai has curated close to 20 exclusive, once‑in‑a‑lifetime journeys around the world—each linked to the purchase of a limited‑edition Experience watch—as part of its Panerai Experiences Program. Produced in extremely small numbers, these watches are offered only to clients who commit to attending the experience itself. “Everyone does events,” said Panerai’s chief marketing officer Alessandro Ficarelli when we met during the trip, “but we wanted to create something more special—something uniquely Panerai.”
Each Experience is built around one of three pillars that define Panerai’s identity: military, exploration and Italianity. From training with elite Italian Navy divers to venturing into the Arctic Circle with explorer Mike Horn and, most recently, sailing along Sicily’s coast aboard a vintage ketch, each Panerai Experience offers a deeper, more personal connection to the brand and its values.This latest edition, which took place largely in the Sicilian town of Taormina, falls under the Italianity pillar, celebrating the brand’s Italian roots and Mediterranean spirit. Tatler was part of the exclusive group that attended, which comprised select international media and more than 20 Panerai clients (and their guests) who purchased the Radiomir 8 Giorni Eilean Experience Edition. Limited to just 30 pieces, the watch pays tribute to Eilean, a 1936 Bermudian ketch acquired and restored by Panerai, incorporating bronze salvaged from the yacht’s original structure during its meticulous restoration.
Above The Panerai Radiomir 8 Giorni Eilean Experience Edition, with a 45mm steel case finished in Brunito, a vintage‑inspired burnished effect achieved through physical vapour deposition treatment and meticulous hand‑brushing
The Panerai Radiomir 8 Giorni Eilean Experience Edition, with a 45mm steel case finished in Brunito, a vintage‑inspired burnished effect achieved through physical vapour deposition treatment and meticulous hand‑brushing
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One of the highlights of the Panerai Mediterranean Experience was setting sail aboard the 22m‑long vintage ketch on the very first day—a fitting and symbolic start to the journey. Built in 1936 by the Fife shipyard in Scotland, Eilean shares its birth year with a milestone in Panerai’s history: the creation of its first prototype of an underwater wristwatch for the Italian Royal Navy. Discovered by Panerai in a state of disrepair in 2006, the yacht was meticulously restored over two and a half years, and now sails exclusively for the brand. It is a rare privilege to step aboard—an experience reserved only for those invited by Panerai, who get to witness her under full sail.
Our voyage was made even more special by a pod of dolphins that swam and breached alongside the ketch several times, to the delight—and audible squeals—of everyone on board, including Ficarelli, as we all rushed to capture the moment with our smartphones. According to skipper Stefano Valente, dolphin sightings are a rare occurrence—even for him, having been with the ketch since its restoration. This was just the first of many memorable moments.
Above The view of Mount Etna from a helicopter
The view of Mount Etna from a helicopter
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The second day brought us to new heights—quite literally—with a breathtaking helicopter ride over Mount Etna. The view unfolded in majestic, almost cinematic layers as we went higher, revealing vast lava fields, winding trails of past eruptions and tendrils of smoke curling gently from the summit. After landing, we drove partway up Etna before transferring to off‑road vehicles that took us deeper into the rocky terrain. At several points, our guide led us on foot, bringing us closer to dormant craters.
Stepping onto this lunar‑like landscape felt like crossing into another world. Ash crunched underfoot as we hiked across slopes of dark basalt and ochre‑streaked rocks. Jagged ridgelines framed a horizon that felt vast and primal. Several of our companions remarked that it felt like walking on the Moon and they were not wrong. For many of us, it was a quietly moving encounter with nature’s raw beauty—one that put everything else into perspective.
Above Trekking Mount Etna
Trekking Mount Etna
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LA DOLCE VITA
Later that afternoon, we descended into the verdant calm of Cottanera winery, nestled among olive trees and ancient vines, and where the mineral‑rich volcanic soil that is the fruit of Etna’s fury nourishes vineyards that produce some of Sicily’s most expressive wines. We tasted crisp whites and elegant reds over a leisurely lunch of local dishes. Some guests explored the grounds on horseback or bicycle, while others simply took it all in, glass in hand. The serenity was a soothing contrast to the volatility of Mount Etna—a reminder of the duality that defines this land and, in many ways, Panerai itself.
That evening, we were whisked away to dinner in Torre Archirafi, a small fishing village nestled along the coast, about a 45‑minute drive from Taormina. The scene that greeted us felt straight out of a Sicilian film: live music from a spirited folk band and dancers in traditional costumes twirling beneath a canopy of ornate luminarie light displays strung across a charming piazza. The energy was so infectious that even the locals lined the square to watch the spectacle, snapping photos and swaying to the rhythm. Inspired by Sicily’s sagre, or lively village festivals that celebrate local food, the evening also featured culinary stations serving freshly pulled mozzarella, pane e panelle (chickpea fritter sandwiches), arancini (fried rice balls with a savoury filling) and wine. It was relaxed, joyful and full of flavour, perfectly capturing the conviviality and warmth of the Mediterranean lifestyle that Panerai celebrates.
Above Traditional live Sicilian music and dancing
Traditional live Sicilian music and dancing
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And that was just the aperitivo. Led by the band and dancers, we followed a cheerful procession through the village to a nearby courtyard, where the night continued with more performances and a three‑course Sicilian dinner under the stars. As plates were cleared, we were treated to something even rarer: an exclusive preview of Panerai’s upcoming launches for 2026 and beyond.
This level of insider access—so exclusive that even the media rarely witnesses it so far in advance—has become the norm at Panerai Experiences. It all began, Ficarelli recalled, with “a simple client request: ‘Why don’t you share what you’re going to launch next year?’ We said, okay, why not? It’s a preview, so [our clients] can be the first to know about the watches.” For him, it is not about marketing but about meaning. “It’s giving [them] some privilege,” he said. “And the privilege is about creating memories and building unique moments—like the ones we’re living during these days [of the Mediterranean Experience].”
The following day, a hands‑on cooking class was held in Villa Normanna, a historic estate overlooking the sea. The session was led by chef Giuseppe Raciti of the one‑Michelin‑starred restaurant Zash, who guided us through the preparation of a seafood salad and handmade pasta. We then sat at a table under the trees to enjoy what we had created—accompanied, naturally, by local wine.
Above Learning to roll pasta from a chef from a Michelin‑starred restaurant
Learning to roll pasta from a chef from a Michelin‑starred restaurant
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CLOSE-KNIT CIRCLE
As we enjoyed the fruits of our labour, one client invited everyone around the table to describe Panerai in a single word. What followed was a moment of spontaneous connection. Words such as “community”, “roots” and “authenticity” were shared—each one thoughtful, personal and entirely unprompted. The conversation naturally turned to the watches on guests’ wrists, each sparking a story. One collector recounted acquiring the final unit of the Luminor 1950 Firenze 3 Days Acciaio, available exclusively in Florence, where the brand has its roots, thanks to a long‑standing friendship with a boutique manager. Another proudly wore the Submersible GMT Titanio Mike Horn Experience Edition—a memento of his adventure in Bhutan this March with the namesake explorer himself. A young couple, both sporting the Radiomir 8 Giorni Eilean Experience Edition, shared how they were drawn to the watch’s versatile design and decided to get matching pieces to mark this special trip.
The impromptu sharing session was a small but telling moment; a glimpse of the camaraderie these experiences foster. There were no cue cards, no brand talking points—just genuine connection, forged over a shared meal and a common appreciation for a brand that clearly resonates far beyond its watches. It was joyful, unscripted and captured the essence of Panerai’s culture: a community built on authenticity, storytelling and shared passion. In true Paneristi—as Panerai enthusiasts and collectors are collectively known—fashion, the watches were eventually gathered on the table to capture yet another picture‑perfect memory.
A private performance by the Catania Symphony Orchestra at Teatro Antico di Taormina
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“The best ambassadors for Panerai are the clients who attend these experiences,” Ficarelli enthused. “Many of them come back again and again, and that’s the beauty of it—it’s a growing community.”
The final evening brought one last flourish: a secret dinner set within the magical setting of Taormina’s ancient Greek theatre, Teatro Antico di Taormina. The grandeur of the historic amphitheatre, dramatically lit beneath the open sky, created a powerful backdrop for a surprise private orchestral performance by the Catania Symphony Orchestra, whose soaring notes echoed into the night. It was a fitting crescendo to a journey shaped by the spirit of the Mediterranean and the rare privilege of once‑in‑a‑lifetime experiences.
By the time we said our farewells, the group had become something closer to a circle of friends than a cohort of strangers. It was clear that the memories forged—whether during a trek across blackened rock, a lunch under the Sicilian sun, or a sail on a nearly century‑old yacht—would linger long after the trip ended.
“At the end of the day,” Ficarelli said, “everything we do, whether in business or in life, is about building memories.” The Panerai Mediterranean Experience certainly left an impression, not just of place but of purpose. Crafted with intention and shaped by history, it is a reminder that the most enduring luxury is often not what we wear but what we remember.
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Images: Panerai
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Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
