The Eilean, a classic ketch built in 1936 and restored by Panerai in 2006, now serves as an ambassador for the brand’s curated Italian experiences
Cover The Eilean, a classic ketch built in 1936 and restored by Panerai in 2006, now serves as an ambassador for the brand’s curated Italian experiences
The Eilean, a classic ketch built in 1936 and restored by Panerai in 2006, now serves as an ambassador for the brand’s curated Italian experiences

The watch is part of the Panerai Experiences Programme designed to reward the brand’s loyal customers with truly unforgettable moments

Buy a watch, embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure—that’s the essence of Panerai’s Experiences Programme, launched in 2019. The Italian brand has just unveiled the latest watch tied to this programme—the Radiomir 8 Giomir Eilean Experience Edition PAM01643.

Limited to 30 pieces, the watch has been incorporated with bronze pieces salvaged from the Eilean, a classic yacht built in 1936 and restored by Panerai in 2006. The bronze is blended with new bronze to create the Panerai Bronzo that includes eight per cent tin to make it versatile with high structural strength. This unique composition is used for the bezel, crown, and caseback medallion. The 45mm case is stainless steel with Brunito finishing. A grainy beige dial and a dark leather strap hot-stamped with Eilean’s launch year complete its rugged appeal. The heartbeat is the manual-winding P.5000 calibre with 8-day power reserve. 

Read more: Panerai enthusiast Dato’ Sri Tan Aik Kiong on collecting watches and building connections

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Panerai Radiomir 8 Giomir Eilean Experience Edition PAM01643
Above Panerai Radiomir 8 Giomir Eilean Experience Edition PAM01643
Panerai Radiomir 8 Giomir Eilean Experience Edition PAM01643
Tatler Asia
The stainless steel case of the Panerai Radiomir 8 Giomir Eilean Experience Edition PAM01643 is matched with a bezel crafted with bronze salvaged from the Eilean
Above The stainless steel case of the Panerai Radiomir 8 Giomir Eilean Experience Edition PAM01643 is matched with a bezel crafted with bronze salvaged from the Eilean
The stainless steel case of the Panerai Radiomir 8 Giomir Eilean Experience Edition PAM01643 is matched with a bezel crafted with bronze salvaged from the Eilean

As you can probably guess by now, the Experience this watch grants is a cruise on the luxurious Eilean to Sicily where you will have a chance to immerse in the island’s rich history and culture that includes a hike up Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, as well as a visit to one of its amazing wineries

See also: America’s Cup 2024: The best new watches for the prestigious sailing race

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The Eilean is a Bermudian yacht ketch built in 1936
Above The Eilean will soon take 30 Panerai owners on a trip to Sicily
The Eilean is a Bermudian yacht ketch built in 1936

INTIMATE CONNECTIONS

Acquiring a watch is a deeply emotional experience. For all the technical mastery, the watch you eventually choose to adorn your wrist has to resonate with you—whether through its style or the sense of belonging it represents. Panerai takes this connection even further, inviting owners into its world through extraordinary curated experiences that embody its values as a prestige watch manufacture.

Considering the demographics of its core clientele, the Panerai Experiences Programme is built around three key pillars: Military, Adventure, and Italianity. Are you the gung-ho type eager to jump into the action? Then the Military Experience is made for you. Nature is your elixir? Then the Adventure Experience should be right up your alley. And for connoisseurs of the finer things in life, the Italianity Experience indulges your refined taste—as exemplified by the aforementioned Sicilian getaway. 

And Panerai is serious about making these experiences truly unparalleled for its customers. The Military Experience, for instance, offers its clients the opportunity—and I say this in all seriousness—to train alongside the elites in the Italian Navy and Navy SEALS. For this Experience, the formidable Submersible is the chosen timepiece, which Panerai likens to an “essential survival tool”.

Read more: MB&F reimagines Bvlgari’s iconic Serpenti

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Panerai Submersible Forze Speciali Experience Edition
Above Panerai Submersible Forze Speciali Experience Edition
Panerai Submersible Forze Speciali Experience Edition

For one of the first Military Panerai Experiences, it created the Submersible Forze Speciali Experience Edition. The watch boasted qualities and features that matched the Italian Special Forces’ grit and determination—a hardy 47mm DLC-coated titanium case with unidirectional ceramic bezel; indexes in solid blocks of Super-Luminova; a three-day power reserve; a flyback chronograph; and Time to Target countdown. The owners of this watch underwent a series of exercises with the Italian Special Forces, putting their recently purchased timepiece through the paces. 

See also: How Patek Philippe ensures its watches last for generations

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Navigating an obstacle during a training session with the Italian Special Forces
Above Navigating an obstacle during a training session with the Italian Special Forces
Navigating an obstacle during a training session with the Italian Special Forces

For the Adventure series, Panerai works closely with its long-time ambassador, explorer Mike Horn. Known for his legendary solo treks without motorised vehicles, including across the Arctic Circle and along the Equator, Horn gave 19 purchasers of the Panerai Submersible Mike Horn Edition a peek into his world—by bringing them into the harsh, unyielding landscape of the North Pole in 2023. He also took the opportunity to bring greater awareness to the harm humans were inflicting on our ecosystem. 

Read more: Panerai CEO Jean‑Marc Pontroué on expansion plans and offering customers once‑in‑a‑lifetime experiences

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The Panerai North Pole expedition with Mike Horn
Above The Panerai North Pole expedition with Mike Horn
The Panerai North Pole expedition with Mike Horn

The said Submersible is engineered for extreme environments and, fittingly, constructed from recyclable materials. The 47mm case is EcoTitanium obtained from recycled titanium. The strap is made from recycled PET, a sustainable material of repurposed plastic. The dive watch, water-resistant up to 300m, also features blue Super-Luminova on the indexes and skeleton hands for optimal visibility in dim, snowy conditions. 

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Panerai Submersible Mike Horn Edition
Above Panerai Submersible Mike Horn Edition
Panerai Submersible Mike Horn Edition

This year, Horn will be leading the Paneristis (an endearing term for enthusiasts of Panerai watches) on another expedition—this time taking place in Bhutan. For this outing, they are expected to strap on the Submersible GMT Titanio Mike Horn Experience Edition PAM01670 in 47mm Grade 5 Titanium that is 40 per cent lighter and 60 per cent harder than steel. The unidirectional bezel is made of Carbotech, a corrosion-resistant composite material even lighter than lightweight titanium. 

A GMT function enriches the watch, indicated via a second orange hand–in a nod to the colour of the Bhutan flag—and an AM/PM counter at 9 o’clock. Water-resistant up to 500m, which is more than half of the standard Submersible, it is endowed with an automatic skeleton movement with a micro-rotor. The Submersible GMT Titanio Mike Horn Experience Edition is limited to 30 pieces. 

See also: Meet the first annual calendar watch from Panerai 

Tatler Asia
Panerai Submersible GMT Titanio Mike Horn Experience Edition PAM01670
Above Panerai Submersible GMT Titanio Mike Horn Experience Edition PAM01670
Panerai Submersible GMT Titanio Mike Horn Experience Edition PAM01670

By offering its customers these experiences and allowing them to test the watches in their intended conditions, Panerai deepens their connection to its core values of precision, toughness, and reliability.

“The Panerai Experiences Programme is a pioneering initiative for clients to connect deeply with the essence of our brand,” said Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Panerai. “We believe true luxury transcends the product itself; it is about creating lasting memories, fostering a genuine sense of community, and offering priceless experiences that enrich the lives of our clientele.”

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Brian Cheong
Senior Editor, Watches & Jewellery, Tatler Malaysia
Tatler Asia
Brian Cheong

Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.