Panerai Submersible Calibre OP XXXIV 42MM PAM00959

For many Paneristi, the brand is synonymous with large case sizes and a 47mm whopper on the wrist considered pretty standard fare. Reaching out to a wider audience, Panerai presents these 42mm Submersibles reasoning that a 42mm diameter is still big enough to be consistent with the brand's DNA, but small enough to suit most wrists. Crafted in AISI 316L stainless steel, the case is brushed creating a silky matte finish. Two giveaways that this is a serious 300m water-resistant dive watch are the hallmark bridge protecting the crown - like the Luminor - and the unidirectional rotating bezel to display dive times. With its notched profile, the interior of the bezel features an applied ceramic disc in either blue or black, depending on the model, with the first 15 minutes indicated with white markings. Like the iconic 1956 watch made by Panerai for the Egyptian Navy (L'Egiziano), the Submersible features peg markings on the bezel, which in this case are all treated with white luminescence.