As many of you have come to realize, the guys here at Gear Patrol are big fans of Panerai watches. New models get released all the time, but few make as bold a statement as this watch here, the Panerai Luminor 1950 Ceramic 8 days Chrono Monopulsante. Otherwise referred to as PAM 317, this watch was recently released at Basel 2008 and has been generating considerable buzz ever since the announcement.

Although this isn’t the first ceramic Panerai to be released (that honor belongs to the ceramic Radiomir), it is the brand’s first Luminor case to be made in ceramic. For those of you that don’t know, ceramic hardened watches are significantly tougher than their steel counterparts. The specs on this watch are impressive to say the least, featuring an 8 day manual wound in-house manufacture movement with a horizontal power reserve indicator, second time zone GMT function, exhibition case back to view that amazing movement, 24 hr indicator, and of course the single button chronograph function.

Cost: ~$27,000 @ Panerai