Gear Patrol

If you’re like us, you have a long list of gear you’d love to own. But reality (almost) always steps in, along with bank accounts and eagle-eyed spouses, and your gadget desires remain unfulfilled. “Want This, Get This” presents a lust-worthy piece of gear along with a more affordable alternative that scratches the same itch. Today we examine the Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 and the Magrette Moana Pacific Professional.

Never mind the mouthful of a name, this brawny Panerai stole the show for us at January’s Salon International Haute Horlogerie. The Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Titanio‘s familiar design cues are unmistakably from the Firenze Officine, but the splash of color and an innovative new in-house chronograph calibre seal the deal.

Nothing helps shake off the doldrums of mid-winter like a visit to Geneva for the annual Salon International Haute Horlogerie. For the uninformed, SIHH is the watch trade show put on by the watch brands under the Richemont Group umbrella and some of their friends. Familiar names like IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Panerai set up shop next to lesser known watchmakers like Parmigiani and Gruebel-Forsey in the grand confines of the Palexpo convention center. We asked Gear Patrol’s Timekeeping writers to weigh in on what impressed them the most from this year’s crop of timepieces. Their picks vary from the classic to the outrageous (see the Tourbillon Yohan Blake, below), and together they represent a great range of SIHH 2013.

Clearly Mayan watchmakers hadn’t cracked the horology of the perpetual calendar complication before their ateliers closed for good. Whether December 21st, 2012 portends an ominous implosion of this rock on which we live, a collapse of civilization or just severe disappointment for the crazies no one knows for sure. But it sure does present a great excuse to stock up on bombproof gear. We’ve got five timepieces to see you through the fire and brimstone — and if the Mayans were wrong, well, you’ve still got yourself a pretty badass watch.

The Panerai new Luminor Submersible 1950 Amagnetic 3 Days Automatic Titanio (PAM 389) is the watch to strap on the night before the Mayan calendar ends. Look past its encyclopedic name and you’ll find a mashup of features that make this piece perhaps the most capable timekeeper the venerable Italian instrument maker has produced. Let’s…

Depending on who you ask (or read), there’s a good chance you might walk away with a handful of stories behind the origins of the “California” dial. This writer humbly admits to not knowing the truth. Some attribute the widespread knowledge to a California-based company that refurbished a large number of Rolex Bubblebacks in the…

Let’s face it, times are tough and it’s not just European governments that are implementing austerity measures. A lot of guys can’t squeeze a new watch into their 2012 budgets. But don’t despair, there’s an affordable way to get a fresh look for your existing watch – change the strap. You might be surprised at…

With the annual watch trade show, SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) about to get underway in Geneva, now is as good a time as any to revisit one of the stars from last year’s show, the Officine Panerai PAM00372 ($10,400). For those who are new to the game, Officine Panerai was originally founded…

‘Tis the season for wishes and we bet that a lot of Gear Patrol readers have a new watch on their Christmas lists. We do, too, so we rounded up ten of the most exciting and gift-worthy timepieces of the year for you to add to yours. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice is between…

What defines a good homage watch? The horological essentials have to be there, not just the aesthetic cues. A good homage watch doesn’t equate to an exact copy, by any means. Rather, it’s defined by quality, echoes of the original and a less than original price. The new Zuriner Depth Charge ZV-01 ($1,370) salutes the…

The world watched last month as history unfolded in Egypt, culminating with a mostly peaceful revolution and the military stepping in to assume temporary control. How fitting then, that Panerai recently re-issued one of its most famous historical pieces and one with a tie to the Egyptian military. The “Egiziano,” or “Egyptian” Radiomir, a massive…

In recent years the more subdued Panerai’s Radiomir has taken a backseat (for better or worse) to its more popular brother, the Luminor Marina, for which we have an unrelenting fondness. But, with a push towards ownership of elegant timepieces, Radiomirs are finally earning their fair share of the spotlight as a sophisticated, non-diving, gent’s…

Stainless steel. Gold. Rose gold. Bronze. Bronze? Yes, brushed bronze to be exact. That’s what you’ll find encasing Panerai’s striking new 47mm Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic ($10,100). Featuring Panerai’s own P.9000 calibre automatic 3-day movement, the watch blends Panerai’s submersible and heritage styles with a hallmark look that combines a bronze case, rotating…

Oversized watches may be passé, but Panerai continues to stand out amongst large-diameter wannabes with their range of classic, understated timepieces. Released earlier this year, the 44mm Panerai PAM359 Luminor Marina 3 Days Automatic ($7,500) is part of Panerai’s regular production contemporary line, but offers unique design queues centered around a dial which shows all…

There’s a reason why Panerai has been experiencing explosive popularity in the past few years, and the new 47mm PAM 339 aka the Radiomir Composite Marina Militare 8 Giorni does nothing but fan those flames. Officine Panerai’s latest beauty pays homage to the historic link between Panerai and the Italian Navy. Utilizing Panerai’s own hand…

By Brian Huang and Gear Patrol Reader Ty Alley: We at Gear Patrol love watches. There’s no doubt that we have a fascination with timepieces here. While we enjoy talking about and introducing you to all manner of watches, we realize that not everyone understands the terminology involved. Similar to how we introduced you to…

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…

A man’s timepiece is an essential part of his wardrobe. Hell, any man worth his salt knows if you rock a quality watch it doesn’t matter what your wardrobe looks like. Though the combination of both undoubtedly reigns supreme. If you’ve purchased yourself a watch recently and are looking for a point of differentiation then…

Once in a while something comes along in your life that you know beyond a doubt belong in your life. Some of those things include a spouse, a house, a car, a bar, and a watch. The Panerai Luminor Marina is just that. It’s not just a watch, it’s an investment. It’s an heirloom. It’s…

The Panerai Flyback Regatta is rare. Rare to the tone of only 500 will be built. For those of you not familiar with Panerai their history is tied with the Italian military as their official watch maker. The result? Italian beauty and extraordinary military level engineering. The automatic mechanical movement features a Panerai OP XIX…