As an outfitter of the Italian Navy, Panerai developed watches and precision instruments for the Gamma combat diver squadron. However, the watch manufacturer was never able to establish itself in the market and was on the verge of bankruptcy.

If Sylvester Stallone hadn't discovered the watches by chance, they probably wouldn't exist today. But thanks to this support from Hollywood, Panerai was not only able to recover, but also developed rapidly, becoming an absolute cult watch brand today.

The eventful history of the watch brand Panerai

For a long time, the watch brand Officine Panerai was closely associated with and the exclusive supplier of the Italian Navy, whose most famous models, the Radiomir and Luminor, were part of the standard equipment of Italian combat divers.

Panerai as supplier of the Italian Navy

At the beginning of the 20th century, Panerai began a close, decades-long collaboration with the then Royal Italian Navy. Night-vision sights, time fuses, depth gauges, and mechanical calculators were developed for this branch of the military.

The most important invention was made by Guido Panerai in 1915, for which he filed a patent the same year. Thanks to the luminous substance "Radiomir," which he discovered, instruments could now be read even in complete darkness.

Technical innovations for extreme applications

The close collaboration with the Italian Navy continued even after the First World War. In 1935, Panerai built special pocket stopwatches for military use.

One year later, the company was commissioned to develop a diving wristwatch that could withstand even the toughest conditions. Produced exclusively for the "Gamma" combat diver unit from 1938 onward, the wristwatch featured a Rolex movement and Radiomir luminous material.

The approximately 350 watches produced were subject to military secrecy for a long time. Later, the Radiomir luminous material was replaced by the less radioactive Luminor.

Source: Uhrenratgeber.com