5184eb92b7

ReviewFor The Life Of The Ocean—Part I: The Panerai Submersible Mike Horn Edition

Inspired by the brand’s ambassador, explorer Mike Horn, and his environmental initiatives that include the cleaning of the ocean, Panerai’s Submersible Mike Horn Edition is a lesson in sustainability and a symbol of consciousness towards our planet

Ranvijaysinh Jhala September 9, 2019

Listen

May We Recommend

Spotlight Let It Glow, Let It Glow, Let It Glow: The Glowing Case Of The BR X5 Green Lum By Bell & Ross Review Lasered Kaleidoscope: Presenting The Oris ProPilot X Calibre 400 Laser Review Set In Stone: Introducing The Jacob & Co Palatial Classic Collection’s Stone Dials Review Retro, Winning Charm: Raymond Weil's Millesime—A Tribute To Understated Elegance Spotlight From Paris to New York, Louis Moinet Around The World In Eight Days Adventure Unfolds

Every year, close to 8bn kilograms of plastic enters the world’s oceans, destroying coral reefs, choking turtles, and eventually finding its way into the digestive tracks of other underwater creatures, leaving them incapable of ingesting real nutrition. The conservation of marine life is fast becoming a growing necessity that we cannot ignore anymore. While we can do our bit by eliminating or at least minimising our use of plastic, there are a few individuals who have made commitments far greater. Explorer and adventurer Mike Horn is one of them. Horn has skied around the Arctic Circle in the dark winter, crossed Antarctica via treacherous paths, and has even seen the depths of the oceans. Having spent his life exploring the earth in its wildest and most natural form, Horn probably feels a stronger connection with our planet than us regular folk do, and he feels an admirable sense of responsibility towards it. Spreading awareness about environmental causes and being involved in initiatives such as planting trees in the Amazon and cleaning the ocean, he has been an inspiration to many, including Officine Panerai—a longstanding partner of his.

While the Italian brand of Swiss-made watches has created several timepieces for and inspired by Mike Horn and his various extreme expeditions, the watch they’ve unveiled this year represents the cause that is closest to him. Furthermore, the Submersible Mike Horn Edition even embodies the core values of that cause. Beyond simply donating to the cause or engraving something on the watch, the brand has developed the very structure of this new timepiece from sustainable materials.

A Unique Submersible

At first glance, it looks like a Luminor watch from Panerai, with the identifiable cushion-shaped case and crown protector. Of course, a closer observation reveals evident distinctions such as a professional diver’s bezel and other markers that are typical of the Luminor Submersible (except that this year, Submersible has become a collection that stands on its own, without the Luminor name). What appears to be a gorgeous, wholesome titanium case, fitted with a nylon strap, is much more than that. The 47mm body is built from eco-titanium—obtained from recycled scraps of titanium—while the nylon strap is actually woven from plastic fibres of bottles retrieved from the ocean. And that bit of information just changes the watch completely for any beholder.

Life Underwater

The ‘sandwich’ dial, with intense luminosity across elements, conceals the automatic P.9010 Panerai in-house calibre, which powers the hours, minutes, small seconds and date. The timepiece can run for a significant 72 hours when fully-wound and left still. When worn though, it’s equipped for the kind of extremes that only the likes of Mike Horn can endure. Water resistant to 300m, it’s more than capable of frolicking around the ocean like the marine life engraved on the sealed caseback. Hopefully, the creatures depicted will one day experience water almost as clean as that which this watch will most likely be subjected to.

A Heightened Experience Of Panerai

Available in black or blue versions, the latter is limited to 19 pieces, and comes with the promise of an exclusive experience. With this edition of the Panerai Submersible Mike Horn Edition comes the opportunity to embrace the spirit of adventure and of the planet, which Mike Horn values, with Horn himself. The experience includes a brief period of intensive training with Horn, among the ice floes of the Arctic, followed by a chance to put yourself to the test, confronting nature and its challenges. Experiencing the beautiful extremes with Horn will certainly make you personally aware of the threats that our ecosystem face, and develop a consciousness towards our planet. This 19-piece limited edition is only available at authorised Panerai boutiques globally.