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Few other brands, perhaps with the exception of Rolex and Audemars Piguet, have such a loyal and constantly growing fan base as Panerai. Perhaps the reason for this lies in the fact that this iconic Italian brand enjoys an outstanding reputation, offering high quality and a unique design. Another reason may be that Panerai, founded in Florence in 1860, established itself as a supplier to the Italian Navy during the first half of the twentieth century. Certainly, another equally important reason for the enthusiasm of its followers is the unmistakably recognisable case design that has become the brand's trademark.

Historically, Panerai has offered four main collections: Historic, Contemporary, Manufacture and, of course, Special Editions. Interestingly, many of its models are produced in limited annual quantities and feature their individual production number engraved on the caseback.

Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 47mm 3 Days Left-Handed PAM00557

The model was among the new releases presented at SIHH 2014, belonging to the brand's historic line, which brings together watches inspired by the characteristic features of earlier Panerai models. This particular reference was launched in 2014 and quickly became one of the rarer and more sought-after models of the brand. There are several reasons for this – the absence of a date display, the presence of only hour and minute hands and, of course, the fact that the crown is positioned on the left side of the case, essentially creating a mirror image of the brand's more conventional models.

Building on its previous experience and encouraged by the success of its earlier vintage-inspired models, Officine Panerai continues the successful development of its historic line. The Luminor 1950 Left-Handed 3 Days is yet another timepiece through which the Italian manufacturer aims to revive one of its most popular classic designs. The Luminor 1950 is powered by the brand's in-house P.3000 calibre, while its overall vintage appearance is further enhanced by a very stylish brown leather strap with a distinctly retro character. To make the entire composition even more elegant, the strap features thick contrasting stitching that matches the colour of the numerals on the dial.

This is one of those watches that we would confidently place near the top of our list of the "most versatile watches" – at least that is how we rank it, based on our modest experience. In our opinion, particularly when it comes to case shape, there are not many manufacturers today offering such a comfortable and wearable case for the different occasions in life as the Panerai Luminor 1950.

In our opinion, if someone wants a Panerai that is robust, beautifully made, powered by a fully in-house movement and retains the classic appearance with the signature crown-protecting device, the Panerai PAM00557 is the perfect choice. With its 47mm case, the watch is certainly muscular, yet at the same time it is remarkably elegant thanks to its polished finish and neatly integrated crown. This watch is exceptionally comfortable, primarily because of its case shape and the incredibly ergonomic, curved vintage-style lugs that embrace the wrist. Other models from this collection can still be found with a different lug design, but in our opinion, this version is far more elegant and, from a practical perspective, more comfortable, as it also allows easy pairing with a rubber strap.

And the manual winding truly makes the relationship between the owner and the watch something special, because the daily routine has to include the little ritual of "recharging" this beauty. We are certain that this will not feel like a burden at all – quite the opposite, it gives you yet another opportunity to admire this genuinely impressive example from a highly respected watchmaker such as Officine Panerai.