No other brand, except perhaps Rolex and Audemars Piguet, has such a loyal and constantly growing fan base as that of the faithful followers of Panerai, and perhaps the reason for this trend is rooted in the fact that this cult Italian brand enjoys a superb reputation, offering high quality and a unique design. Another reason for this is perhaps because Panerai, founded in 1860 in Florence, was chosen as the official supplier to the Italian Navy as early as the beginning of the last century. Certainly, the unmistakably recognizable case design, which has become its hallmark, gives its fans no less reason for their attachment to the brand.

At present, Panerai offers four main collections: Historic, Contemporary, Manufacture and of course Special Editions. An interesting fact is that most of the models are produced in limited annual volumes of about 500 pieces and bear their individual number on the case back.

The first Radiomir was produced back in 1938 and quickly managed to establish itself as a robust and reliable timepiece, which allowed it to become the official watch of the Italian commandos and special forces. Modern Radiomir are presented in two of Panerai's collections – Historic and Contemporary. The watch presented, however, is a very special Radiomir – the Mare Nostrum pays tribute to the chronograph produced in 1943, which was intended exclusively for the deck officers of the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina), and the reason for this name is the fact that during this period of the Second World War the main part of the Mediterranean Sea was controlled by Italy. This model was produced in only 150 examples, was launched in 2015 and aims for an absolute copy of the 1943 original – the most significant difference is the material used, as the modern one is made of high-quality titanium.

Officine Panerai Radiomir S.L.C. —Siluro a Lento Corsa (the slow-speed torpedo, on which the commandos of the Royal Italian Navy rode during their heroic underwater exploits).

In our opinion, if someone wants a Panerai that is cool and beautifully made, but doesn't like the models with the crown protector – the Panerai Mare Nostrum is one of the best choices. The watch is very muscular with its 52 mm, but at the same time it is also very comfortable, mainly due to its flat shape and short lugs.