Panerai’s relationship with Florence is older than the wristwatches that made the brand famous.
For the 100th anniversary of its Piazza San Giovanni boutique in 2026, the maison has introduced two limited Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni models that fold a very specific piece of Florentine history into one of its most recognisable case designs.
The new PAM01734 and PAM01794 are not simply boutique-name editions, either. Their dial signature reaches back to a rare 1960s Luminor and to the city where Panerai began in 1860.
At a glance
- Panerai has launched two limited Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni models for the 100th anniversary of its Piazza San Giovanni boutique.
- Both watches use a 44mm Luminor case, a manual P.5000 calibre and a dial inscription inspired by a rare 1960s Luminor ref. 6152/1.
- The platinumtech PAM01734 is limited to 100 pieces at £47,200, while the steel PAM01794 is limited to 1,000 pieces at £9,200.
Florence written across the dial
Panerai was founded in Florence in 1860, during a period when the city was moving through dramatic political and urban change.
Florence briefly replaced Turin as capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and the following decades brought extensive redevelopment that altered large parts of the medieval city.
The brand moved through several addresses after its first workshop disappeared during that transformation, before settling into its Piazza San Giovanni boutique in 1926.
That date gives these two watches their purpose, but the more romantic detail is on the dial.
Both editions carry the “Panerai Firenze” inscription at 12 o’clock, echoing a rare Luminor ref. 6152/1 from the 1960s that featured the same wording.
“Firenze” is, of course, the Italian name for Florence, and on a Panerai dial it feels less like decoration than a statement of origin.
The platinumtech PAM01734 pairs the signature with a green sandwich dial finished with circular brushing.
The stainless steel PAM01794 uses a grey sandwich dial, giving the watch a cooler, more utilitarian presence.
Platinumtech polish or steel-tool credibility
Both watches measure 44mm across, which places them firmly in classic modern Panerai territory while stepping down from the 47mm scale of the vintage ref. 6152/1.
The split between the two editions is sharper than the dial colours suggest.
The PAM01734 is the more luxurious interpretation, with a case made from Panerai’s platinumtech alloy and water resistance rated to 100 metres.
The PAM01794 is the more direct tool-watch proposition, made in stainless steel and rated to 300 metres.
One of the most interesting historical details appears on the platinumtech model’s crown protection bridge.
Instead of the flat upper and lower surfaces seen on the steel edition, the platinumtech watch uses a grooved bridge that channels down toward the crown.
That element recalls an experimental 1960s design developed to make the crown easier to operate while wearing gloves.
It’s a small detail, but a meaningful one on a manually wound Panerai, especially for a watch that looks back to the era of the ref. 6152/1.
The eight-day calibre inside
Inside both Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni models is Panerai’s hand-wound P.5000 calibre.
The movement uses a twin-barrel construction to deliver an eight-day power reserve, or 192 hours.
That extended autonomy has long been part of Panerai’s modern identity, and it makes particular sense here because the watch leans into a more tactile, traditional ownership ritual.
Winding a watch once and letting it run for more than a week remains one of the brand’s simplest technical pleasures.
The movement displays hours and minutes only, keeping the dial clean and close to the instrument-like clarity associated with the Luminor line.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Panerai |
|---|---|
| Model | Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni |
| References | PAM01734, PAM01794 |
| Case size | 44mm |
| Case material | Platinumtech for PAM01734, stainless steel for PAM01794 |
| Dial | Green sandwich dial for PAM01734, grey sandwich dial for PAM01794 |
| Movement | Panerai calibre P.5000, manual winding |
| Frequency | 21,600 vph, 3 Hz |
| Power reserve | 192 hours |
| Functions | Hours and minutes |
| Water resistance | 100m for PAM01734, 300m for PAM01794 |
| Strap | Black calf Tuscan leather for PAM01734, dark brown calf Tuscan leather for PAM01794 |
| Price | £47,200, approximately $63,910 for PAM01734; £9,200, approximately $12,460 for PAM01794 |
| Production | 100 pieces for PAM01734, 1,000 pieces for PAM01794 |
The pricing also makes the positioning clear.
The platinumtech PAM01734 is the rarer and more precious edition, limited to 100 pieces at £47,200.
The steel PAM01794 is broader in reach but still limited, with 1,000 pieces priced at £9,200.
For collectors drawn to Panerai’s Florentine roots, the steel model offers the stronger daily-wear argument, while the platinumtech edition carries the more unusual case material and the extra crown-bridge detail.
Either way, the Luminor Firenze 8 Giorni works because it doesn’t force the anniversary theme too hard. It lets the city, the dial signature and the hand-wound eight-day movement do the talking.
