PANERAI Luminor Marina eSteel™ BLUE PROFONDO

It’s steel but not as you know it; it’s eSteelTM, a new sustainably manufactured steel composed of recycled-based material which has been put to use for this rather striking new Luminor Marina trio.

The new Luminor Marina eSteel collection includes this, the Luminor Marina eSteel™ Blu Profondo AKA PAM01157 as well as PAM01356 & PAM01358. 

The use of eSteelTM by Panerai is representative of the Italian brand’s commitment to further reduce the necessity for virgin material extraction for use in watchmaking thus reducing its impact on the environment.

89g of the Luminor Marina eSteelTM and its components such as the signature crown-locking mechanism have been fabricated using said recycled-based materials – 

this apparently corresponds to 58.4% of the total weight of the watch (152.4g). Both the case and dial of Luminor Marina eSteelTM feature the new recycled-based steel alloy.

Panerai say of their eSteelTM that it meets the same rigorous and exacting standards demanded of those steel cases that preceded it. 

Meanwhile eSteelTM exhibits the identical chemical behavior, physical structure and resistance to corrosion as any non-recycled steel alloy.

The Luminor Marina eSteelTM features a brushed case with a polished bezel, a color-coded (to the dial) rubberized crown as well as a personalized lever with the eSteelTM logo. 

The watches are available in three dial colors: Blu Profondo, Grigio Roccia and Verde Smeraldo, the last of which is exclusive to Panerai boutiques and e-commerce.

Each of the watch comes with a polished dial with gradient color which goes from dark to light color, with the eSteelTM logo printed on it with the “e” highlighted in a turquoise-like color. 

Powering the watches is a Panerai in-house caliber P.9010, automatic movement with twin barrels providing 72-hrs AKS 3-days of autonomy.

Finally the watches are presented on color-matched textile straps made from recycled materials. 

MSRP for the new Luminor Marina eSteel watches is 8’500euros. The collection is not a limited series so will join the permanent Luminor Marina collection.

Thoughts? I have no qualms about owning a watch made with eSteel but I don’t need a reminder of that on the dial – also call me old fashioned but I’d prefer an eSteel crown rather than rubber, please. 

But what do you think?