Slytech Mare Nostrum

In Context

At 42 mm it is sized to the current mainstream: 40 mm is the median across every watch measured in this catalogue. The case back is closed, so the movement stays out of sight, and the mineral crystal sits between the two — harder to scratch than plexiglass, easier to chip than sapphire. 50 m covers rain and hand-washing comfortably; it is not a watch to swim in.

The movement is hand-wound, so winding it becomes part of the day rather than something the watch does for you.

5218-304 is one of 9 executions of the 5218 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a blue dial and a stainless steel case. It was a limited edition.

The Mare Nostrum's movement: an ETA 2801-2 — the hand-wound member of the 2824 family — with a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module added, since the 2801 has no timing works of its own. It carries over from the pre-Vendôme 5218-301/A, several hundred of which passed to Vendôme in 1997 to be reworked into the PAM 6, 7 and 8.

5 other watches in the library run the Panerai 2801-2.

Panerai

Mare Nostrum

PAM00008 · 42 mm

Panerai

Mare Nostrum Blue

PAM00006 · 42 mm

Panerai

Mare Nostrum

5218-301/A · 42 mm

Panerai

Mare Nostrum

PAM00007 · 42 mm