To be honest, I am not a big fan of watches that have functions that I am not going to use. I know that probably sounds really gay and boring, but after wearing almost every kind of wrist watch out there, believe me, you just wanna go back to basics like a neanderthal and know what time it is.
Just In this last year, Panerai introduced to me what is probably right on par with the new Rolex Deeps Sea, which is text book definition of a divers watch. The new Panerai 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge Pangaea Edition, is probably the most masculine and comfortable watch I have ever had the prveledge of trying on, and one that I would actually wear. The watch emits testosterone, and I don't mean that this is one of the functions of the watch, but dam it should be!
This mammoth watch is made out of brushed titanium and is 47 mm in diameter, stainless steel push button at the 10 o'clock position control the depth gauge, and a brushed stainless unidirectional steel bezel. The functions of the watch include hours, minutes and sub seconds hand at the 9 o'clock. The Depth gauge functions include, The indication of the maximum depth reached during on the most recent dive, The indication of the amount of battery power left as the depth gauge is battery driven, depth indication during a dive. Even though I absolutely detest blue dials because they are too fashionable and you get bored of them immediately,this particular blue dial is very subtle and vintage looking with luminous hour markers and Arabic numerals and a depth gauge scale on the outer rim. Like all 1950's made by Panerai, the device protecting the crown is brushed steel inscribed REG. T.M. serves as an anti shock device and when pushed in ensures crown protection as well as water resistants to 120 meters. The screw on caseback of the watch is made of titanium engraved with the Panagea Expedition Insignia. The Rock hard anti reflective coated sapphire crystal is made from corundum and is 3 mm thick to virtually deflect bullets and withstand the most turbulent conditions! To reinforce the message of ultimate utility the rubber strap is a nice thick rubber, reminiscent of the vintage straps once used on early submersibles and can be pushed to the extreme for the most rigorous activities. Since this is a special edition piece of 500 pieces for the world, it will be a bitch to find unless you got your name already on a list because I can guarantee you that even at fifteen plus thousand dollars you can be sure they are all spoken for.
So just what is the Pangaea Expedition, well this is one of the most challenging expeditions ever done by anybody in the world! This will be navigated and lead by non other than Mike Horn who without question is one of the most courageous, important explorers to ever live of all time. Mr Horn definitely has vast experience with extreme travel including a circumnavigation of the Earth around the equator, a circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle, a night expedition to the North Pole, and the ascent of two summits greater than 8,000 meters without the use of additional oxygen.
This incredible journey is set to start on October 9Th 2008 and will take approximately 4 years, which will enlist a total of 144 young people from all over the globe in a mixture of different projects, spanning from ocean clean-up,biodiversity World-Seed-Bank monitoring, and improving the sanitary and hygiene conditions in villages all to raise awareness on climate change and encourage a new generation to take an active role in the preservation of our planet. The 22,000 design hours in making an incredible vessel like this that could handle extreme weather conditions will set sail from Punta Arenas in Chile to Antarctica. The route then swiftly moves through Australasia, China, Russia, the North Pole, Greenland, and North America, before finally arriving back in Punta Arena. The watch Mike Horn Will be wearing of course is The New Pangaea Edition 1950 Depth Gauge Submersible, which is the only watch that could bear the extreme challenging conditions of this mission.
With a worthwhile cause like this, pioneered by this rebel explorer whose mission is to raise awareness for the rest of the world to learn from, it is clear as day that the new Panerai Special Edition 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge is a Real Mans Watch!
pic courtesy of www.panerai.com
ship pic courtesy of www.sail-world.com
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