Hello,
first i would like to say that this model is not known to many, and the ones that knows it love it.
Its an inspiration to much homages now a days maranez, narval seven, river, esdee, other factory reps.. i think also ennebi is a homage and may be others.
This a bulky watch 47mm case, sandwich build case with thick plexi and my favorite the thight seal device (crown guard).
Got his name the 1000 meters (Mille Metri) for its waterproofness.
I'll give you first some historical data so you can get the idea.
CATALOGUE NOTE
In 1985, following the success of wristwatches made for the Italian Military during the 1930s-50s, Officine Panerai began to develop a new diving watch specifically for the Italian Navy. With specifications that the watch must be antimagnetic, easy to read and water-resistant to great depths, two initial prototype designs were created.
The original, experimental prototypes were made by hand within the laboratories of Officine Panerai in Florence under the guidance of Alessandro Bettarini. Created in two versions within titanium and bronze cases, the bronze case featured a large circular design with movable shoulders and plain rotatable bezel.
The titanium version was made with canted fixed shoulders and plain rotating bezel, both prototypes used Panerai’s patented locking crown system, plain black dial with luminous 12, 3, 6, 9 numerals and luminous baton hands, similarly both designs used an ETA automatic movement. The dial underwent several changes with two of the titanium versions featuring printed metal dials and Plexiglass dials, the final version using a thicker Plexiglas dial fitted with inset luminous Taser glow tubes replacing the baton markers, similarly the hands were fitted with glow tubes. Initial prototypes used Plexiglas crystals although this was replaced with a thick sapphire crystal in later editions. The final version was presented to the Italian Navy and despite successfully passing the rigorous tests it was subjected to, no orders were placed, however the initiative for re-launching the brand had been established.
The final version of the titanium prototype remains in the Panerai Museum with the previous three examples all lost from repeated transfers of department and believed to have been dismantled or destroyed. This is the first time one of the original titanium prototype examples, believed to be the 2nd version produced, is being offered for auction and as all of the four versions made underwent progressive changes, each can be considered unique.
For further information of this model see Ralf Ehlers and Volker Wiegman, Vintage Panerai, pp. 347-353 within the book ‘Vintage Panerai’. The reference book by Simon de Burton and Giampiero Negretti, Panerai, pp. 106-107
AN EXTREMELY RARE PROTOTYPE TITANIUM AUTOMATIC CENTRE SECONDS WRISTWATCH MILLE METRI CIRCA 1985
Sold for 100.000CHF
• cal. 2750 automatic nickel lever movement, 17 jewels, mono-metallic balance • black dial, baton and Arabic numerals, centre seconds • titanium case, patented crown guard, rotating bezel secured by 3 screws, case back secured by 6 screws • dial signed • with a stainless steel Panerai buckle
diameter 47 mm thickness 15.5 mm
Both titanium and bronzo
PVD prototype watch with Rolex movement
(picture courtesy of Francesco Ferretti)
click on the picture to enlarge
Aluminium prototype watch with ETA movement
(picture courtesy of Panerai)
There is some small information for another prototipes, that wre single made for test, as 1 with bigger case 55mm from the 70s from Aluminium
There are ofcourse many peopel with better knowledge on the MM, so i don't want to write made up things, its really a special watch.
This is a look at the construction of the case, and the thick gaskets - 1 beneathe the crystal and 1 on the back. There is also on the crown.
I had a modded maranez bangla with similar case design. 47mm but wareble and comfy on the wrist. Titanium case and bronze custom made bezel
with original besel
Then i started diggin on design etc, i found the mille metri and i loved it.
Some time passed before i could acquire one. Started from parts.
Sourced a bronze River case, then i found elswhere River's movement/dial and hands lot, so finaly i put it together.
Bought from a friend nice handmade bronze buckle, and sewd myself a green strap. And voila
i like the combo bronze green, so i tried zulu
I was very happy with the watch, its a 47mm case, lugs are 21mm not standart, harder to find leather, but fits 22mm nato ok.
Lume wasn't strong, but i like it.
again some time passed, and it found new home..
But the fking itch came back..
started looking what River got, he is the easiest and i didn't want rep
so i chose the sandbalsted steel one,
and im happy camper from few weeks. Its on rubber which is very long, but soft. Comes with removable buckle inscripted with the design of sew in ones - gpf mod dep
Inside asian clone 2824, but can be easy switched for gen one.
I should of made more photos. Its very beautiful and the finish is well made.
Thanks for reading,
you can show yours here
first i would like to say that this model is not known to many, and the ones that knows it love it.
Its an inspiration to much homages now a days maranez, narval seven, river, esdee, other factory reps.. i think also ennebi is a homage and may be others.
This a bulky watch 47mm case, sandwich build case with thick plexi and my favorite the thight seal device (crown guard).
Got his name the 1000 meters (Mille Metri) for its waterproofness.
I'll give you first some historical data so you can get the idea.
CATALOGUE NOTE
In 1985, following the success of wristwatches made for the Italian Military during the 1930s-50s, Officine Panerai began to develop a new diving watch specifically for the Italian Navy. With specifications that the watch must be antimagnetic, easy to read and water-resistant to great depths, two initial prototype designs were created.
The original, experimental prototypes were made by hand within the laboratories of Officine Panerai in Florence under the guidance of Alessandro Bettarini. Created in two versions within titanium and bronze cases, the bronze case featured a large circular design with movable shoulders and plain rotatable bezel.
The titanium version was made with canted fixed shoulders and plain rotating bezel, both prototypes used Panerai’s patented locking crown system, plain black dial with luminous 12, 3, 6, 9 numerals and luminous baton hands, similarly both designs used an ETA automatic movement. The dial underwent several changes with two of the titanium versions featuring printed metal dials and Plexiglass dials, the final version using a thicker Plexiglas dial fitted with inset luminous Taser glow tubes replacing the baton markers, similarly the hands were fitted with glow tubes. Initial prototypes used Plexiglas crystals although this was replaced with a thick sapphire crystal in later editions. The final version was presented to the Italian Navy and despite successfully passing the rigorous tests it was subjected to, no orders were placed, however the initiative for re-launching the brand had been established.
The final version of the titanium prototype remains in the Panerai Museum with the previous three examples all lost from repeated transfers of department and believed to have been dismantled or destroyed. This is the first time one of the original titanium prototype examples, believed to be the 2nd version produced, is being offered for auction and as all of the four versions made underwent progressive changes, each can be considered unique.
For further information of this model see Ralf Ehlers and Volker Wiegman, Vintage Panerai, pp. 347-353 within the book ‘Vintage Panerai’. The reference book by Simon de Burton and Giampiero Negretti, Panerai, pp. 106-107
AN EXTREMELY RARE PROTOTYPE TITANIUM AUTOMATIC CENTRE SECONDS WRISTWATCH MILLE METRI CIRCA 1985
Sold for 100.000CHF
• cal. 2750 automatic nickel lever movement, 17 jewels, mono-metallic balance • black dial, baton and Arabic numerals, centre seconds • titanium case, patented crown guard, rotating bezel secured by 3 screws, case back secured by 6 screws • dial signed • with a stainless steel Panerai buckle
diameter 47 mm thickness 15.5 mm
Both titanium and bronzo
PVD prototype watch with Rolex movement
(picture courtesy of Francesco Ferretti)
click on the picture to enlarge
Aluminium prototype watch with ETA movement
(picture courtesy of Panerai)
There is some small information for another prototipes, that wre single made for test, as 1 with bigger case 55mm from the 70s from Aluminium
There are ofcourse many peopel with better knowledge on the MM, so i don't want to write made up things, its really a special watch.
This is a look at the construction of the case, and the thick gaskets - 1 beneathe the crystal and 1 on the back. There is also on the crown.
I had a modded maranez bangla with similar case design. 47mm but wareble and comfy on the wrist. Titanium case and bronze custom made bezel
with original besel
Then i started diggin on design etc, i found the mille metri and i loved it.
Some time passed before i could acquire one. Started from parts.
Sourced a bronze River case, then i found elswhere River's movement/dial and hands lot, so finaly i put it together.
Bought from a friend nice handmade bronze buckle, and sewd myself a green strap. And voila
i like the combo bronze green, so i tried zulu
I was very happy with the watch, its a 47mm case, lugs are 21mm not standart, harder to find leather, but fits 22mm nato ok.
Lume wasn't strong, but i like it.
again some time passed, and it found new home..
But the fking itch came back..
started looking what River got, he is the easiest and i didn't want rep
so i chose the sandbalsted steel one,
and im happy camper from few weeks. Its on rubber which is very long, but soft. Comes with removable buckle inscripted with the design of sew in ones - gpf mod dep
Inside asian clone 2824, but can be easy switched for gen one.
I should of made more photos. Its very beautiful and the finish is well made.
Thanks for reading,
you can show yours here
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