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Luxury watches are often associated with high price tags that only a select few can afford. However, the rise of microbrands has made it possible for watch enthusiasts to own affordable luxury watches exude elegance and craftsmanship, with automatic movements and high-end materials like sapphire crystals, without breaking the bank.
What to Look for in a Panerai-Inspired Watch
One of the most iconic brands for watch collectors is Panerai, which has inspired many affordable brands to create homages with the characteristic cushion case and bold dial design, from the big stylish arabic numerals to the Cali-dial and military-inspired minimalismus.
Top Panerai-Inspired Timepieces Under $850
But what if you want to add a Panerai watch to your collection, but your budget is humbler than your taste? In this article, we’ve curated a selection of the best Panerai-inspired timepieces under $850 that even watch-snobbies would respect:
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About Panerai
In 1860, Giovanni Panerai opened his watch shop and watchmaking school in the “Ponte alle Gracie” in Florence.
Panerai became official suppliers of the Italian Navy, not only for watches but also other precision instruments.
In 1935 Panerai patented the Radiomir, featuring an in-house developed radium-based lume to make the dials of light brighter in underwater conditions. In 1949, the name “Luminor” was registered.
Due to the worldwide economic and political crisis that begun in 1992, Officine Panerai, launched three collections for the civilian market: 44 mm Luminor and Luminor Marina and the 42 mm Mare Nostrum chronograph.
Spinnaker Hull Series
Country of Origin: Hong Kong
Hull Riviera
Features
- Caliber: Seiko NH35 TMI Automatic
- Function: Time/Date
- Water resistance: 300 meters / 990 FT/ 30 ATM Hull Diver – 100 meters / 330 FT / 10ATM Hull Riviera
- Bezel: Unidirectional Bezel with Ceramic Plate
- Crown: Screw-down
- Case material: Stainless Steel
- Case diameter: 42 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 50 mm
- Crystal: Sapphire lens
Hull Dive Automatic
Price: 273 € – 330 €
Gruppo Gamma Vanguard Collection
Country of Origin: Singapore
Features
- Caliber: Swiss Made ETA 2824-2 Automatic
- Function: Time
- Water resistance: 300 meters / 990 feet / 30 ATM
- Bezel: Stainless Steel 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel with luminous pip
- Crown: Screw-down
- Case material: Stainless Steel with Military grade Titanium Carbide gunmetal tone PVD hard coating and Bead blast finish
- Case diameter: 43 mm
- Lug Width: 24 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 52.5mm
- Crystal: Box shaped sapphire crystal, anti-reflective
- Luminous Paint Type: Swiss Super-LumiNova C3, SANDWICH DIAL
Price: $800 – $850
Briston Clubmaster Diver
Country of Origin: France
Features
- Caliber: Seiko NH35A Automatic
- Function: Time/Date
- Water resistance: 300 meters / 990 feet / 30 ATM
- Bezel: Ceramic Rotating Bezel
- Crown: Screw-down
- Case material: Brushed Stainless Steel
- Case Size: 44 x 44 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Crystal: Ultra-resistant sapphire glass – 3.3 mm thickness
- Luminous Paint Type: Superluminova® inserts
Price: $550- $680
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Magrette Moana Pacific Professional Titanium
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Features
- Caliber: Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 automatic
- Function: Time/Date
- Water resistance: 500m/1650 ft/ 50 ATM
- Bezel: Ceramic, engraved and fully lumed with Swiss Super-LumiNova® BGW9
- Crown: Screw down crown with red safety alert collar
- Case material: Grade 5 titanium
- Case diameter: 44 mm
- Lug Width: 24 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 53 mm
- Crystal: Sapphire (double domed), AR coating
- Luminous Paint Type: Swiss Super-LumiNova® C3
Price: $848
Undone Terra Daybreak
Country of Origin: Hong Kong
Features
- Caliber: Japanese TMI NH35A/ NH39 Automatic Winding Mechanism
- Function: Time
- Water resistance: 50 meters / 165 feet / 5 ATM
- Bezel: neutral
- Crown: pushed
- Case material: Stainless Steel
- Case diameter: 37 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 43.3 mm
- Crystal: scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
Price: $295
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Vostok Amphibia 170 Series
Country of Origin: Russia
Features
- Caliber: Vostok 2415, 31 jewels, shockproof automatic
- Function: Time
- Water resistance: 200 meters / 660 feet / 20 ATM
- Bezel: neutral or numbered rotating Stainless Steel
- Crown: Screw-down embossed with Vostok logo
- Case material: Stainless Steel, bolted KILLER WHALE case back
- Case diameter: 42 mm
- Lug Width: 22 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 45 mm
- Crystal: 3 mm Domed Acrylic
- Luminous Paint Type: SuperLumiNova
