Luminor 44mm

To understand the significance of the Panerai Luminor 44mm, you have to know a bit about Panerai itself. 

Panerai is an incredible brand with a rich history. 160 years ago, Giovanni Panerai opened a watch shop in Florence, Italy. Not only did they sell watches, they taught watchmaking classes. Panerai knew horology inside and out. Around the year 1900, the Panerai family shifted their focus toward their own product: the Radiomir. Leon’s son Guido helped incorporate the business: Guido Panerai & Figlio. They supplied watches to the Italian Navy. In the 1920’s, Rolex released the Oyster, introducing waterproof watches to the world. Rolex was a manufacturing partner of Panerai, meaning Panerai had access to the Oyster case technology. Approaching World War II, the Italian Navy needed a lot of waterproof watches. Panerai was perfectly positioned to supply them, and they did just that.

It wasn’t until the 1990’s that Panerai started selling watches to consumers. Up to this point, their entire brand revolved around the Italian Navy. In 1993, they released the Luminor to the public. It borrows a lot of design notes from the Radiomir, but features Panerai’s now-iconic locking crown guard. The Luminor also swaps the Radiomir’s wires for thicker, sturdier lugs. These lugs are 24mm wide, which makes it hard to find an aftermarket strap. Luckily, Everest has you covered with Curved End rubber and leather straps for all 44mm Luminors. A rubber strap gives the Luminor a sportier look, while paying homage to the brand’s history. The leather strap dresses up the Luminor, bringing it closer to its vintage Radiomir roots. If 44mm is too big for you, Panerai offers the Luminor Quaranta, which is a 40mm option.

The Luminor 44mm model was released in a trio in 1993. Despite Panerai's fascinating military history, the trio failed to catch the public’s eye. The model finally gained popularity when Slyvester Stalone sported the model in the movie “Daylight” in 1996. While a watch this big looks average on a guy like Sylvester Stallone, make no mistake, this is a big watch. It was introduced near the inception of the big watch phase of the 2000’s and early 2010’s. Arnold Schwarzenegger was another celebrity to sport the Luminor 44mm, bringing it to the attention of the public. Its no nonsense dial, oversized legibility, and versatility with different straps are just a few selling points of this watch. The Luminor 44mm is an unabashed celebration of Panerai: larger than life, true to the brand’s history, and functional as any tool watch out there. 

Because it is incredibly rugged (featuring a push down crown and 100 meters of water resistance), the Panerai Luminor 44mm can accompany you in even the most adverse conditions. Any watch with this much water resistance should be paired with a lightweight waterproof strap. Luckily, Everest’s Curved End rubber straps are tailor fit to the dimensions of the Panerai Luminor 44mm (All 44mm References), seamlessly hugging the case and lugs. Rubber excels as a strong, lightweight, waterproof strap material (just make sure your watch is waterproof too). Rubber isn’t just practical, it's one of the most comfortable materials for a watch strap. If you like the sporty look, rubber is a great everyday option. We also offer our Curved End Leather strap for the Luminor 44mm. Leather is a great option if you want a dressier look, or feel that rubber doesn’t fit the occasion. Our Curved End leather straps for the Panerai Luminor 44mm are offered in five different colors: black, saddle tan, chestnut brown, praline brown, and embossed brown alligator. If you’re looking for a new strap for your Panerai Luminor 44mm, Everest bands are your best bet.