When it comes to brand partnerships, the best are forged by a fundamental alignment of expertise and ambition. Panerai has made its horological mark not only on the bold and distinctive design of its products, but the advanced engineering within. The announcement that it is teaming up with Brabus, the German specialist in high-performance vehicles, marks a logical next step into its ever-innovative approach to watchmaking.

First to be born out of the coming together of the two companies is the Panerai Submersible S Brabus Black Ops Edition, limited to 100 pieces. Strikingly contemporary, the timepiece is inspired by Brabus’s line of high-tech luxury boats. This influence is seen in the sleek colour scheme, accenting the dark Carbotech case and bezel with bold flashes of red across the minute, hour and seconds hands. The Brabus emblem features on the crown guard lever, while the signature Panerai Submersible logo is silkscreened onto the sapphire crystal that covers the open dial.

It allows an unfettered view of the new P.4001/s, a new movement developed from the P.4001/ in-house at the watchmaker’s manufacture in Neuchâtel. The first Panerai watch equipped with a skeleton automatic calibre, it has been enhanced to allow the timepiece to be thinner and lighter. Meanwhile, technical features include an off-centered oscillating weight that allows for bi-directional winding, while the stop balance wheel and seconds reset devices enables the time to be easily synchronised with a reference time signal. Finishing off the modern look is the choice of straps in either a bi-material version or the Panerai Sportech strap, which comes with a tool to easily change between the two.

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