Military watches fuel passion and controversy among watch fans.
Much of the disconnect around the subject stems from a simple truth. Military equipment practices have changed substantially over the last several decades.
Watches that are officially “issued,” i.e., supplied by a government to service members en masse, are increasingly rare, if not on the verge of extinction.
As such, modern “military watches” now revolve mostly around licensing partnerships between military entities and watch brands.
Panerai’s connection to the sub genre, aligns with both the past and present reality.
The brand has a legitimate documented history of supplying military-issued watches, particularly to naval groups, although the exact details of these partnerships are debated.
