Which of these Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro pieces would you pick?
Zach BlassWhen thinking of dive watches, it is nearly impossible not to think of Panerai. The brand has long been synonymous with making some of the most robust dive watches in the world, with a longstanding pedigree and military history and an aesthetic distinguished by the Italian flair of the brand and its signature lever-locked screw-down crown system. One of its core offerings, the Submersible, has seen a fair bit of evolution and expansion in recent years, but today we revisit some QuarantaQuattros, namely the steel PAM01595 and PAM01596 and the Carbotech PAM01232.
The cases
All three cases, both the steel models and the Carbotech model, are in a 44mm size (hence “QuarantaQuattro”): large for most brands, but perhaps the standard, mid-size within the context of Panerai and its Submersible range that now spans from 42mm to 47mm. At 13.1mm thick, the watches, though bold in presence, do not sit too high on the wrist for a sports watch.
Whereas the steel cases are largely brushed with subtle polished accents, the Carbotech case is far more textured – the natural swirls of the material revealed on the flat surfaces of the case and case-matching bezel insert, but fully matte black in appearance for smaller sensitive components like the bezel ring and screw-down crown.
The dials
The three dial hues are all executed with a grained, matte finish, and notably are not of a sandwich construction, instead outfitted with a near full set of pip-shaped applied hour indices except for the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions of the dial where you will find a small seconds counter and a colour-matched calendar complication respectively (and a tip of the hat to Panerai for colour-matching the date window on all the dials).
Whereas the PAM01596 has a black dial, the PAM01595 is its polar opposite in white. A small detail that stands out to a watch nerd like me is the blackened hands and hour index frames that make the dial not only a bit more stylish, but also more legible. It is a very black and white dial, clean, sterile, and easy to read as a dive watch should be. The black dial PAM01596, however, understandably keeps the hands hour index frames in a white metal, but it does have an injection of light blue dial accents to liven it up a bit.
The Carbotech variant gets the most colour with a matte blue dial. It has received the same blackened hands and indice borders as the PAM01595, but you will notice the hands have a white inner border within the skeletonised portion of the hands and that the small seconds hand is fully white without a black border. I think it is a very calculated (and in my opinion, correct) colour coordination that maximises the aesthetic and legibility of the dial.
The straps
Each reference is offered with two straps. The black dial PAM01596 and Carbotech PAM01232 each come with dial-matching rubber and textile straps with a case-matching pin buckle. The PAM01595 white dial model, however, is paired with a dial-contrasting green rubber strap and green textile strap with a case-matching pin buckle. I think this was a wise move, as I do not know how much I would vibe with white rubber and textile straps on the PAM01595.
The movement
Inside all three watches, you have Panerai’s trusty P.900 movement, a three-day automatic that offers “weekend-proof” endurance… Though I would imagine anyone who owns any of the three watches would make this a go-to weekend watch. In all of the cases, the movement is hidden beneath a solid, engraved caseback.
The verdict
Ultimately, those looking for a trusted dive watch and have the wrist for a 44mm watch stand to enjoy any of these three models. Some eagle-eyed observers may be thinking that the PAM01595 and PAM01596 introduced in 2024 look eerily similar to the PAM01226 and PAM01229 that debuted the 44mm size for the Submersible in 2022, and they would not be wrong. The only real difference is hacking seconds, which is an upgrade I suspect most would appreciate, but don’t know if that really constitutes new reference numbers. Then again, we are the community that assigns mark 1 or mark 2 as a logo changes slightly, or a bezel has its ceramic insert slightly colour corrected.
Niche nuances aside, while Panerai is known for its many sandwich dials, I do like the modern feel of the Submersible dial look with its applied indices. It feels a bit more chic. So, if you have the wrist real estate and the budget, all that is left to decide is which of these Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro references is the one for you…
Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro PAM01595, PAM01596 and PAM01232 pricing and availability
The new Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro PAM01595, PAM01596 and PAM01232 are available now for purchase. Price: US$10,400 (steel), US$19,500 (Carbotech)
| Brand | Panerai |
| Model | Submerisble QuarantaQuattro |
| Reference | PAM01595 PAM01596 PAM01232 |
| Case Dimensions | 44mm (D) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel (PAM01595, PAM01596) Carbotech (PAM01232) |
| Water Resistance | 300 metres, Panerai crown protection device |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | White (PAM01595) Black (PAM01596) Blue (PAM01232) |
| Strap | Green rubber strap, case-matching pin buckle, additional green textile strap (PAM01595) Black rubber strap, case-matching pin buckle, additional grey textile strap (PAM01596) Blue rubber strap, case-matching pin buckle, additional blue textile strap (PAM01232) |
| Movement | P.900, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, unidirectional diving bezel |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$10,400 (steel) US$19,500 (Carbotech) |