The Italian watchmaker Officine Panerai developed its watches for commandos in the Italian Navy, submariners who demanded a timepiece that was completely reliable – a key feature for people who measure the difference between life and death in fractions of a second. An eight-day power reserve is part of Panerai’s storied history and the tradition has now been reborn with Panerai’s P.5000 calibre, a new hand-wound movement with an eight-day power reserve that will make its debut in Asia at the inaugural Watches and Wonders Haute Horlogerie exhibition in Hong Kong from September 25 to 28.

The P.5000 will be available in the Luminor Marina case, which is part of Panerai’s Historic Collection. The case is available in stainless steel and red gold. The two new timepieces respect the classic aesthetics of the Luminor Marina, notable for the minimalist design of the case and dial. The much-anticipated Watches and Wonders event will be a treat for Asia’s watch lovers, who are famous the world over for their almost inexhaustible appetite for fine watches. The event will be hosted by the Swiss Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, which includes A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Chopard, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Parmigiani Fleurier and Van Cleef & Arpels among its members. The exhibition is billed as a watch-lovers version of Art Basel Hong Kong, a place where all the artistry and innovation of the watchmaking world can be seen at close quarters.