Hall Of Fame

Occupying the enigmatic underground vault of an historic chapel, Panerai – Dive Into Time recalled the most glorious moments in the manufacture’s long and fascinating history.

- Kelvin Tan & Celine Yap

Panerai – Dive Into Time is not only an ode to the brand’s beauteous past and its deep connection to the city of Florence; the exhibition is also an occasion that heralded its new timepiece releases, in particular, Panerai’s very first grande complication watch.

Approximately 1,000sq m of the Marino Marini Museum had been dedicated to this purpose. Located at the heart of the historical centre of Florence, the museum is actually the former Church of San Pancrazio, which was built in the 9th century BC. Today, it exclusively showcases the works of the Italian sculptor, Marino Marini (1901-1980): sculptures, paintings, drawings, and engravings.

Set away from the museum’s permanent collections, the exhibits of Panerai – Dive Into Time filled up the building’s underground vault, what used to be the ancient crypt of the former Basilica of San Pancrazio. This enigmatic space was chosen because it symbolises the long ties between Officine Panerai and the city of Florence. Alessandro Colombo – Studio Cerri & Associati had been the assigned designers of the exhibition, skilfully coupling the use of materials with lighting and interactive digital devices to present an immersive and educational experience. Not only did the exhibition tell the story of Panerai’s dynamic past, it also emphasised the manufacture’s strong ties with the sea.

From Past To Present