Panerai has just dropped two new watches tied to its Luna Rossa partnership, and the timing makes sense. The 38th America's Cup is heading to Naples in 2027, and the brand wants its sailing credentials front and center well before the first race gun fires. This is not a single release. You get two distinct pieces aimed at two distinct wrists.
The bigger of the two is the Luminor Luna Rossa Chrono PAM01768, a 44mm chronograph with a tachymeter scale on the bezel. The smaller one is the Luminor Luna Rossa GMT PAM01791, sitting at 40mm and built for tracking a second time zone. Both carry the Luna Rossa red and black color language that has defined this collaboration since Panerai first signed on with the Italian sailing team back in 2019.
Six years into the partnership, Panerai has learned what works here. These are not badge jobs. The Luna Rossa line has consistently served as a testbed for where the brand wants to take its modern sports watches, and this pair continues that tradition.
What's Actually New
The PAM01768 is the navigator's tool. That tachymeter scale on the bezel is a direct nod to race course utility, letting you calculate speed over a measured distance. Chronograph pushers sit at the 8 and 10 o'clock positions in classic Panerai asymmetric-case fashion. The dial keeps the Luna Rossa color scheme tight: dark background, red accents, the kind of contrast that reads clearly under full sun on the water.
The PAM01791 goes smaller and simpler in the best way. At 40mm it's the more wearable of the two off the dock. The GMT function gives you a second time zone displayed through a dedicated hand, which is genuinely useful if you're following a sailing campaign across multiple host cities. Again, the Luna Rossa palette shows up on the dial and the strap.
Who These Watches Are For
Fratello pegged it well: the chrono is for the navigator, the GMT is for the captain who flies between regattas. That framing holds up. But honestly, you don't need a boat for either of these.
- The PAM01768 Chrono at 44mm suits someone who already wears Panerai and wants the full motorsport-meets-sailing energy of a tachymeter bezel.
- The PAM01791 GMT at 40mm is the better everyday option, easier to dress up slightly, and the two-timezone function has real daily utility.
- Both speak to the Luna Rossa fan base specifically, people who follow the team and want the gear to match.
- They also work as a matched pair for a collector who wants both sides of the story: racing tool and travel companion.
How They Fit the Bigger Luna Rossa Picture
Panerai has been releasing Luna Rossa watches since 2019 with some regularity, and the line has built real identity. The red and black palette is immediately recognizable. The association with one of sailing's most storied challenger teams gives Panerai something genuine to hang the marketing on, not just a logo license but an actual technical partnership that feeds back into product development.
The America's Cup context matters here too. Naples 2027 is a big deal for Italian sport and Italian culture. Panerai, as an Italian brand with deep ties to the sea, has obvious reasons to amplify its presence in the lead-up. Dropping these two watches roughly a year out from the racing is deliberate. You'll see more from this collaboration before the starting gun goes off.
The Honest Take
Panerai knows how to work a partnership. The Luna Rossa releases have been consistent without feeling repetitive, and this pair adds something useful on both ends of the size spectrum. If you've been waiting for a reason to get into the Luna Rossa family, the 40mm GMT is probably your best entry point to date. And if you already love the big Luminor format, the chrono with its tachymeter bezel is a sharper, more purposeful version of what came before. Prices haven't been officially confirmed yet, but watch this space as Naples 2027 gets closer.
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