The house of Panerai is known the world over for its diving watches with their extra large dials and luminous hands for easy underwater reading. Founded in Florence in 1860, they even made the precision diving instruments for the Italian navy and it was the first house to equip their elite frogmen commando. And today they are heading into another water-filled adventure as they join forces with French surfing champion Kauli Vaast. Born in Papeete in French Polynesia 21 years ago, he has been surrounded by waves his entire life including one of the world’s most famous, the Teahupo’o in Tahiti. The surfer is slated to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, but the surfing is being held in Tahiti where he is right at home. Here he wears the Panerai Submersible in midnight blue with luminous hour markers and dots which is water proof to 1,000 feet (300 meters).

« To become an Ambassador of the House is much more than just a partnership: it is about sharing the values that reflect our DNA. Kauli Vaast incarnates the spirit of Panerai, » explains Jean-Marc Pontroué, the CEO of Panerai,  « His passion for the ocean, his connection with the waves of Tahiti and his quest for performance echo our own history. We are delighted to accompany him in his conquest of the world sporting scene. »

Today Panerai, which is a brand of the Richemont group, continues to develop and produce its own movements in watches in Neuchâtel in Switzerland, combining Italian design with Swiss watchmaking knowhow. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette