Introduction to Panerai

The HeadThis is a no-nonsense watch. The face of the watch is well distributed between dial, bezel, and case, and the watch has a pleasing esthetic balance. The case has high flanks and prominent lugs that show off its brushed finish. The dial hides behind a thick sapphire crystal, and is surrounded by a smooth and very usable dive-time bezel. I've always been a sucker for dive chronographs like the Seamaster Pro Chrono and the Panerai Luminor 1950 Flyback diver, so I was very pleased when the G-2 showed up at my door.Let's start with the specifications on this beast of a diver:Brushed Stainless Steel case and five-link bracelet.42mm diameter.17mm thick.4mm thick sapphire crystal (same thickness as the crystal on the Rolex Sea Dweller).Water resistant to 660 feet, or 200 meters.Swiss quartz movement. The carbon fiber dial really pops and gives the watch a sporty appeal, spicing up the dial nicely.Something that really stands out on the Ocean7 G-2 is the chronograph range. The main second hand counts seconds when the chronograph is running (otherwise, it stays pointing to 12), the 9 o'clock subdial counts minutes (up to 30), and the 6 o'clock subdial counts up to 12 hours. This means I can use it for timing long events (drives up to the cottage, warm-up time for my fish tank) which even many digital chronographs can't do.The screwdown crown is knurled, and very smooth for time and date setting. It's big, tall, and proud, and it's wants the world to know it. However, if you can manage the bulk, it's well built, reasonably priced, and fits well into the Ocean7 family and their philosophy of offering tough, functional watches and reliable customer service.View the Ocean7 G-2 Photo Gallery.