Since 1860 Italian luxury watch house Panerai has made precision watches, supplying the Italian Royal Navy with high-quality tool watches including high-strength diving watches, innovating technically over the decades to meet military requirements, particularly in underwater operations. With this pedigree, Panerai is the go-to for experienced explorers and divers as creators of dependable chronographs that deliver in treacherous conditions. These are properly professional instruments that – at the extremes – help save lives, whether on expedition or submerged to 300 metres.

While always robust in its mechanical engineering, Panerai’s Italian eye for design and style is also apparent in every model, providing a great combo for those looking for the rugged and the refined in one functional package. Now the house has taken a leap forward and introduced the Panerai Luminor Due TuttoOro, its debut watch featuring an all-gold case and bracelet. Taking one of the most elegant and luxurious of the house’s portfolio, with its slim silhouette and uncomplicated style, the new watch can be worn casually as well as formally, and suits any gender with its neat 38mm case.

Both case and bracelet are forged from the house’s proprietary gold, Panerai Goldtech, incorporating high copper content and platinum. The copper helps create the mellow deep red tone of the gold while the platinum contributes to the colour staying true and bright. The bracelet’s design is inspired by the signature crown protection device and each link has the profile of the mechanism while adjacent polished and brushed finishes give an added dimension.

Featuring a sun-brushed sandwich dial with a subtly textured surface, the gold watch displays minutes, hours, small seconds and the date. It’s available in white or deep marine blue, the blue being sold exclusively in Panerai boutiques. The TuttoOro is powered by the automatic calibre P.900, is just 4.2mm thick and is the first Panerai movement of its size to have both date function and a three-day power reserve. Italian design flair and Swiss horological expertise combine to handsome effect in this golden homage to watchmaking.

£31,100; panerai.com