Watch Paparazzi

American football player Dustin Martin spotted wearing Panerai

Dustin Martin — three-time Brownlow Medallist and one of the most physically imposing athletes in Australian rules football — was photographed in a poolside setting wearing a Panerai Submersible in what appears to be the 42mm blue dial variant on a matching blue rubber strap. The image, taken while Martin rests his arms on the pool edge, gives a clear enough view of the watch to identify its key characteristics: bold cushion case, unidirectional rotating bezel with luminous pip, blue dial with applied indices, and a vivid blue rubber strap secured with what appears to be a tang buckle.

The Panerai Submersible 42mm PAM00683 — introduced as part of the brand's push to reclaim its dive tool identity — houses the in-house P.9000 automatic movement, a calibre Panerai developed to assert manufacturing independence after years of relying on ETA and Sellita bases. The P.9000 beats at 28,800 vph, offers a 3-day power reserve, and is visible through a sapphire caseback. Water resistance is rated to 300 metres, and the crown-protecting device (CPO) remains a signature Panerai design element inherited from the brand's original Italian Navy commando watches of the 1950s.

The Submersible has carved out a distinct collector niche within the Panerai universe. Where the Luminor remains the dress-leaning icon, the Submersible speaks to those who want sport credentials with the same Italian-military DNA. The 42mm case size — smaller than the classic 44mm that defined the brand's revival — broadened appeal considerably when introduced, allowing Panerai to reach buyers who found the larger references unwearable. Blue dial sports watches carry a consistent premium in today's market, driven in part by celebrity and athlete visibility.

Martin is no stranger to luxury timepieces; his off-field persona is as carefully constructed as his on-field dominance. Choosing a Panerai Submersible over, say, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore — the default athlete flex — signals a collector with a point of view. The rubber strap configuration suggests a man who actually wears the watch rather than treating it as jewellery.

At retail the PAM00683 listed around USD 9,300 at launch. On the grey market, blue-dial Submersible 42mm references trade at modest premiums or near retail, making this a grounded, credible choice rather than a status-purchase play.