PANERAI, UNIQUE eSTAINLESS STEEL 'LUMINOR MARINA eSTEEL', REF. PAM01157
'NORTH-WEST PASSAGE INTEGRITY EXPEDITION', NO. Y0875/1500
CIRCA: 2023
CASE MATERIAL: eStainless Steel, side engraved Integrity North West Passage 2023, engraving of the Stirling & Son Sailing Boat between the lugs at 6 o'clock
CASE DIAMETER: 47 mm.
DIAL: Blu Profondo
MOVEMENT: Automatic
FUNCTIONS: Time only
CLASP: Stainless steel Panerai buckle
BOX: Yes
PAPERS: Yes
WITH: International Limited Warranty Card dated January 2024, product literature, bracelet tools, additional blue textile strap, additional blue rubber strap, Integrity North-West Passage detailed book, special 'North-West Passage Integrity Expedition 2023' presentation box and outer packaging
REMARK: Worn during the Integrity ExpeditionWristwatches have had a long and distinguished history throughout the 20th century and into the present day as precision instruments provided by watch brands for explorers undertaking some of the most epic expeditions to the most hostile places on Earth — including the early ascents of Mount Everest and ventures into the polar regions.
To own a true expedition-worn wristwatch is the dream of many collectors. Robust and highly practical, this Panerai wristwatch follows in that noble tradition. It was worn and used during the 2023 expedition aboard the vessel Integrity on its treacherous journey through the Northwest Passage. The present watch is not only expedition-worn but also individually and uniquely dedicated to the expedition, with an engraving on the side of the case: “Integrity / North West Passage / 2023.” Between the lugs is an engraved depiction of the sailing boat.
Panerai gifted two watches especially for this endeavor. Both made the journey through the Northwest Passage. The present timepiece was worn by Will Sterling himself and used by him for navigation; the other watch remained in its box and was returned to Panerai after the expedition. Upon his return, the present watch was sent back to Panerai for servicing and was then returned to Mr. Sterling.
Described as the “Everest of sailing,” the 6,000-mile icy and labyrinthine Northwest Passage was first successfully navigated by Roald Amundsen between 1903 and 1906. Since then, many have attempted the Passage — and many have failed. What makes the sailing boat Integrity particularly remarkable is that it marked the first time the Northwest Passage was attempted in a self-built wooden sailing boat — a daring, brave, and ambitious endeavor.
Integrity was built by master boatbuilder Will Sterling as a 43-foot replica Victorian cutter, designed after an 1880s model. It was constructed at Sterling & Son, his boatbuilding business in Plymouth, UK. The authentic, hand-built nature of the craft — and the fact that it would be sailed and navigated in the traditional way, using timepiece, sextant, and compass — attracted sponsors that represent enduring quality: Panerai watches, Connolly Clothing, and Plymouth Gin. Additional support came from the Gino Watkins Memorial Fund (under the joint trusteeship of The Scott Polar Institute and the Royal Geographical Society) and the Arctic Club.
Integrity set sail on June 1, 2023, beginning its east-west transit of the Northwest Passage. The voyage started in southeast Canada, passed through western Greenland and northern Canada, and concluded in Alaska.
Will Sterling’s crew included high-latitude sailors, cold-climate specialists, shipwrights, a former submarine commander, and a chef. Crew members were rotated twice during the journey, with the vessel scheduled to complete the Passage in mid-September.
The route known today as the Northwest Passage is the result of centuries of European exploration in search of a new trade route to Asia by sailing over the top of the American continent. The existence of a route was finally confirmed in 1850 and first completed in 1906 by Roald Amundsen in the sailing cutter Gjøa. However, as a commercial trade route, it proved impractical, frequently blocked by pack ice and marked by harsh conditions — not to mention the dangers posed by polar bears and killer whales.
Even today, the Northwest Passage remains a formidable challenge, testing the skill and endurance of even the most experienced sailors, like Will Sterling.
