Panerai welcomes French døds athlete Côme Girardot to its circle of Adventurers, bringing together the Maison’s expertise in extreme performance with an athlete renowned for pushing physical boundaries. Their first collaboration takes the Luminor Marina to Greenland, where an extraordinary expedition culminates in a 20-metre leap from an iceberg.
A Return to Extreme Sport
From 7 to 19 May, Girardot brought the Panerai Luminor Marina into the heart of his Greenland expedition, marking an intensely emotional return following a severe accident that left him with two fractured and dislocated vertebrae and the prospect of never walking again. The journey comprised intensive ski touring, Arctic freeriding for acclimatisation and cold-water training before reaching its dramatic finale.
Specialising in døds, the spectacular discipline popularised in Norway where freefall becomes an act of total commitment, Girardot has built his career through extreme projects, numerous world records, expeditions and international competitions. In 2025, he won the Team World Champion title, further establishing his standing among the discipline’s leading figures.
The Luminor Marina in Greenland
For the Greenland expedition, Panerai selected three 44mm Luminor Marina references, each defined by the collection’s signature crown-protecting bridge and water resistance of over 50 bar, equivalent to approximately 500 metres. The watches accompanied Girardot through different stages of the expedition, bringing the Luminor Marina’s robust construction and functional character into one of the world’s most demanding environments.
At the centre of the expedition’s most demanding moment was the Luminor Marina PAM03312, which endured the final 20-metre jump from an iceberg. Its steel case was subjected to extreme impact, cold and pressure as Girardot entered the Arctic water below.
The Luminor Marina Titanio PAM03325, crafted in lightweight and corrosion-resistant Grade 5 titanium, accompanied Girardot through the expedition’s longer physical stages. Meanwhile, the Luminor Marina PAM03323 also supported the demanding physical phases, with both references designed to maintain performance throughout the challenging Arctic terrain.
Together, the three references demonstrate the versatility of the Luminor Marina collection, from the steel PAM03312 facing the expedition’s defining leap to the PAM03325 and PAM03323 accompanying Girardot through the arduous stages that preceded it. Their presence throughout the mission reflects Panerai’s longstanding vision of its watches as reliable instruments for demanding adventures.
Tested in Real Conditions
The 20-metre iceberg jump marked the first ever døds from an iceberg, creating a defining moment for both Girardot and the expedition. At the point of entering the water, the theoretical impact speed was approximately 20 metres per second, or nearly 70 kilometres per hour, adding considerable physical intensity to an already unforgiving environment.
For Girardot, however, Greenland represented more than another extreme sporting challenge. He described the mission as the point where recovery, preparation, fear, confidence and his desire to return came together, while considering trustworthy equipment essential throughout the journey.
The expedition introduces Panerai’s ‘Tested in Real Conditions’ series, documenting the performance of its watches through demanding experiences. It also forms the central chapter of Le CômeBack, a 35-minute documentary tracing Girardot’s return to døds and the physical and mental reconstruction behind his journey.
Built for the Extreme
Panerai’s approach to reliability is rooted in its military heritage and encompasses a two-level testing philosophy. Representative batches undergo extensive laboratory testing designed to simulate years of real-world use, while every finished watch is individually tested underwater before delivery, with water-resistance controls conducted at levels exceeding the stated specification by 25%.
The Maison’s protocols also include thermal shock testing, corrosion assessments, UV exposure, friction and cosmetics testing, alongside extensive lifecycle and impact trials. Components and movements undergo thousands or even millions of activations and rotations, while impact testing includes significant impacts of up to 5000g and drops from one metre onto hard surfaces.
A New Chapter for the Maison
In Greenland, the Panerai Luminor Marina became part of Girardot’s remarkable return to extreme sport, accompanying him from the Arctic ice through to his historic iceberg jump. The collaboration brings together Panerai’s commitment to reliability with an athlete whose journey embodies resilience, preparation and the determination to push beyond familiar limits.
