into the night

A journey to the Arctic Circle with a gang of serious Panerai collectors

- NICK SULLIVAN

ON THE ARCTIC ISLANDS OF SVALBARD, IN MID-February, the sun still hasn't groped its way out of its four-month winter hibernation. At most, an eerie half light hangs over Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world, for a few hours. Temperatures hover around zero degrees Fahrenheit but frequently drop much lower. This is a place in deep freeze-not the usual habitat for die-hard watch fans.

A few years ago, however, Panerai began pairing limited-edition watches with immersive experiences for collectors. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity-if you can get on the list. Fans lapped up the chance to live for a few days alongside Navy SEALs, America's Cup sailors, and free divers, often in exotic locations. It was this program, along with explorer and Panerai ambassador Mike Horn, that brought our group of 29 to Svalbard in the last weeks of its long polar night.