Famous by its unmatchable tradition and timeless Italian designs, Panerai Officine has never stopped experimenting with new technologies and materials, in order to produce modern hi-quality watches with noticeable vintage look. New materials in Panerai’s 2011 watch collection, Coposite, bronze and ceramic, make Italian brand’s timepieces even stronger, without spoiling their original style.
After the success with ceramic in 2010, the special type of this material, called Panerai Composite, has been one of the main company’s choices for 2011 watch models. Composite was used in the aeronautic industry, as well as in production of special components for automobiles and motorcycles. Panerai was the first to use it in the watchmaking industry and seams it could be a perfect component for brand’s robust military watches.
Composite is much harder than a standard ceramics, even harder than steel, but at the same time, watches, made of it, are not heavy at all. This is the main reason why the cases of the new Luminor Composite Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic 44mm watch and the Luminor Composite 1950 3 Days 47mm watch are crafted of Panerai Composite.
Something completely new in Panerai’s collection came with the introduction of bronze. The 2011 Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo 47 mm is crafted of CuSn8 bronze, which brings amazing classic look of Panerai Navy models into the newest hi-tech watch edition.
This material is resistant to the corrosion and possesses high structural durability. As time goes by, reactions with external agents give it an interesting aged appearance, which will make your watch looks unique and special.
The oversized case of new Radiomir 8 Days Ceramica 45 mm watch is made of zirconium oxide, another type of synthetic ceramic that is used by Italian watchmaker. This material is highly resistant to corrosive agents, high temperatures and scratches, which make a good alternative for the titanium or stainless steel pieces. In its latest production, Panerai also use the platinum and gold (Radiomir 3 Days Platinum 47 mm and Radiomir 3 days Oro Rosa 47 mm).
New Mechanism
Novelties from the Officine were already presented on the occasion of SIHH 2011 in Geneva, but their biggest promotion is being expected to happen on world number 1 watch show, Baselworld, from March 24 to 31, 2011. New materials are followed by the innovations inside the case.
On the watch show in Geneva, Panerai launched the new in-house P.3000 hand-wound movement, with two spring barrels that provide the great power reserve of, at least 72 hours. It is 5.3 mm tick and has a diameter of 16½ lignes, which is standard size of Panerai’s historic watches.
Caliber P.3000 is built on 21 jewels, comprises 160 parts, and oscillates at frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. It incorporates the best from the company’s tradition – perfect construction, superb reservoir of power and the combination of accuracy and robustness.
