Panerai Firenze Special Editions

Announced December 2005

PAM 229 Luminor Marina

PAM 228 Luminor GMT

PAM 224 Luminor Chrono

Firenze Special Edition Caseback

Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta Rattrapante Watch

In 2009, Officine Panerai has created a special edition timepiece inspired by the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge. The international vintage boat event, with Panerai acting as its sponsor, attracts the most incredible yachts, ready to take the challenge of competing in a series of regattas on an international circuit, in both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

The new Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta Rattrapante 44 mm DLC, developed as a real sailor’s instrument, has been produced in a limited edition of just 500 pieces. The precision of this split-seconds chronograph is guaranteed by the COSC-chronometer certificate.

The signature cushion-shaped case of new Panerai watch, 44mm in diameter , is sculptured in stainless steel featuring a black DLC treatment. DLC, standing for "Diamond-Like Carbon", improves the hardness of the stainless steel material, and significantly enhances its corrosion-resistance.

The winding crown at the right side of the case is protected by the Panerai security system, offering 100-meter water-resistance. The two buttons at the sides of the crown are for governing the chronograph start, stop, and return to zero functions. You will notice one more additional button at 8 o'clock for activating the complex split-seconds function.

The black dial of the Regatta Rattrapante watch is embellished with a fine hobnail pattern. There is a tachymeter scale at the periphery of the dial. The dial is completed with luminous hour markers and two chronograph counters. The timepiecedial is highlighted by accents in brilliant blue, including the five minute countdown featured by the 30-minute counter, and the central split-seconds chronograph hand.

The dial is protected by a 2-mm thick anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The black-coated stainless steel case-back reveals a special commemorative engraving of the event logo.

The Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta Rattrapante 44mm DLC watch accommodates a self-winding mechanical movement - the Panerai OP XVIII caliber. The highly-reliable movement, with a balance frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, provides 42 hours of power reserve. The prestigious split-seconds (rattrapante) complication is governed by two column wheels.

Panerai PAM114 Luminor Base with a White Dial

Like it is often the case, this is a watch that I would never have considered for myself until I saw it in person. The 114 and the 113 (with sub seconds dial) are often referred to as women's Panerai watches. And although I agree that the PAM114 will look great on any woman, calling it a woman's watch is kind of odd. It may actually be one of the coolest base Panerai watches, for both women and men.

Panerai watches are known for their legibility, because of their size but also because of the Luminova and Tritium that is used to make it possible to read the time in the dark. The numbers on the dial PAM114 however are black. The dial of the 114 has Luminova dots at the position of the hours, to ascertain that one can still read the time in the dark. The painted dial has all the numbers, as opposed to most Panerai base watches that usually only have the 3,6,9 and 12 on the dial.

Panerai History

1825 - Giovanni Panerai born in Florence, capital city of Tuscany (and briefly capital city of the new Kingdom of Italy).

1850 - Giovanni Panerai opened a small watchmaker’s: G.PANERAI & Co on le Ponte alle Grazie (Pont des Grâces).

1860 Giovanni Panerai (1825-1897), founded the family business and opens the first watchmakers shop in Florence on the Ponte alle Grazie and establishes contact with the most prestigious and longest established Swiss watch manufacturers.

1876 - Settled at 3, Place San Giovanni, in the Palais de l’Archevêché, after several changes of address (Rue Cavour, Rue Cimatori, Cours Volta, Rue Bixo, Rue Aminci, and Place Galiléo Ferraris). Léon Francesco Panerai(1851-1918) succeeded his father, and wed Giustina Toricelli (1853-1916). Their marriage produced four children: Guido, Emma, Dario and Pilade.

1890 - 1900, Guido Panerai (1873-1934), grandson of the founder, expands his grandfather\\\'s business and gives it new impetus, specializing in high precision mechanisms and becoming official supplier to the Royal Italian Navy. At the turn of the century, the shop moves to the Piazza San Giovanni site in Florence, where the Panerai boutique can be found today, and the Orologeria Svizzera name, still visible today, appears on the shop door to underline the close link between the watches and their Swiss origin. In this period, the first deliveries of precision optical and mechanical instruments are made to the Ministry of Defence.

1907 - The family business wasn’t just a watch sales outlet, it was also a large store of spare parts, accessories and tools for precision mechanisms. An adjoining workshop dealt with repairs and the assembly of watch parts that arrived from Switzerland, and was also the first School of Horology in Florence. The 1907 edition of the PANERAI catalogue, with a print run of 50,000 copies, was the biggest watchmaking catalogue in the world. It presented every model the Swiss watch industry produced, from the most modestly priced to the most expensive. PANERAI became a representative of ROLEX, VACHERON & CONSTANTIN, LONGINES, ANGELUS, BUREN, MOVADO and PATEK PHILIPPE.

1910 - The first experiments with luminous materials begin and a system is developed to make instrument dials and sighting and telescopic devices luminous. The luminescence is achieved using a mix of zinc sulphide and radium bromide given later the name Radiomir. Inserted into tiny glass tubes to increase its resistance over time, this mix was the subject of patent applications by Guido Panerai in Italy and other countries.

1914 - Guido Panerai joined forces with Carlo Ronconi, a relative and naval officer, to work on RADIOMIR objectives.

1915 - PANERAI patented this innovation and it enabled them to deliver thousands of rifle, cannon and torpedo objectives.

1917 - Carlo Ronconi ceded his share to Guido Panerai who decided to use the RADIOMIR procedure to produce dials, altimeters, compasses and tachymeters. New patents were taken out in Italy, France, England and the United States. A close collaboration then developed between PANERAI and the Italian Navy.

1918 - The Royal Italian Navy employs the precision instruments supplied by Panerai during the First World War. The products delivered include luminous devices for sighting naval guns at night, timing mechanisms, depth gauges and mechanical calculators to launch torpedoes from MAS, high speed motor torpedo boats. Death of Léon Francesco Panerai. His son Guido (1873-1934) took over and further developed the business created by his grandfather Giovanni; he wed Guglielmina Fracei and they had two children Giuseppe and Maria.

1920 - Guido and Giuseppe Panerai designed a new model of chronograph: le MARE NOSTRUM.

1934 - Guido Panerai children, Giuseppe and Maria, continue developing their fathers business. Maria is mainly concerned with running the Orologeria Svizzera shop, while Giuseppe devotes himself almost entirely to the companys business of supplying underwater instruments, torches, wrist compasses and wrist depth gauges to the Royal Italian Navy. He can take credit for the creation of the famous Radiomir and Luminor watches.

1936 - Following disappointing tests carried out on the watches available at that time, the Royal Italian Navy asks Panerai to develop a watch able to withstand the extreme conditions it will be subjected to. A Radiomir prototype is submitted to the Command of the First Submarine Group and the watch passed all the tests with flying colours.

1938 - Production of Radiomir watches begins for the Italian Navy, with a large (47 mm in diameter) cushion-shaped case, wire loop strap attachments welded to the case, screw-down crown, luminous dial easy to read under water in the dark, and a hand-wound mechanical movement supplied by Rolex. The wide strap was made of oiled and punched leather, and with its extra long length it could be worn over the diving suit.

1942 - Appearance of the exclusive winding crown lever system, known as the Déclic, which enabled diving to a depth of 200M, an absolute record for the time.

1943 - Officine Panerai presents the prototype of the first Panerai chronograph, the Mare Nostrum, designed for deck officers. Due to events in the war, the Mare Nostrum never went into production but remained at the prototype stage. The device protecting the winding crown was fitted to the Radiomir watch to keep the crown in position. This device will enable the watches to descend to a depth of 200 meters, a remarkable achievement for the time.

1949 - The patent is granted for Luminor, the luminous substance based on tritium, which replaced the previous Radiomir mix developed between 1910 and 1915. The Radiomir and Luminor watch take their names from these two luminous substances.

1950 - 50 special models supplied to Egyptian navy.

1956 - On the request of the Egyptian Navy, Panerai creates a large Radiomir watch with an Angelus movement with 8-day power reserve and 5-minute intervals to calculate immersion times. For other Mediterranean Navies, Panerai makes limited production runs of approximately thirty pieces each. In the same year the patent is granted in Italy for the device protecting the winding crown, which clamps it in position and ensures the water-resistance of the watch. This device will be patented in the U.S.A. in 1960.

1972 - On the death of Giuseppe Panerai, the running of the Florentine company is handed over to the engineer Dino Zei and the family firm becomes Officine Panerai s.r.l. The close collaboration with the Italian Navy continues in the supply of watches, instruments and sophisticated devices for its men.

1980 - A watch is designed capable of withstanding a pressure equivalent to a depth of 1000 meters. The only prototype built has a titanium case, an automatic mechanical movement, a rubber strap and a luminous dial achieved by using tiny phials of tritium on the dial face and on the hands.

1993 - Officine Panerai creates a numbered series in a limited edition of models aimed at the civilian market: Luminor 44mm, Luminor Marina and an edition of the Mare Nostrum chronograph.

1995 - A special edition of watches called Slytech is created. Sly is the nickname of actor Sylvester Stallone, a great admirer of the watch, who had requested a special edition called Submersible to use during the shooting of the movie Daylight. Subsequently, Stallone requested an edition with a white dial, named Daylight, and a personalized re-edition of the Mare Nostrum. All of these watches bear the actors signature engraved on the back.

1997 - The Vendôme Group, now RICHEMONT, takes over Officine Panerai and the companys range of watches, compasses, torches and depth gauges. New productions are started up, with a significant improvement in quality, and the official watch of Italian Navy commandos takes on an international dimension following a worldwide launch.

1998 - The first Panerai watches with automatic mechanical movements are presented to an international public: the Luminor Submersible professional divers watch; the Luminor GMT with a second time zone indication and the Luminor Power Reserve with a function of high quality watch making which enables the power reserve to be read. LUMINOR Base and LUMINOR Marina introduced at the Geneva Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie.

1999 - At the International Salon of Haute Horologerie in Geneva, Panerai presents a new range of Contemporary watches based on important innovative features: a smaller case, 40 mm in diameter; a Panerai Luminor fitted with a metal bracelet; the use of the chronograph function and an exclusively designed Luminor chronograph case, in which the push-pieces are integrated into the device protecting the crown in total respect of the aesthetic of the historic watch; the use of a titanium-steel combination for the case parts and the links of the bracelet of the Panerai Luminor Chrono.

2000 - Panerai creates the Luminor Submersible 1000 meters; a professional diver's instrument designed according to the NIHS (Normes de lIndustrie Horlogère Suisse) specifications relating to divers watches and able to withstand a depth of 1000 meters. Equipped with a helium valve necessary for decompression, the sapphire crystal has a thickness of 5.1 mm and the steel back is 3 mm thick.

2001 - The Panerai Boutique is inaugurated, following restyling, at the historical site in Piazza San Giovanni in Florence, following the purchase of the family boutique by Officine Panerai. This Bottega dArte represents a meeting point for enthusiasts and collectors of the brand who can find here, in addition to the current collection, special editions and production runs which Panerai reserves exclusively for its boutiques. The shop also plays host to the Panerai Historical Archive, a selection of historical items created by the Florentine company: watches, compasses, depth gauges, torches and horology instruments.

2002 - The first Panerai boutique in Asia opens in the Princes Building in Hong Kong. Officine Panerai opens the Manufacture in Neuchâtel, where all activities relating to the development and production of watches are based. At Neuchâtel in Switzerland, the firm inaugurated the MANUFACTURE PANERAI and launched the Luminor automatic 44mm.

2003 - The Panerai Boutique in Portofino is opened in the charming Piazzetta in this well-known Italian seaside resort. New ideas come to life. Launch of the 1950 (a limited edition of 1,950 examples), a replica of the original 47mm LUMINOR model; the TANTALIUM (limited edition of 300), with 44mm case produced in tantalum, a metal that is extremely resistant difficult to work with; the LUMINOR MARINA PVD 195 (limited edition of 200); and the 44mm CHRONO LUMINOR.

2004 - The Radiomir collection is enhanced by the 8 Days model. This is a return to the past, with the re-presentation in a modern key of a mechanism, which Officine Panerai has already experimented with, the hand-wound 8-day movement. The calibre used in the 1940s was the Angelus, while the new model has a Jaeger-LeCoultre base. The case is 45 millimetres in diameter and is fitted with the patented slim wire loop strap attachments and a round caseband, while the screwed back and crown ensure water-resistance to 100 meters.

2005 -Presented the first Panerai in-house movement: the calibre P.2002 This is a hand-wound mechanical movement of the latest technical conception with 8 days power reserve. It consists of 245 components (191 of them different) and the massive power reserve has been incorporated into a device of completely new design consisting of three spring barrels and a free balance spring oscillating at the frequency of 4 Hz, corresponding to 28,800 alternations/hour. The horizontal power reserve indicator is located at 6 o clock. The P. 2002 calibre also features the GMT home time function with local time indicator over 12 hours and a.m. - p.m. indicator, hours, minutes, seconds and date. The system for setting the time uses the second reset device, which stops the balance and aligns the second hand automatically in the zero position when the crown is pulled out, providing an extremely accurate way of synchronising the watch with the reference time signal. The development of this movement took four years due to its technical complexity.

2006 - Presented at the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva the new 2006 Panerai and Ferrari collections.The manufacturing future of Panerai, inaugurated in 2005 with the Calibre P.2002 and the Radiomir 8 Days GMT is confirmed with the introduction of the Manifattura Collection, a family of watches which exclusively uses 100% made in Panerai movements. This collection respects the Panerai standards: robustness, high technical quality and a unique, distinctive aesthetic impact. Presented as well the new watch collection engineered for Ferrari. The appearance of the Ferrari watches is strongly influenced by the aesthetic lines of the cars, in a continuous cross-reference between the watch and the details of the engine and bodywork. There are two collections: Granturismo and Scuderia.

2007 - Exactly ten years after the successful launch of the brand, and following the P.2002 calibre of 2005, Panerai is proud to announce three more calibres (P.2003, P.2004, P.2005) completely designed, engineered and produced by the Panerai Manufacture, which are destined to power the brand’s creations of the future.

2008 - The importance of the Manifattura Collection grows and new models with movements produced entirely by Panerai are introduced. Openings of new Panerai Boutiques in Asia, Japan, USA and Europe.

2009 - Launch of the new P.9000 movements within the Manifattura Collection.

Panerai Luminor Marina PAM366 Appeals to Chinese

The new Panerai Luminor Marina PAM366 appeals to their Chinese market with the Chinese Character “Fu” printed on the dial at 6 o’clock. The watch features the tried and true Panerai OP II Movement, and will be limited to 1500 pieces. The watch will retail for $4400US.

The new Panerai Luminor Marina PAM366 appeals to their Chinese market with the Chinese Character "Fu” printed on the dial at 6 o’clock. The watch features the tried and true Panerai OP II Movement, and will be limited to 1500 pieces. The watch will retail for $4400US.

New Kaktus straps contemporary line

Kaktus straps - well known for their vintage styled Panerai straps - recently introduced a completely new line of contemporary straps to "dress up" your Panerai watch. The new line uses exotic skins like alligator and ostrich. The line also includes nubuck straps in different colors.

By collaborating with some of the most skillful craftsmen in the business Tomas (owner of Kaktus straps) has created a very nice new collection. Only the highest quality alligator, ostrich and nubuck skins are used. The straps are available in 26 or 24mm widths and most of the straps taper down to 22mm for a more classy look. The straps come with a brushed or polished Kaktus buckle or deployant, but the original Panerai tang buckle will of course fit as well. The buckles have a Kaktus signature engraving which is done by a Swiss company that works for many high end watch manufacturers.

Replica Panerai Ladies Luminor Marina

The distinctive feature of the case, cushion-shaped, measuring 36 mm, which for ladies, manufactured from stainless steel.

The Luminor Marina watch also features the white dial with black numerals, a small second subdial at 9 o'clock, magnifying lens over the date at 3 o'clock.

The movement is Asia automatic movement.

The leather strap is available in an array of colors including yellow, blue and pink.

Panerai PAM277 Luminor Chrono Monopulsante GMT Watch

Panerai produced only 250 units of this chronograph with its stunning blue dial. In person, it will knock you of your feet. Whether you like gold watches or not. It has a 1950's style case in 44mm and it is made out of solid 18ct pink gold. The case, the crown guard and the mono pusher button are all brushed but the bezel is polished.

Panerai PAM277 Luminor Chrono Monopulsante GMT

In terms of functions or complications, the 277 is essentially the same watch as the ceramic PAM317, the titanium PAM311 and the stainless steel PAM275. All of these Panerai watches are powered by the in-house (manifattura) P.2004/1 movement, a hand-wound mechanical movement with a power reserve of 8 days and a unique complication that allows for a horizontal power reserve indicator on the dial. The depth rating is 100 meters as is usually the case for Panerai watches with a crystal case back.

The PAM277 has an amazing blue dial

Furthermore this movement has a GMT function for a 2nd time zone and it has a chronograph function. Most chronographs have two buttons, one button to start and stop the chronograph and another button to reset it to zero. The monopulsante chronograph is operated by just a single button that you press to both start and stop the counter. The same button is pressed again to bring the seconds hand back to zero. Hence the name "monopulsante". The mono pusher is positioned at approximately the 7 o'clock position.

The Mono pusher is positioned at the 7 o'clock position

Besides the already mentioned complications, the Panerai watch also has a am/pm "dot" indicator and a seconds reset function. Oh and the 2mm thick crystal is domed, it's the same crystal that is used on for instance the 233 and the 270.

The PAM277 comes with 18ct pink gold thumbnail buckle

The PAM277 comes with a brown alligator strap with off-white stitches and it has a 18ct pink gold thumbnail buckle (above).

Officine Panerai presents the new Iphone Application

If you love Panerai watches, then you’re going to love the new tool you can use to access the world of your favourite watches wherever you are: the new application created by Officine Panerai for iPhone is now available.

This application offers a wide range of images and information about the latest collection of Panerai watches and up-to-the-minute news and it will be regularly updated so customers and fans of the brand can keep up with what’s happening. New content will be available on a monthly basis, with comprehensive focuses on products and initiatives that Officine Panerai is promoting round the world.

The Panerai application for iPhone is a handy tool to easily locate the Panerai boutiques nearest to you and get in touch with them directly; and it even lets you download Wallpapers or have fun with the amusing games to test your knowledge of the Panerai watches.

The application is available in Italian and English and is iOS 4.0 tested. You can download it at no cost from iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/panerai/id379888363?mt=8

Officine Panerai opens boutique in Riyadh

Officine Panerai's expansion in the Arabian Peninsula continues. Following the recent openings in Dubai and Doha, the Italian fine watch brand inaugurates its first boutique in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, the country's cultural, financial and institutional centre.

The new Officine Panerai boutique in Riyadh is opened in partnership with Platinum Sands, a company in the Ali Bin Ali Group, the Qatar-based group specializing in the luxury, real estate, travel and hotels sectors.

The Officine Panerai collections of fine watches are housed in a 100-square-metre space where teak wood and steel, porthole-shaped windows and elegant wavy lines recreate an environment evoking the history of the brand, a traditional supplier of highly specialized, precision instruments to the Italian Navy and today sponsor of some of the world's most prestigious regattas for vintage boats, brought together in the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge circuit.

The Officine Panerai boutique in Riyadh is situated inside the C - Center, on the intersection between Olaya and Tahliya Street, the two main shopping streets for luxury goods in the Saudi capital. At the same intersection, directly opposite the C - Center, is the Centria Mall, the shopping centre in the shape of a majestic sailing boat, which houses an exclusive selection of boutiques featuring some of the most prestigious luxury brands in the world.

In Riyadh, the most exclusive shopping experience stands alongside the opportunity to live the fascinating atmospheres of a metropolitan oasis in the heart of the desert, rich in history and with a sophisticated, varied art heritage ranging from the ancient to the ultra-modern, and which has in its two iconic city towers - the Kingdom Tower and the Faisaliah Tower - its symbol.

The Officine Panerai boutique in Riyadh is the first in Saudi Arabia and the sixteenth in the world after Florence and Portofino, Geneva and Madrid, Beirut, Doha and Dubai, Los Angeles, New York and Buenos Aires, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Luminor for Paneristi's Anniversary

Ten years have gone by since the launch of the website www.paneristi.com and in that time, the Panerai watch enthusiasts who exchange information, comments and stories on the site forum have grown from just a few dozen to several thousand from all over the world. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this story of extraordinary passion, Officine Panerai presents a new Special Edition watch dedicated to the “Paneristi” and made at their request - the Luminor for Paneristi’s Anniversary.

The new Luminor for Paneristi’s Anniversary, designed by Officine Panerai and bearing in mind the guidelines and preferences expressed by the community of “Paneristi”, comes with a 44 mm Luminor case, distinguished by the classic crown-protecting bridge device, making the watch water resistant up to 30 atmospheres (approximately 300 m in depth).

The case, bezel, bridge and crown are coated in DLC, as is the buckle that closes the strap in antiqued leather. The watch is personalised by the steel caseback, which bears the engraved inscription Paneristi.com, and Tenth Anniversary.

Standing out on the black dial are the classic numerals and large index markers so typical of Panerai, made in a special ecru SuperLumiNova® - which also coats the hands – adding to the watch’s vintage look. “Luminor Panerai” and the OP logo are engraved in white. The movement of the Luminor Logo DLC - 44mm is the hand-wound OP I calibre.

The Luminor for Paneristi’s Anniversary was launched on the Paneristi forum on 1st July 2010 and the same medium was used to provide instructions for ordering the watch. The 300 pieces produced sold out in the few minutes following the publication of the relative post.

Panerai PAM320 Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days GMT

Another watch introduced by Officine Panerai at the 2009 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is the Panerai PAM320. The watch shares the looks of the new PAM312, but it is powered by the new Panerai P.9001 in-house (Manifattura) movement. Like the P.9000, this is an automatic movement with a power reserve of three days, but the P.9001 has a power reserve indicator (at the backside) and it has a GMT function built-in.

The silver second time zone hand rotates once every 12 hours. The GMT function of the PAM233 works the same way, but the PAM320 lacks an AM/PM indicator. Although you cannot tell if it is day or night in the second time zone, one will know that the 2nd time zone is ahead or not anyway - and in my opinion such an indicator is not a must-have. The absence of the AM/PM indicator certainly does make for a cleaner looking dial. The fact that the second time zone hands moves along with the hour hand makes it very easy and natural to tell the time in the other time zone. This GMT function is much better than the 24 hour GMT function of for instance the PAM88. It's also nice that you can hide the second time zone hand behind the hour hand when you don't need it. E.g. when you're not traveling. And there's no need for 24 hour markers on the dial either which again results in a much cleaner looking dial.

The PAM320 - like all wrist watches in the Manifattura line - has a 1950's style case and it comes with a beautiful brown crocodile strap.

Officine Panerai Opens New Hong Kong Boutique

Officine Panerai has opened a new Hong Kong boutique on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Their second Hong Kong home, inside you’ll find a big wall clock which is a large-scale version of one of the distinguishing features of Panerai watches: the “sandwich” dial.

Spanning 30 square metres, the space is classically designed and features various materials associated with the sea (a reference to the brand's naval history) such as teak and steel.

A Panerai Customer Service Centre has also been established on the 1/F of the same building to provide after sales service.

Panerai Radiomir 1936 PAM00249 Special Edition

An absolute legend for enthusiasts of Officine Panerai is back again. After 70 years, the model created in 1936 for the 1st Submersible Group has become one of the most fascinating and historically influential of the current Panerai collection.

It is a watch which celebrates the birth of wristwatch manufacture under the Panerai name, faithfully recapturing the aesthetic lines of the prototype developed in response to the request made by the Royal Italian Navy in September 1935 for a luminous underwater watch for divers.

These were instruments which had to be of the very highest quality, in that they had to provide maximum reliability and accuracy during missions. The same constructional principles were applied to the watches. The prototype of March 1936 was followed by ten further examples, used in various exercises to test the effectiveness of its water-resistance and the perfect legibility of its time indication under all conditions of use. The most prominent of the innovations introduced by this 1936 model, which brilliantly passed all the tests it underwent, was the use of Radiomir, a special luminous paint consisting of zinc sulphide, radium bromide (the source of the name ‘Radiomir’) and mesothorium. The distinctive feature of the case, cushion-shaped in keeping with the style in vogue in the 1930s, is its large size, the diameter being 47 mm, while the black dial displayed an interesting combination of baton hour markers and Arabic and Roman numerals.

These unusual aesthetic details are repeated in the Radoimir 1936, a watch created in a limited series in steel (1936 units) and in platinum (99 units). Beneath the crystal made of Plexiglas, a material very similar to the Perspex plastic originally used by Panerai which has excellent transparency combined with great resistance to atmospheric agents and acids, the dial maintains the air of mystery of its famous predecessor; it carries no inscription, being anonymous as was the custom with products being tested by the special services. This avoided the risk of the manufacturer being identified and thus becoming vulnerable to possible actions of sabotage or spying if a watch should fall into enemy hands during wartime missions. The hour and minute hands of the Radiomir 1936 are turned by the Panerai calibre OP X, a hand-wound movement which operates at 21,600 vibrations/hour.

It’s impossible to go unnoticed, but then again, that’s hardly the object of the exercise, when you’re wearing such a timeless piece on your wrist. The most important thing to remember is that Radiomir 1936 generates nothing but positive and rather pleasant reactions. So what’s the point of depriving yourself when you know that the price of success is just 4,800€.

Panerai Ferrari Scuderia FER00002

The Ferrari Scuderia watch features the case is square with rounded corners is crafted from steel, the crown with square-grid pattern, the Prancing Horse on the yellow shield with the Italian tricolor on the black dial, small date window at 3:00, small second at 9 o'clock, with white numeral hour markers, under a sapphire crystal. Fitted with a black leather strap.

Details:

Ref: FER00002

Series: Ferrari Scuderia

Style: Mens

Case: Stainless Steel

Dial Color: Black with Ferrari shield at 12, yellow accents

Strap: Leather - Black Calfskin (second strap in rubber)

Watch Clasp: Personalized buckle, brushed and polished

Movement: Self-winding (Automatic) C.O.S.C.

Engine: Panerai OP III (13¼ ''', 21 jewels, 28,800vph, Incabloc shock system, Glucydur)

Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Date

Crystal: Sapphire - Anti Reflective (1.9mm thick)

Case Diameter: 45.0 mm

Case Thickness: 16.3 mm

Caseback: Steel screw-in back with Prancing Horse engraving and geometric pattern

Water Resistance: 100m / 330ft (suitable for swimming and shallow snorkeling; unsuitable for diving)

Crown: Stainless Steel, with Ferrari Logo

Calendar: Date at 3

Power Reserve: 42-hour

Panerai Ferrari Scuderia GMT FER00009

Black & Dark Grey dial with the famous the Prancing Horse on the yellow shield with the Italian tricolor at 12 o'clock.

Painted Arabic Numeral Hour Markers. Luminous Hands. Yellow painted index hour markers.

Mostly satin/brushed finished square with rounded corners case & bezel with polished lugs.

Black ribbed Calskin Strap with white stitching outside & yellow leather inside, equipped with a Ferrari branded Deployant Buckle.

GMT Complication indicated with the 3rd Yellow colored Arrow-Head hand.

Date Window located at the 3 o'clock position.

Small Seconds hand sub-dial located at the 9 o'clock position.

Slightly Cambered (domed) Sapphire Crystal with anti-reflective coating.

Supplied with extra Ferrari inscribed Black Rubber Strap & screw diver to change the straps.

Panerai Radiomir GMT Alarm 42mm PAM355

The PAM355 has a hand-wound mechanical OP XXIV movement that offers a lot of functions; hours, minutes, seconds, date, a second time zone and an alarm. It is actually a new version of the PAM98 which dates back to 2001. That Panerai watch had an automatic Girard-Perregaux caliber. The PAM355 however has Panerai's OPXXIV movement.

The PAM355 features It doesn't have that signature crown guard of the Luminors. And it doesn't have that large onion shaped crown that the Radiomirs have. Well no, it has two.

The PAM355 comes with a brown alligator strap with white stitches. It's a very nice dress watch.

Panerai Luminor Marina Militare

Panerai renews its close ties with the Italian Navy with a special 2005 edition of the Luminor Marina Militare. This model has several details which clearly differentiate it from its predecessors since it is a re-edition of a model dating back to the 1940s: the case is of the Luminor ‘1950’ type (47 mm), the crown is at 9 o’clock with its protecting bridge inscribed with ‘REG. T.M’ (Registered Trade Mark) – a reminder that this device, which enables Panerai timepieces to survive immersion to great depths with maximum security, is protected by patents, and a small seconds counter at 3 o’clock.

The Panerai Luminor Marina Militare is a Limited Edition of 1000 pieces.

Opening a Panerai Caseback

Opening a Panerai Caseback is a bit easier (cheaper!) to do without damaging your watch. There are caseback dies just like the Breitling ones, but with 12 sides as Panerai casebacks have 12 sides. Panerai Casebacks also come in 3 different sizes, for which you can use any of the above mentioned methods of opening just as the Breitling cases can be opened, but there are aluminum hand held openers for panera casebacks that work very well. Opening a Breitling Caseback.

These caseback openers are made from Aluminum, which is softer than the Steel used in your case so it is less likely to scratch it. Also they offer very good grip and cost from about $50-100, depending on where you purchase them from. Strap-works sell thems for $85 IIRC.

Panerai Watches in Movies

Panerai gets to be one of the most seen brands in the movie industry. Panerai has four major lines of watches: Historic, Contemporary, Manifattura and Special Editions. Most of the watches are produced in a limited run (normally of 500, 1000, 2000 or 4000 units) and carry an issue number on the case back. Some of the most famous movies in which Panerai Watches appear are:

After producing near 300 watches for the Marina Militare (Italian Navy, one of the four branches of military forces of Italy) between 1938 and 1993, the company stopped producing them because they were no longer cost-effective or did not featured the naval specifications.

When launching its products to the civilian market, Sylvester Stallone got to buy a Panerai Luminor in a jewelry store in Rome in 1995 to wear during shooting of the film "Daylight". He then ordered a batch of them with his signature on the case back. The model was called Slytech. He offered them as a gift to friends, including Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Newly elected Governor Schwarzenegger, after receiving his Panerai as a gift from Sylvester Stallone, wore the timepice while shooting “Eraser”, a movie in which Panerai Luminor Marina actually had a scene before Schwarzenegger (main actor). The movie was released in 1996.

It then came the appearance of a Panerai Logo in Daylight. This time, worn by Sylvester Stallone. The movie was released at the end of 1996.

Jason Stratham, United Kindom actor, gets to be a very big Panerai fan as well.

Both movies, Transporter and Transporter 2, start with a similar opening scene in which the camera enters a parking garage with only one car.

Inside, Jason Statham hears an alarm and looks at his watch: a Panerai in both movies.

The transporter I

Jason Stratham wearing a 40mm Panerai Luminor Automatic Chrono (PAM 74) on OEM Brown Alligator Strap with white stiching.

The transporter II

Jason Statham wearing a Panerai Luminor Chrono Daylight 196

Another well known Panerai fan is Hugh Grant, who has been seen wearing his Panerai in magazines and also on TV interviews. He didn't leave the Panerai at home for "Bridget Jones' Diary" or "Two Weeks Notice".

Hugh Grant wears a Panerai watch at Bridget Jones' Diary

Hugh Grant wears a Panerai Watch at Two Weeks Notice

Panerai Luminor GMT 3 Days Automatic PAM 00320

Panerai has launched several watches with its new P. 9000 calibre movement. We have taken a look at the PAM 305 and PAM 312 which have the new in-house movement. The new P. 9000 calibre is a self-winding movement which produces 28,800 vibrations per hour, has a three day power reserve and features a date display.

A varaint of this movement is the P. 9001 calibre, which adds additional functions: (1) a second time zone; and, (2) a power reserve indicator.

The PAM 320 is a dual time watch with a power reserve indicator. Despite all this the dial is kept clean. This is because the GMT hand rotates every 12 hours (so you will have to figure out whether it is day or night at your second time zone on your own), so there are no 24 hour markings on the dial. The power reserve indicator is viewed from the back of the case, keeping it off the dial. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, depends on you.

The Panerai watch is housed in a steel 44mm "1950" style case. A 2.6mm sapphire crystal glass protects the hand and dial, and the movement can be viewed through a sapphire crystal caseback. The case and crytals are sufficient to provide the watch with a 300 meter water resistance rating.

The short arrowhead hand provides the second time zone. What is not too clear to us is whether this hand rotates once every 24 hours (which is common for most dual time watches, and some Panerai's) or once every 12 hours (like some Panerai's). The watch does not have a day/night indicator which leads me to believe that the second time zone displays 24-hour time. The are no 24 hours markers to read against the second time zone hand, but it should be easy enough to use the 12 hour markers for this purpose. Small price to pay for the nice clean dial.

Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2010

The association between classic yachting and Officine Panerai has been renewed for 2010, with the sixth edition of Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the most important international circuit of regattas reserved for vintage and classic sailing boats.

For the 2010 edition, the circuit has grown thanks to new and prestigious regatta fields: for the first time, the historical British Classic Yacht Club Cowes Regatta (Isle of Wight, Great Britain) and the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta (Marblehead, USA) are also part of the circuit. The latter is one of the most famous and exclusive American yachting centres, as well as being the historical birthplace of the American Navy.

The inclusion of the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta represents an important change for the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, not just because of the prestige of the event but also, for the first time, the American regattas are combined to form an independent Trophy, parallel to that of the Mediterranean: the North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge. This Trophy event takes place entirely in the waters of New England and is made up of the Marblehead Regatta, the Newport Opera House Cup and the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta, also in Newport. The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta Trophy however remains an independent event, and in April, like every year, it will open the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge in the clear waters of the Caribbean island.

The other great change in 2010 is the British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta. With more than 65 classic yachts expected at the start, this traditional appointment - held every year, in July, in the waters of the Solent, the stretch of sea which separates the Isle of Wight from Great Britain - is likely to be the largest regatta reserved for vintage and classic sailing boats ever held in the region.

Prestigious confirmations for the Mediterranean circuit of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge: as well as Les Voiles d’Antibes and the Régates Royales in Cannes, which open and close the circuit season every year in the Costa Azzurra, the circuit features the spectacular meeting of the Vele d’Epoca in Imperia, which every other year brings to the Ligurian coast an exceptional number of vessels from every class, and the traditional Copa del Rey in Mahon, on the island of Minorca.

In keeping with annual tradition, Officine Panerai has created a special limited edition watch, the prize for the winners of each heat in the different construction classes: The Radiomir Regatta 1/8th Second Titanio – 47 mm is a chronograph with a split-second function, that enables the measurement of several simultaneous events, and a foudroyante function to measure fractions of a second. The piece is also fitted with an express scale in knots for the calculation of the average speed of the vessel, a high-tech instrument which perpetuates the long tradition that has always linked Officine Panerai with the creation of tools for life on the waves.

Among the more than 500 vintage boats taking part in the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge regattas, 2010 will also see the debut of Eilean, the Bermudan ketch built in 1936 in the legendary Scottish Fife boatyards, which was purchased and painstakingly restored by Officine Panerai, as part its commitment to safeguarding and promoting classic yachting.

CALENDAR

ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA

April 15th – 20th, 2010

Antigua (Antigua and Barbuda)

LES VOILES D'ANTIBES

June 2nd – 6th, 2010

Antibes (France)

BRITISH CLASSIC YACHT CLUB PANERAI COWES REGATTA

July 17th – 24th, 2010

Cowes, Isle of Wight (United Kingdom)

CORINTHIAN CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA

August 6th – 8th, 2010

Marblehead, MA (USA)

OPERA HOUSE CUP

August 12th – 15th, 2010

Nantucket, MA (USA)

COPA DEL REY

August 25th – 29th, 2010

Mahon, Minorca (Spain)

MUSEUM OF YACHTING CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA

September 3rd – 5th, 2010

Newport, RI (USA)

VELE D'EPOCA DI IMPERIA

September 8th – 12th, 2010

Imperia (Italy)

RÉGATES ROYALES

September 20th – 25th, 2010

Cannes (France)

Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Ceramic Watch

The case on the new Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Ceramica is made of zirconium oxide ceramic, a very hard material that is resistant to corrosion and scratching. The case is formed using an isostatic pressure process that produces a single block ready for milling. The 44mm case requires over 60 operations to complete. The screw-down back is titanium with a sapphire window opening onto the P.2003 automatic movement.

The movement – designed and manufactured in-house by Officine Panerai – offers a 10 day power reserve, the status of which is displayed via a linear display on the trademark sandwich dial. This reference PAM00335 will be produced in a limited series of 500 pieces with a European MSRP of 12,900 euros. The launch is scheduled for September 10.

Technical specifications

Reference: PAM00335

Movement: Automatic mechanical, Panerai P.2003 caliber, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 8.0 mm thick, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. KIF Parechoc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 10 days with horizontal indicator, three barrels. 296 components.

Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, second time zone, 24h indicator, linear power reserve indicator, seconds reset.

Case: Black ceramic

Case Diameter: 44 mm

Bezel: black ceramic

Back: See-through smoked sapphire crystal.

Device protecting the crown: (protected as a Trademark) Black ceramic.

Dial: Black with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. Date at 3 o’clock, seconds and 24h indicator at 9 o’clock, linear power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock.

Crystal:Sapphire, made from corundum, 2 mm thick.Anti-reflective coating.

Water-resistance:10 bar (100 meters).

Strap: PANERAI personalised leather strap and largesize titanium buckle with special hard black coating.Supplied with a second interchangeable strap and a steel screwdriver.

Panerai Luminor 1950 Marina Titanium 44mm PAM 00351

Like the release of the PAM 00359, the Panerai Luminor 1950 Marina 44mm Titanium PAM00351 is another watch with a built-by-Panerai which looks to be aimed at move to offer lower cost Panerai's with in-house movements. In 2009, Panerai offered their first watches with a in-house movement for below 10K. At an estimated price of approximately US$8,000 this another sub-10K a Panerai with a in-house movement.

This watch is similar in design of the Panerai Luminor Marina PAM 240 as both watches have titanium cases. Titanium is a metallic element which is recognized for its high strength to weight ratio. It was discovered in 1791, by William Gregor. On the Periodic Table, Titanium is symbolized by Ti. Compared, to the most common material used in building watch casings, which is 316L grade stainless steel, commercial grade Titanium alloy has a higher tensile strength, is lighter more and more resistant to corrosion.

Titanium strong resistance to corrossion is due to its self healing properties which is explained by TIMET as follows:

Titanium metal's corrosion resistance is due to a stable, protective, strongly adherent oxide film. This film forms instantly when a fresh surface is exposed to air or moisture. The oxide film formed on titanium at room temperature immediately after a clean surface is exposed to air is 12-16 Angstroms thick. After 70 days it is about 50 Angstroms. It continues to grow slowly reaching a thickness of 80-90 Angstroms in 545 days and 250 Angstroms in four years. The film growth is accelerated under strongly oxidizing conditions, such as heating in air, anodic polarization in an electrolyte or exposure to oxidizing agents such as HNO3, C(R)O3, etc.

The composition of this film varies from TiO2 at the surface to Ti2O3, to TiO at the metal interface. Oxidizing conditions promote the formation of TiO2 so that in such environments the film is primarily TiO2. This film is transparent in its normal thin configuration and not detectable by visual means.

A study of the corrosion resistance of titanium is basically a study of the properties of the oxide film. The oxide film on titanium is very stable and is only attacked by a few substances, most notably, hydrofluoric acid. Titanium is capable of healing this film almost instantly in any environment where a trace of moisture or oxygen is present because of its strong affinity for oxygen.

Titanium has roughly the same weight as aluminum and is 100% hypo allergic. About the only drawback we can find for a Titanium watch case is that it has a dull gun metal finish, unlike stainless steel that can be either brushed or polished to different degrees. So either you like the look or not. A Titanium watch will also cost you a bit more than an identical one with a stainless steel case.

Manifaturra heritage. While the PAM 351 reminds of the PAM 240, the manifaturra heritage of the PAM 351 is clear to those with a sharp eye even from the outside. The use of the sleeker 1950 case, the pancake dial and the absence of a magnifying glass on the date display are standard features on the design of Panerai's falling under the manifaturra line.

Inside is the Panerai P.9000 calibre movement, built entirely by Panerai it produces 28,800 vibrations per hour, and despite this feature not being included in its name unlike other Panerai's with the same feature, it has a three day power reserve.

The case itself is the standard 44 mm diameter for Luminor Marina's, and the watch has a water resistance rating of 300 meters. It comes with a brown alligator strap and supplied with a second interchangeable strap (usually a balck rubber one).