Panerai Events-Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy

“Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy”

On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the astronomical observations made by Galileo Galilei, which revolutionised man’s knowledge of the universe, Officine Panerai pays special tribute to the memory of the ingenious Tuscan scientist.

Following its enormous success at Beijing’s Planetarium, where the exhibition “Galileo’s telescope: the instrument that changed the world” saw over 100,000 visitors in less than three months, Officine Panerai presents the exhibition “Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy”, at Philadelphia Franklin Institute from 4th April to 7th September 2009.

The exhibition “Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy” includes over one hundred artefacts, from original scientific instruments to artworks, offering a comprehensive look at Galileo’s studies, the discoveries with which he made history not only in astronomy but in science in general, as well as his relationship with the Medici family.

Among the items on display is one of Galileo’s two original telescopes, which will leave Italy for the first time in history. An extraordinary event on the occasion of the celebration, promoted by Unesco, of 2009 - International Year of Astronomy, and made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence.

Straps by Jason & Sharon

Most Panerai strap makers are passionate Panerai collectors that started out making straps for their own watches as a hobby. Liang Yu Chang - better known as Jason amongst Paneristi - is no exception to this rule. He was introduced to the brand by his friend and well known strap maker Ted Su in 2003. Inspired by Ted's straps, Jason started to make his own straps in 2005.

Panerai PAM243

Sharon thought that Jason should start selling his straps and with the improvements suggested by their first local customers in Singapore - they now make good quality and affordable straps for customers all over the world. The quality of the leather is great - sourced from a tannery in Italy with 3rd generation experience. The alligator and crocodile hides are from a local (Singapore) tannery that also supply to Prada and Hermes.

Panerai 2A

I have to say that I had never seen any of their straps in person before, but the quality looks great. The leather has a nice grain, it's quite soft to the touch and the stitching is flawless. Seems to me that the balance between price and quality is excellent.

http://www.wristwatchphoto.com/2009/12/straps-by-jason-sharon.html

Panerai Luminor Power Reserve PVD 44mm

Unsurprisingly the Panerai Luminor Power Reserve is a version of the standard 44mm Luminor Marina with a power reserve indicator and a date under a cyclops at 3. The power reserve, like most of the rest of the line, is or has been available with the polished steel case, in a PVD finish, or in titanium.

The Panerai Luminor Power Reserve watch feature a power reserve indicator at 6, and large centre seconds, powered by an automatic Soprod calibre 9040 (basically a modified ETA movement),the hour markers and all hands are luminous,the power reserve hand use a standard "leaf" shape ,with the word "Panerai" at 12 o'clock, and "Automatic" at 6 o'clock.

The Panerai Luminor Power Reserve

Panerai, the luxury Italian brand highly resolved in developing precision instruments can come quite surprisingly for a watch enthusiast. Issuing special editions every year, the Panerai watches are always produced in less numbers, thus enjoying an increased demand. Buying Panerai watches can be a worthwhile investment as they are extremely durable, and include increased operational functions. Panerai products are mainly used for under-water as well as for professional timekeeping purposes.

The leaders in the professional time keeping instruments, Panerai in its Contemporary collection has something extra to offer. The Luminor Power Reserve, a latest addition to the contemporary collection, enables the user to estimate the power reserve by checking the indicator on the dial. In this model, the transmission device connects the spring barrel winding and the rotation of the movement to the power reserve indicator window. This complex function is powered by Panerai caliber OP IX, an exclusive automatic mechanical movement with 21 jewels and COSC certification. The model is available in 44mm and 40mm diameter case sizes, sculpted in steel, titanium/steel or titanium case.

Produced in limited quantity, the 44mm model has 16.8mm height, and is characterized with screw-in case-back and crown with brake lever lock. Buyers can choose from black or blue dial colors with luminous coated Arabic numerals, lines markers, and hour pointers. The crystal has 2.5mm thick sapphire with anti-reflective coating and magnifying lens over the date at 3 o' clock, subsidiary seconds at 9 o'clock and power reserve at 5 o' clock. The model comes with interchangeable strap options with personalized Panerai adjustable clasp as well as a complex bracelet of overlapped titanium/steel. The model is water resistant up to 300 meters. The luminor power reserve watches offer 42 hours of power reserve and features date read out. And finally, the Incabloc anti-shock device incorporated in this contemporary collection makes it rather refined.

The 40mm diameter model is available in brushed steel case with polished steel bezel. With other functions and characteristics similar to the 44mm model, there is a power reserve indicator on the dial at 5 0' clock screening 42 hours of power reserve. There is also an unusual variety in this model that is especially crafted for left-handed people. This certified chronometer also offers 42 hours of power reserve.

Panerai Radiomir 8 Days

The Radiomir collection is enhanced by the 8 Days model, using an innovative movement which once more reaffirms the philosophy of Officine Panerai, firmly based on functional simplicity achieved through Haute Horlogerie solutions. This is a return to the past, with the representation 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 from Officine Panerai has a Jaeger-LeCoultre base.

The complexity of the Panerai Radiomir 8 Days is the result of many factors. The case is 45 millimetres in diameter and consists of three parts; it is fitted with the patented slim wire loop strap attachments which provide the maximum resistance and reliability. The roundness of the caseband, with curved planes intersecting where the diameter is greatest, requires numerous operations, carried out by only the most expert craftsmen, since the smallest mistake in the polishing operation would irreparably damage the pleasing convexity of the watch.

The screwed back and crown ensure waterresistance to 100 metres, a degree of watertightness that is important for a piece which combines sporting qualities with elegance. Its unique style is reinforced by a leather strap with an over-sized buckle, the trapezoid design of which is inspired by that of the earliest models created by Officine Panerai. This horological adventure began in 1938 with the Radiomir made to order for the Royal Italian Navy, and the design returned in the late 1990s, since when the production of this model has been planned to meet the demands of the public of enthusiasts, searching for pieces distinguished by a strong, sought-after personality.

The debut of the Radiomir range of Officine Panerai’s latest historical phase dates back to 1997, with a model created a limited platinum edition with a period Rolex movement. This piece is highly sought-after by collectors and sells for very high prices at international auction sales. In its turn the Radiomir 8 Days is distinguished by its prestigious mechanical movement: the Panerai OP XIV calibre is actually based on the JLC 1877 calibre, a hand-wound movement with a power reserve of eight days, a duration now considered standard for currently produced top-of-the-range watches. The finish of the movement is reinforced by its Côtes de Genève decoration, as well as by its burnished blued screws. A peculiarity is the unusual positioning of the graduated scale indicating the power reserve, which is fitted on a bridge of the movement and therefore visible through the sapphire glass porthole on the back of the watch.

The dial of the Panerai Radiomir 8 Days is made using the technique employed by Panerai for its early watches: it is a sandwich dial, in that it consists of two superimposed discs, the upper one being perforated, while the lower one is covered with luminous material. The small seconds dial is at 9 o’clock, in accordance with the traditional Officine Panerai positioning.

Panerai Radiomir Black Seal Watch Ceramic Case

Panerai Radiomir was the first watch model created by Officine Panerai. A watch that crossed the history for the heroism characterising the value men who wore the Panerai at the beginning of the ’40.

This model presented for the first time some technical innovations which determined from the very beginning its character and its qualities: a case very easy to read, winding crown, screwed back and a strong cushion shape, but very simple at the meanwhile.

Movement : Hand-wound mechanical Panerai OPXI movement, 161/2lignes, 17 jewels,21,600 vib/h,Certificated by COSC

Power reserve:56 hours

Functions : Hours, minutes, seconds

Case: Ceramic

Diameter:45 mm

Crown:winding crown in ceramic personalised OP

Back: Screw steel with special hard black coating

Dial: Black, sandwich construction, with luminous Arabic numerals, seconds at 9 o’clock, Torpedo reproduced at 6 o’clock

Crystal : Anti-reflective sapphire, 2.2 mm thick

Water-resistance : 100 metres

Strap: Black leather and steel buckle with special hard black coating

Production : 1,000 units

Reference: PAM00292

Panerai Luminor 1950 8 Days GMT Watch

Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, Panerai P.2004/1 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 8.2 mm thick, 29 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. KIF Parechoc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 8 days with horizontal indicator, three barrels.

Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, second time zone, horizontal power reserve indicator, 24h indicator, second reset, single-button chronograph.

Case: Diameter 44 mm, AISI 316L brushed steel.

Brushed steel button for the chronograph function at 8 o’clock.

Bezel: Polished steel.

Back: See-through sapphire crystal.

Device protecting the crown: (protected as a Trade Mark) brushed steel.

Dial: Black with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. Minute counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds and day/night indicator at 9 o’clock, horizontal power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock, central chronograph hand.

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

Water-resistance: 100 metres.

Strap: PANERAI personalised alligator strap and large-size brushed steel buckle.

Supplied with a second interchangeable strap, a tool to change the strap and a steel screwdriver.

Reference: PAM00275

For 2008, there are 500 millesimed units of the new chronograph from Officine Panerai in the version with a steel case and 250 units in the version with a pink gold case. The model with a steel case has a black alligator strap while the pink gold model has a brown one. The price is 12,900 euro for the version in steel and 23,500 euro for the one in gold.