Officine Panerai Luminor Marina PAM 00240

Ti. 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 corrosion 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. Oh, and one more. A Titanium watch will cost you a bit more than an identical one with a stainless steel case.


Officine Panerai Luminor Marina PAM 00240. The PAM 240 belongs to Panerai's contemporary line of watches. The Luminor Marina Automatic is a date watch, providing the standard hour, minute, second and date display. The date is displayed under a magnifying lens. What makes the PAM 240 distinctive in the Luminor Marina Automatic line is that it has a Titanium case and a brown dial. Other than the case and the color of the dial, the PAM 240 has the trademark Panerai look with it 44mm diameter case and the clamp which protects the crown. The Titanium case, like the steel one is rated as being water resistant to 300 meters.


Movement. The PAM 240 uses a COSC certified Panerai OP III calibre movement which is based on the Valjoux 7750-P1. This movement generates 28,800 vibrations per hour, has a 44 hour power reserve and is protected by Incabloc shock protection.


Price. At the onset, we mentioned a watch with a Titanium case would cost a bit more. How much. At the time of this writing the steel PAM 104 retails of US$5,900 while the PAM 240 sells at US$6,400, so the price premium is a very reasonable less than 10% increase, as long as you like gun metal.

Other Ti Panerai's. The Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT PAM 306 and Radiomir Tourbillon GMT PAM 315 are also made of Titanium, placing the PAM 240 is some very good company.

About Panerai. Officine Panerai was founded in 1860 in Florence, Italy by Giovani Panerai. Panerai was acquired over by Swiss watchmaker Richemont S. A. in 1997.