Panerai Luminor 1950 Marina 44mm Titanium PAM 00351

SIHH 2010. 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.

One thing we noted, this titanium watch has a polished bezel

Ti. 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).

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.