Panerai Submersible. Officine Panerai released two new Luminor Submersible Watches at SIHH 2011. The Submersible is Panerai divers watch incorporating the the rotating bezel first used in the Blancpain Fifthy Fathoms, which became the standard design for divers watches, until they were replaced by dive computers.
The rotating bezel which is used for measuring short period of elapsed time. The dial follows the usual design for a Submersible with bar markers applied in place of the figures 12 and 6. Luminous skeleton hands are used instead of the typical Paneria hands. These are all designed to aid legibility in low light conditions. Being true diver watches, a Submersible watch is rated to be water resistant to at least 300 meters.
Officine Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo PAM00382. Now that is a mouthful. The PAM 382 large 47mm watch has a name which is a long as it is big. Inside it has the in-house Panerai P.9000 calibre which is a self winding movements that displays the time and date, and beats at a smooth 28,600 vibrations per hour, and has a three day power reserve. Normally, it is the movement that interests us. With this watch, it is the material used in the case. It is made of Bronze.
Bronze is an alloy based on copper and one other metal, usually tin, to which other elements can be added to achieve particular performance. The bronze chosen by Officine Panerai for the case of the new Luminor Submersible is CuSn8, an alloy of copper and pure tin very resistant to corrosive action by sea water and atmospheric agents. Because of its corrosion resistance, Bronze was especially suitable for use in boat and ship fittings prior to the wide employment of stainless steel. Bronze is still commonly used in ship propellers and submerged bearings. Given Panerai's maritime history, these seems to be a apt choice, if somewhat odd choice of material, for the brand.
Odd because, bronze be nature evolves. With exposure to the elements, over time the case with age through the patina which covers it. This patina is the result of the reaction of the bronze to external agents (air, humidity, heat and wear) and it does not alter the properties of the material but is rather a sign of its ageing. This ageing process wont take long, a few months at the most. Panerai says this will making each "example unique and personalized."
We will have to see how the market accepts this new material, but it is different. Only 1,000 pieces of this watch will be manufactured.
Officine Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 Regatta 3 Days Automatic Titanio PAM00371. For those who don't take to Bronze, Panerai has another submersible for you, the PAM00371 with Titanium case. For a watch this large, a light Titanium case is a nice practical option to have. In line with its being a more practical choice for real world use, it comes with a rubber strap The PAM 371 has similar feature to the PAM 382, however it is powered by the Panerai 9001 calibre which adds the feature of a second hour hand to measure a second time zone.
Only 500 samples of this watch will be produced.
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