Officine Panerai's New for 2013 Luminor Submersible 1950's

Officine Panerai announced three new Luminor Submersible 1950's as 2013 Special Editions. As special editions these watches will all have a limited production run. All three watches are large, with 47 mm case diameters, and come with in-house 3-day power reserved automatic movements. The most distinctive feature of the new Luminor Submersible is that they come in three different materials.

The Officine Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Titanio (PAM00364), as the name indicates has a case made from Titanium. The super hard case is designed to give this watch a water resistance rating of 2500 meters.

More interesting, in my opinion, is the Officine Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Power Reserve Automatic Bronzo (PAM00507). This is Panerai's second watch with a case made from Bronze, a rather unique material to make a watch case from. The first Panerai watch with a Bronze case was the PAM 382, the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo. This watch has a, still impressive, water resistance rating of 1000 meters.

Finally, you have the Officine Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo (PAM00508). This is Panerai's second watch with a case made from Bronze, a rather unique material to make a watch case from. This watch has a, still impressive, water resistance rating of 1000 meters.

All these three watches will be limited to production runs of 1000 units each. 

Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic PAM00524 and PAM00525

SIHH 2013. In addition to the Regatta themed PAM00526, Officine Panerai announced two more chronographs at SIHH 2013 which would form part of its contemporary collection, a pair of Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatics, the PAM00524 and PAM00525. The two watches are identical except the PAM 525 comes in a stainless steel case, while the PAM 526 comes in a rose gold case.

Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic. Powering both watches is an in-house built Paneria P.9100 movement, which features a date display at the 3 o'clock position, running seconds displayed with a small hand at the 9'clock position  a three day power reserve and chronograph with flyback function. The movement is housed in a 44 mm Luminor 1950 case, with a clear case back allowing you to view the movement.

The PAM 525 and PAM 526 are probably the most minimalist chronograph watches you will find, with clean dials not cluttered with sub-dials. This is accomplished by using two large second hands for the chronograph function. The large blue seconds hand measure elapsed seconds, while the large steel colored hand measures elapsed minutes.  The chronograph also features a flyback function, so pressing the reset button while the chronograph is activated will stop, reset and start the chronograph with the press of a single button.

Both watches are presented on leather straps, with a black leather strap for the stainless steel model, and a brown one for the rose gold model.

Personally. I love the base model Panerai's, but if I ever got a Panerai chrono the PAM 524 would be my choice. It's as clean and minimalist looking as a chronograph can get.

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.

Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titano PAM00526

Regatta. At SIHH 2013, Officine Panerai announced as part of its contemporary collection, the Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titano. The feature that makes a watch true "regatta" inspired design is a 10 minute countdown timer which is useful in keeping track of the time that skippers have to get their boats into a good position before the start of the race, getting as close to the start line as possible with good momentum, without crossing the buoys which mark the same before the start of the race.

Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titano PAM00526. Panerai's solution to measuring this crucial ten minutes with the PAM 526 is an elegantly simple solution I have ever seen. The organge push-button at four o’clock position moves the central orange chronograph minute hand back one minute at a time, until it is at the correct position in relation to the length of the countdown. Once the correct countdown time is set, starting the chronograph by pushing the chronograph stop/start button at ten o’clock position, the large orange hand will indicate indicating  the minutes, the the large blue second hand, seconds remaining until the start. When the countdown has finished, the chronograph movement continues to function, now displaying the time elapsed since the start of the race will be displayed. Panerai created an all new movement to accommodate the unique requirements of a Regatta watch, which it dubbed the P.9001.R. 

The P.9001.R movement in the PAM 526 has a three day power reserve and also incorporates a flyback function. Pressing the reset button at the 8 o'clock position will stop, reset and restart the chronograph function with a single key press.

The watch is built on a 47 mm Luminor 1950 Titanium case. Two sub-dials are found on the dial. The sub-dial to the left displays running seconds. The dial to the right is used in conjunction with the chronograph function, and displays elapsed hours. The tachymeter scale on the on the edge of the dial is expressed in knots. Consistent with it maritime nature, the watch is presented on a black rubber strap.

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.

Officine Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00512, PAM00513, PAM00514 and PAM00515

1940. Officine Panerai announced four new watches in its historic collection at SIHH 2013. Essentially, the four new models really leave each buyer with one choice. No exotic ceramic cases or military inspired composite cases, no base models, not California dial option. At first glance the new for 2013 Historic Collection is uninspired. But the four new watches use the, new for 2012, Radiomir 1940 case, which has a sleeker profile and use solid lugs instead of welded wires. For those who were lusting after a PAM00398 or PAM00399, whose production was limited to 100 units each, the new PAM00512 to PAM00515 should satisfy your desires. 

Buyers of last years limited edition watches need not fret, the four new models come in configurations which vary from last years model, and the exclusivity of last years watch is preserved. 

Radiomir 1940 3 Days Oro Rosso PAM00515 

While there are four new models, essentially, only one will appeal to each buyer. First, you select the one most appropriately sized for your wrist,  between the 47 mm and 42 mm models. Those who select the 47 mm model get a watch powered by built by Panerai's P.3000 hand wound movement with a three day power reserve and a date display at the 3 o'clock. You than have to decide whether a stainless steel (PAM 514) or rose gold (PAM 515) model is more to your liking.

Radiomir 1940 3 Days (Back) PAM00514

Those who select the 42 mm model, get an equally delightful threat with a watch power with the built by Panerai P.999 movement. This movement has a long 60 our power reserve with the absence of a date display resulting in a more classic looking dial. The 42 mm model also comes in stainless steel (PAM 512) and rose gold (PAM 513). 

Radiomir 1940 PAM00512

All four watches are presented on leather straps, and have sapphire crystal protecting the dial and case back. 

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.

IWC Ingeneiur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month

Complication Watch. The IWC Ingeneiur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month is a complication watch the impresses in the most ostentatious and subtle of ways.

The complicated dial hints at the complicated movement inside. The date is displayed in the sub-dial on the right with the month being displayed by the sub-dial on the left. In a Windows at sub-dial the bottom you will see either 1, 2, 3 or L displayed. "L" signifies that the year is a leap year during which time this watch will skip recognize the existence of the 29th of February, which keeps the calendar display correct.  

In addition to the perpetual calendar complication, this watch also features a chronograph function, with hours and minutes measure by two hands in the sub-dial at the 12-o'clock. The chronograph also incorporates the flyback function which allows you to stop, reset and restart the stopwatch with a single button press.

Titanium aluminide. Despite all the complications, the most unique feature of this watch is less apparent. The case of the watch is made from Titanium aluminide. Aluminum is combined with Titanium which results in case which is lighter and more robust Titanium. The inspiration for the use of this material on this watch came from Formula One and motor sports.

The case is 46 mm wide and 17 mm tall, making it a fairly large watch. The self-winding calibre 89802 movement inside has a long 68 hour power reserve. The intricate movement of this watch can be viewed  through a clear case back. 

About IWC. IWC or the the "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen" was founded by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the year 1868. IWC Schaffhausen is notable for being the only major Swiss watch factory located in eastern Switzerland, as the majority of the well-known Swiss watch manufacturers are located in western Switzerland.

IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Ref. 5900

Constant-Force Tourbillon. It would seem no display of a new IWC line these days is without some unique mechanical marvel, like the IWC Portuguese Sidérale Scafusia Ref. 5041 announced in 2011, and IWC Pilots Watch Worldtimer Ref. 3262, in 2012.  For SIHH 2013, we have a Tourbillon, a common enough, though expensive Mechanism with a twist. 

A tourbillon mounts the escapement in a rotating cage to distribute the wear and tear, which is augmented by gravity, evenly. This was particularly important for clocks which had a definite up and down orientation. With wrist watches, the users arm movement does some of the job of distributing wear and tear. IWC new take on the tourbillon integrates a patented constant force mechanism. I would love how to describe how the whole thing works, but really it is a fair bit beyond my level of comprehension. Hopefully, a reader will chime in. Let's go to the part I can understand.

IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Ref. 5900. In keeping with the modern theme of the 2013 IWC releases, this watch comes in a case constructed from a traditional precious material, platinum, and uses it conjunction with a modern material, ceramic. The case is all of 46 mm in diameter and the watch is presented on a black alligator leather strap. 

The dial of the watch gives a clear view of the Constant-Force Tourbillon. On the opposite side a double moon display depicts moon so realistically that even craters can be recognized. A countdown scale shows the number of days remaining until the next full moon. A power reserve display between “4” and “5 o’clock” indicates the energy remaining in the mainspring. The entire movement can be viewed through a clear case back. 

Undoubtably, this watch will be rather expensive. While there is no indication of how many will be made, it will be a very limited production watch.

About IWC. IWC or the the "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen" was founded by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the year 1868. IWC Schaffhausen is notable for being the only major Swiss watch factory located in eastern Switzerland, as the majority of the well-known Swiss watch manufacturers are located in western Switzerland.

IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium Ref. 3865

Double Chronograph. If anything from IWC at SIHH 2013 could have been considered an inevitability it is the IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium. With IWC's partnership with Mercedes-Benz in Formula one, IWC has to come up with an ultimate racing fans watch. 

The double chronograph, or "rattaprante", is the ultimate in mechanical chronograph watch technology. The double chronograph features two main seconds hands. When the chronograph is started, the two hands move together, and together with information in sub-dials will allow to measure, hours minutes and seconds. A third chronograph button on the watch allows you to stop one second hand, while the other continues to move. Pressing the third button again links both hands. This useful for measuring intermediate times, like lap times or how fast a care negotiates a certain portion of the track.  

In truth I am a bit disappointed because, to truly make this the ultimate chronograph, the flyback function should also have been incorporated. Still, maybe best not to include it. It would add to the cost of what will inevitably be a very expensive watch already. The flyback function is of more practical useful at the regatta than at at Hockenheimring anyway.

IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium.  As its name indicates, the IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium has a titanium case and is presented with a rubber strap. The watch is 45 mm in diameter. The dial is beautiful in its complexity. At the 3 o'clock you have two windows, one for the days and the other for the date. At the 6 o'clock you have a sub-dial which is used in conjunction with chronograph function to measure hours. At the 9 o'clock you have a sub-dial that displays running seconds. At the 12 o'clock you have a sub-dial which is used in conjunction with chronograph function to measure minutes.

The watch comes in two variants. One with a silver dial and one with a black dial. The model with a black dial, with blue highlights is particularly stunning.

If these pair don't get your engines, nothing will. 

About IWC. IWC or the the "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen" was founded by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the year 1868. IWC Schaffhausen is notable for being the only major Swiss watch factory located in eastern Switzerland, as the majority of the well-known Swiss watch manufacturers are located in western Switzerland.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance Ref. 3224

Carbon Fiber. We already took a look at IWC's Ingenieur Automatic AMG Black Series Ceramic which takes its inspiration from the ceramic disk brakes used in Mercedes-Benz AMG sports cars. IWC has released a at SIHH 2013 a similar watch for Formula One fans, the IWC Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance. Instead of a ceramic case this one has a high-tech carbon fiber case. Rather the the combination of steel and aluminum you find in street cars, Formula One cars use carbon fibre, carbon fiber is the result of combining carbon (or what some of you might more familiarly identify as graphite) with a plastic resin. The result is a stiff material with high tensile strength, low weight and easily molded into various shapes. This material actually is already making it way in the higher end sports cars and even being used for aftermarket parts to customize more humble cars. The purpose for using carbon fiber in cars is to reduce weight, and thus increase the power to weight ratio.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance. The IWC Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance is a basic time and date watch which comes in a large 46 mm carbon fiber case. Ceramic is used for the screw heads, crown and crown guards and titanium for the case back. All-in-all this watch combines most of the high tech material used is watchmaking.

The dial is also made from carbon fiber. A small date display is found at the 3 o'clock position. The movement is a Calibre 80110 movement has a shock absorption system built in. The movement can be viewed through a sapphire crystal case back.

Two version of the watch are available, which differ in the color of the minute markers on the dial and the thread use to stick the strap. You have a choice of yellow or red.

If you fancy one of these watches, well I would try to reserve one now. Only 100, yup just one of each version is being made. That is a very, very limited edition release.

About IWC. IWC or the the "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen" was founded by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the year 1868. IWC Schaffhausen is notable for being the only major Swiss watch factory located in eastern Switzerland, as the majority of the well-known Swiss watch manufacturers are located in western Switzerland.

IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil Ref. 3785

Silver Arrows. In 1934 the Mercedes-Benz team arrived for a Grand Prix race at the the Nürburgring. The Mercedes-Benz W25 race car weighed in at 751 kilograms. This was one kilogram more than the allowed limit set that year by the international governing body of motor sport, which set maximum a weight limit of 750 kilograms for Grand Prix racing cars.  Racing manager Alfred Neubauer and his driver Manfred von Brauchitsch, came up with the idea of scraping all the paint from the bodywork of the cars, than adorned in white, exposing the shining silver aluminum bodies of the Mercedes-Benz beneath. This was enough to get the W25 within the 750 kilogram limit. Brauchitsch won the race, an the W25 earned the nickname Silver Arrow (or Silberpfeil). Some dispute this account. Whether that is history which has now become a legend, or legend which has become part of history, I don't know. It is a nice story. Sometimes that is enough. 

IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil.  IWC has released the Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil in commemoration of the legendary Silver Arrow W25. This watch comes in two versions, one with a with a silver dial and another in brown.  The Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil is a limited release with only 1,000 to be produced of each variant.

The dial of the watch has two sub-dials. One at the 12 o'clock is used in conjunction with the watches chronograph function and displays elapsed hours and minutes, with the large center seconds had displaying elapsed seconds.  A second sub-dial at the 6 o'clock displays running seconds and the date.

The case has a large 45 mm diameter and features a the new modern design we have seen on several IWC Chronographs of late. Needless to say, it is over only in brushed stainless. Any kind of coating on the steel case would be inappropriate.  

Flyback. The self-winding mechanical movement Caliber 89361 movement in this watch has one more trick up its sleeve. It has a flyback mechanism. This allows the two stop watch buttons to perform three functions. The first button is used to start and stop the stop watch. The second button resets the stop watch to zero after it is stopped. However, if you press the second button while the stopwatch is running, it will reset the stopwatch to zero and restart it instantaneously. That is what is called Flyback. 

The movement also has a long 68 hour power reserve, which gives it a good amount of stored energy which can come in handy when using the stopwatch to measure events which last several hours.

About IWC. IWC or the the "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen" was founded by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the year 1868. IWC Schaffhausen is notable for being the only major Swiss watch factory located in eastern Switzerland, as the majority of the well-known Swiss watch manufacturers are located in western Switzerland. 

IWC Ingenieur Automatic AMG Black Series Ceramic Ref. 3225

AMG. AMG was founded as a racing engine forge in 1967 under the name AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (AMG Engine Production and Development, Ltd.), by former Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in Burgstall an der Murr, near Stuttgart. The letters "AMG" stand for Aufrecht, Melcher, and Großaspach, Aufrecht's birthplace. In the 1980's AMG expanded it business into building performance parts for Mercedes-Benz cars. DaimlerChrysler took a controlling interest in 1990, then became sole owner of AMG in 2005. Mercedes-AMG GmbH is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG (Source and more info on Wikipedia).

SIHH 2013 has been a perfect venue to celebrate IWC's recent partnership with Mercedes-Benz,  and one way the watch company has done that is to release an AMG themed timepiece.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic AMG Black Series Ceramic. The IWC Ingenieur Automatic AMG Black Series Ceramic is a imposing wristwatch, with a large 46 mm black ceramic case. The ceramic material is finished in two contrasting ways, with some parts in with a high gloss finish, and others with a silky matte finish. According to IWC, the inspiration for the design of this watch comes from the ceramic disc brakes used in current Mercedes-Benz AMG models.

The watch comes in two models, one with a black dial on a black rubber strap with a textile inlay, and a second with a brown dial with a black rubber strap with a calf skin inlay.

The watch itself is of your basic time and date watch, with a small date display at the 3 o'clock. The movement is a Calibre 80110 movement has a shock absorption system built in. The movement can be viewed through a sapphire crystal case back, and consistent with the overall theme of the watch, the rotor is also finished in black.

Some may lament that the watch is not a chronograph. But AMG cars are stealthy sports cars. The casual observer may not notice that the Mercedes Benz that passed them is nothing more than a nice luxury car. In that sense, IWC Ingenieur Automatic AMG Black Series Ceramic seems an appropriate marriage of simplicity, with just a dash of flare. Very AMG.

About IWC. IWC or the the "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen" was founded by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the year 1868. IWC Schaffhausen is notable for being the only major Swiss watch factory located in eastern Switzerland, as the majority of the well-known Swiss watch manufacturers are located in western Switzerland.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3239

IWC @ SIHH 2013. IWC released nine new Ingenieur watches, and the new designs do not disappoint, with a new complications models and a watch built from high tech carbon fiber. For some, myself included, simpler designs are more attractive. IWC has covered all the bases with the release of the Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3239.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3239. The IWC Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3239 is a modern interpretation of what is the classic Ingenieur, a basic time and date watch with anti-magnetic properties. The new released Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3239 takes design cues from previous models like the Ingenieur Automatic Ref. IW322701 with its ground breaking ability to withstand magnetic fields up to 500,000 m/A (Ampere per meter). IWC has not published the rating o the current Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3239, which I do expect to be much lower.

IWC mentions in it promotional materials that this watch is perfect for slimmer wrists. The watch has a 40 mm case and is just 10 mm in height. Modest by todays standards. Models like this are great. I really can't wear anything bigger than 40-41 millimeters.

It has a nicely designed dial which displays you basic hours, minutes and seconds, with a date display tucked away at the 3 o'clock position. The watch comes with a choice of either a black or silver dial. The model with a silver case comes with either rhodium- or rose-gold-plated hands and appliqués, with the latter looking particularly attractive.

Constructing a anti-magnetic watch. There are two ways of building a anti-magnetic watch. The first way consists in building a watches with balance wheels, hairsprings. anchors, escape wheels and other parts of mechanism made of non-magnetic metals or alloys. The second, and more widely adopted approach of making a watch non-magnetic is to house the entire movement into a case made of a highly conductive material. This is the more common solution. The Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3239  uses a soft-iron inner cage.

According to Deutsche Industrie Norm (DIN) 8309 a watch must be able to operate with a maximum deviation of 30 seconds per day when exposed to resist a magnetic field of 4,800 A/m.

About IWC. IWC or the the "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen" was founded by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the year 1868. IWC Schaffhausen is notable for being the only major Swiss watch factory located in eastern Switzerland, as the majority of the well-known Swiss watch manufacturers are located in western Switzerland.

SIHH 2013 Panerai Collection

Officie Panerai has posted a teaser trailer for its 20123 collection. Enjoy.

Pre-SIHH 2013: Ingenieur: The Story Of a Legend

With SIHH 2013 fast approaching IWC has published a history of its Ingenieur watches.

With the advent of electricity, magnetic fields increasingly affected the lives of ordinary people. It wasn’t long before IWC’s watchmakers started thinking of ways to protect their timepieces against them. 

Back in 1888, under the management of Johannes Vogel Muster, IWC had been making 16- and 19-ligne antimagnetic movements for the Non-Magnetic Watch Company. The balance, balance spring, escape wheel and pallet lever were made of a palladium alloy, the pallet fork of bronze and the arms of gold. Later, the topic of protection against magnetism assumed special importance for the armed forces. The ongoing modernization of aircraft cockpits likewise led to an ever-greater accumulation of magnetic field sources. For this reason, in the mid-1940s, IWC developed a professional pilot’s watch for the British Royal Air Force.

Read the rest of the article at IWC site.

Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 Rattrapante 8 Days Titanio (PAM00530)

A teaser. While SIHH 2013, where Officine Panerai will present it line-up for the year is still a few weeks away, the company has already presented one of its offerings for 2013. This is the Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 Rattrapante 8 Days Titanio, or PAM00530. The PAM00530 is a split-seconds chronograph powered by an in-house designed and built P.2006 movement.

Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 Rattrapante 8 Days Titanio (PAM00530). The PAM000530 has a brushed titanium case 47 mm in diameter, fitted with the classic Panerai patented lever device which seals the winding crown to ensure water resistance. On the back of the case, is a sapphire crystal window through which the the P.2006 movement can be seen.

The bezel is made of polished titanium and surrounds a large black dial. The structure of the dial is a pancake dial which consists of two superimposed discs with a layer of Super-LumiNova between them.

Rattrapante, refers to the split-seconds function. The watch has two large seconds hands used in conjunction with the chronograph function. The first is controlled by the button at 8 o'clock, which starts, stops and resets the chronograph hand. The second hand, controlled by the button at 10 o'clock, is used for measuring partial times or a second event simultaneous with the first. Basically, it is like a lap timer. You can stop one second hand while allowing the other one to continue moving.

Continuous seconds on the left, 30 minute counter on the right,
and power reserved indicator at the bottom.

To make elapsed minutes easier and clearer to read, the hand of the small minute counter moves in jumps instead of continuously. The P.2006 hand-wound movement has a long power reserve of eight days. This is achieved by means of a special patented system of three spring barrels. The remaining power reserve can be read on the dial from a linear indicator above the number six.

The PAM00530 is limited edition, and is part of the of the Officine Panerai Specialities collection.

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.