Panerai has been making some serious strides in material innovation particularly in the area of sustainability. This year at Watches & Wonders 2021, the brand presented some ground-breaking concepts that are poised to lead a movement towards more environmentally responsible watch manufacturing. One such concept is the new Panerai Submersible eLAB-ID™ PAM01225 – a watch constructed from 98.6% recycled-based materials by weight. According to Panerai, the Submersible eLAB-ID™ PAM01225 also has the highest percentage of recycled based material ever made.
The 44mm body of this model is built from EcoTitanium™, a recycled titanium alloy that is a lightweight aerospace-grade metal made of more than 80% pure recycled content. In addition to the case, the unidirectional rotating bezel with polished knurling, the watch’s sandwich dial, and bridges are also crafted from EcoTitanium™. Equipped with Panerai’s Safety Lock crown protection device (protected by trademark), the watch is water resistant up to 300m.
Submersible eLAB-ID™ is the first watch to use 100% recycled SuperLuminova™ on its dial and hands and 100% recycled silicon for its movement escapement. Both are obtained through dedicated, small-scale recycling processes that reuse raw material waste. From the sapphire crystal to the gold hands, most of the major components contain recycled based material. The choice of colour for the dial is ingenious, and the final result is a watch that looks harmonious and complete. Other details include: the semi-skeletonised hours and minute hands and a small seconds sub-dial at nine o’clock.
The P.900e automatic calibre powering this watch features a 100% recycled silicon escapement (Developed in collaboration with Sil’tronix ST – A company that specializes in high tech silicon products and processing) and Sigatec – The main independent supplier of silicon components for the watch industry) and boasts a power reserve of three days.
A very subtle recycled Grigio Roccia fabric strap with light blue stitching and trapezoidal EcoTitanium™ buckle completes the look of the Submersible eLAB-ID™ PAM01225
A marvel of innovation and dedication, Submersible eLAB-ID™ is a major accomplishment for Panerai and a tribute to the creativity and tenacity of the Laboratorio di Idee, the research and development incubator that drives the brand’s technical advancements. More significantly, Submersible eLAB-ID™ is an opportunity for the watch industry to understand that making a watch using predominantly recycled-based material is possible, thus reducing the need for virgin material extraction and its associated high environmental impact. Panerai invites collaboration with other brands or partners eager to work toward creating a more sustainable future based on a circular use of natural resources.