Lo Scienziato is no stranger to Paneristi’s. Originally launched in 2010 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the celestial observations of the Tuscan genius Galileo Galilei, it’s origins are renowned. With the Lo Scienziato, Panerai has pushed all its existing technical and mental boundaries, revealing electrifying horizons of a new dimension. Unmistakable, but not unchanged, the new Luminor Tourbillon GMT is without a doubt one of the most challenging projects of Panerai Laboratorio di Idee.
The Luminor Tourbillon GMT – Lo Scienziato comes with subtle yet distinctive changes. This provocative piece of work is now highlighted by a Grade 5 titanium case, with a sandblasted finish and a steeper gradient. What exactly is Grade 5 titanium? A polyvalent and tough material which is highly resistant to corrosion, and at the same time 40% lighter than steel. But what makes it unique is not so much the physical properties of the metal as the way in which it is created, using 3D printing with Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS); it literally comes into shape from nothing, being formed by the addition of material, rather than its removal. Using original technology, the normal process is reversed. Layer by layer, titanium powder is consolidated by high power fiber optic laser sintering, thus becoming a solid material and forming a shape from nothing.
To contrast the sandblast finish, the bezel, the crown and the lever of the crown-protecting Safety Lock™ device are made of another tangible material – Carbotech.
Now coming to the dial. Green somehow seems to be the colour of 2019 don’t you think? Well, with the evident Military green notes on dial, the watch gets a completely new appearance. The flange encircling the floating numerals, the small-seconds dial, the 24-hour counter and the power reserve indicator are all laid out extremely well. The 47 mm case is relatively large, yet extremely light as a result of the technology used to create it.
Being a 3D watch, the Luminor Tourbillon GMT – Lo Scienziato houses an unusual innovative structure that has never been used before by the maison – the P.2005/T caliber, a hand-wound Manufacture calibre with a sophisticated tourbillon and a GMT function, introduced by Panerai for the first time in 2016.
Mechanical interpretation with steam punk influences are all that remain of the conventional layout of this mechanical watch. Distorted and intentionally stripped to the bone, the result is a minimalist design with an original, modern approach, including its three spring barrels, also made of titanium, mounted in series (patented) which provide a power reserve of six days.
To compensate for the effects of gravity on the regulator and to further enhance even running., Panerai relies on the performance of a tourbillon device with a cage designed to rotate – once every 30 seconds instead of the traditional 60 seconds – on an axis which is perpendicular to that of the balance wheel.
The Panerai Luminor Tourbillon GMT comes with a second strap made of black Velcro with charcoal grey stitching and a titanium clasp, part of the kit which also includes a screwdriver for changing the strap and a box made of grey sandblasted cherry wood with the Panerai logo engraved on the lid.
So, there you have it – the PAM 768 Luminor Tourbillon GMT – Lo Scienziato.