Panerai Watches & Wonders 2020

Written by kari_watch

This year Panerai’s iconic Luminor turns 70 and as part of the celebrations the Florentine watchmaker has unveiled a trio of LUME heavy timepieces with a 70 year guarantee, at the first digital edition of Watches & Wonders 2020 – LUMINOR MARINA – 44 MM PAM1117 DMLS, LUMINOR MARINA CARBOTECH – 44 MM PAM1118 and LUMINOR MARINA FIBRATECH – 44 MM PAM1119.

These Luminors are all about a new grade of Super-LumiNova called ‘X1’, one that Panerai claims is stronger and longer-lasting than other variants and in my opinion, this is hands down one of the most creative and innovative ways of using ‘Lume’. This is an important evolutionary step in a development process concerning the mastery of the emission of light which has been carried out by Panerai since the 1940s.

The trio have a few things in common such as the 44mm Luminor Marina case and the 6mm thick P.9010 calibre that delivers a power reserve of 3 days; a movement entirely conceived and developed by the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The LUME in all three watches extend to the lower layer of the sandwich dial, the inner bezel ring, the
crown, the crown-protecting bridge and the lever, and even in the stitching on the strap. To some this might seem a bit much but as a true Paneristi, I think it’s quite refreshing and definitely has a strong wrist presence.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to see these in the metal soon and give you my impressions on how well the extra LUME really lights up the dial in the dark.

A point worth mentioning here is the 70 year Guarantee. Although there has been a lot of debate on this being just a marketing gimmick, because let’s get real, who really needs a 70 year guarantee considering you might not be around for that long, I think it is a brilliant initiative by Panerai. These 270 piece “Boutique Limited Editions” are a tribute to the legacy of the Luminor and I doubt too many collectors would trade them in for newer watches. These are keepers. But then again that’s just how I feel.

Panerai Luminor Marina 44mm PAM1117 DMLS

The new Panerai Luminor Marina 44mm PAM1117 DMLS is as light as 100 grams (including the strap) and is also extremely strong due to the titanium structure which is manufactured by a technology known as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). What is the DMLS you ask? DMLS is a process of futuristic 3D printing involving the sedimentation of titanium powder, sintered layer by layer by a high-powered optical fibre laser, 30 microns (0.03 mm) at a time. Coming to the dial – the modern blue sunray finished dial works beautifully as a backdrop to the luminescent Arabic numerals and hour markers. A small seconds counter sits at 9 o’clock while the date window is neatly positioned at 3. Water-resistant to 30 bar (a depth of about 300 metres), the new PAM1117 is fitted with a strap made of Panerai Sportech, woven to give a waterproof rubberised effect, blue with luminous stitching and a Velcro fastener. A second rubber strap, blue with a titanium tongue buckle, is also supplied, together with a tool for changing the strap and a special box with a luminous stylised representation of the dial of the Luminor Marina on its lid.

Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech 44mm PAM1118

Next we have the Luminor Marina Carbotech 44mm PAM1118. Although I haven’t been able to see this one in the flesh, I have played around with other Panerai Carbotech pieces and I can confidently tell you that this material is unlike anything I’ve ever seen from Panerai. That gorgeous texture on the case is all thanks to Carbotech, an alloy that consists of thin layers of carbon fibres superimposed on each other, orientated alternately (a good seven layers per millimeter), fused together under high-pressure temperature-controlled conditions, and finally further consolidated with an advanced polymer. Carbotech is remarkable for its mechanical properties, its lightness and its resistance to stress and corrosion.

The dial is black with a sunray finish complemented by Arabic numerals and hour markers in green Super-LumiNova with green luminescence. This treatment, has also been applied to the inscriptions “Luminor Marina” and “Panerai”, “Automatic” and the ring around the flange. Inside the watch is a P.9010 calibre that is fitted with the function for rapidly setting the hour hand, which at the same time automatically adjusts the date at 3 o clock. A Panerai Sportech strap, black with luminescent stitching and Velcro fastening completes the package. In addition, owners will also receive a second strap in black rubber with a titanium tongue buckle, together with a tool for changing it and a special box decorated with a luminous image of the Luminor Marina dial on the lid.

Panerai Luminor Marina Fibratech 44mm PAM1119

Completing the collection is the new Panerai Luminor Marina Fibratech 44mm PAM1119. Fibratech is an exciting new discovery by Panerai’s creative hotbed – the Panerai Laboratorio di Idee. It is made from volcanic basalt and mineral fibres that are bound with high-end polymers to become thin layers which are then again superimposed in a precise orientation through a pressure and temperature controlled process. Here Fibratech makes quite a presence on the case, the bezel, the winding crown and the safety lock crown-guard. An anthracite sunray finished dial compliments the case, and features Arabic numerals and hour markers in green Super-LumiNova with green luminescence.

Water-resistant to a depth of 30 bar (a depth of about 300 metres), the new Luminor Marina FibratechTM – 44 mm is fitted with a Panerai Sportech strap, black with luminescent sewing and a Velcro fastener. A second strap in black rubber with a titanium tongue buckle completes the equipment, with a special tool for changing it and a personalised box decorated with a luminous image of the iconic Luminor Marina dial on the lid.