Officine Panerai reveals an exciting host of watches at SIHH 2016
Driven by its values that are deep-rooted in Florence and in the world of sea, each new model of Panerai revealed at the Salon International de la Haute Horologerie 2016 are produced at the company’s Manufacturing Facility in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and each exemplifies authenticity, creativity and passion
While established with the heritage that is traced back from its Italian and Swiss roots, the Officine Panerai has remained successful as it reaches to the future, always eager to learn about and search for technical excellence which distinguishes every new Officine Panerai collection. Since its inception in 1860 through the remarkable efforts of Giovanni Panerai, the first watchmaker’s shop in Florence up until today that the amazing watch company is under the brilliant leadership of Richemont Group, year by year re-interprets its passion which for more than 150 years has been the creation of high precision instruments for measuring time with a strong distinctive, aesthetic and functional identity.
Its watchmaking legacy was founded on its iconic creations, specifically the Radiomir and the Luminor, which have spawned numerous reinterpretations over time; with contemporary incarnations dominating trends, owing to state-of-the-art mechanisms encased by captivating timeless design. This year, Officine Panerai has proven once more its outstanding craftsmanship as it unveiled fascinating novelties at the SIHH 2016.
“Lo Scienziato” Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanio 47mm
In its continues quest to find remarkable solutions to make Panerai watches even more impressive technically, without losing the brand’s unmistakable identity, Officine Panerai proudly presents this 2016 a special edition watch: The “Lo Scienziato” Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanio 47mm. This skeletonised tourbillon collection is dedicated to the Tuscan genius Galileo Galilei who with his discoveries laid the foundations for the development of mechanical timepieces. Released on a limited edition of 150 pieces only, this watch flaunts the P.2005 mechanical calibre that features, for the first time, in the P.2005/T version, skeletonised and with titanium bridges and plates.
Luminor 8 Days Set
On one hand, another Officine Panerai timepiece for the year is set to arouse excitement from watch collectors of the pre-Vendôme era. The new Luminor 8 Days Set comes with two watches inspired by models created in 1996: A left-handed version of the Luminor Black Seal and a very rare Luminor Daylight with a white dial and blue markers. Available in limited edition of 500 pieces only, the two watches are supplied in a box inspired by those used for vintage Luminor watches, made of pear wood with a teak base and containing a model of the human torpedo (Siluro a Lenta Corsa – slow speed torpedo), together with a rare publication about the military equipment of the special forces of the Royal Italian Navy, in which Panerai watches and instruments appear.
Luminor 1950 3 Days
For two collections made in limited edition of 1,000 timepieces each, the Officine Panerai celebrates the use of the brown dial which actually tells a fascinating story of the brand which revolutionised the legibility of wristwatches in the dark and underwater. One of these special edition watches is the new Luminor 1950 3 Days that carries the same brown dial, immediately recognisable by the bridge-shaped device with its locking lever which exercises a light pressure on the winding crown to protect it from accidental shocks and to help ensure the watch’s water-resistance. It also features the Luminor 1950 case of AISI 316L stainless steel, in its first historic version: The one with a diameter of 47 mm, its cusped shape reminiscent of the cases of the first Radiomir watches.
Radiomir 1940
The other special edition which takes the interest of watch history aficionados: The Radiomir 1940 3 Days. A retrospective timepiece that commemorates the rise of one of the most iconic pieces in the brand’s watchmaking history, the new Radiomir 1940 3 Days is dedicated to what is known to collectors by the reference 6154 and the name “Egiziano Piccolo”. Originally no more than 30 or 40 examples of the Egiziano Piccolo were produced, making it one of the most sought after vintage Panerai watches, and the new Radiomir 1940 3 Days is a faithful re-creation of it, updated to meet the current standards of high quality sports watchmaking. It uses the Radiomir 1940 case in the historic size of 47mm in diameter, today made of AISI 316L stainless steel with a polished finish.
Radiomir 1940 is indeed an Officine Panerai favourite, and the iconic collection has indeed grown further this year. Four new models make their entry into the Radiomir 1940 Collection, offering Panerai watch enthusiasts not only a broader selection of creative dial designs but also and most importantly an ever wider choice of technical features. The new watches are enriched by new creative features and functions through the introduction of the new in-house movements, P.4001 and P.4002 calibres, with date, GMT and power reserve indicator.
Meanwhile, for the first time in a watch in Radiomir 1940 collection, the dial of the new Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic is offered in white. Its graphic design maximises the dial’s clarity and legibility, with the large black figures corresponding to the hour markers and the small seconds dial at nine o’clock, a characteristic of Panerai watches of the 1940s. Subtle, light, distinguished by its essential lines and maximum clarity of reading and setting, it is a sports watch adapted to every situation.
The Panerai watches are sold exclusively through an international network of specialised authorised retailers and in Panerai boutiques that not only carry all the brand’s luxury watch collections, but also offer their clientele the exclusive chance to buy limited edition products.
