Calling all Paneristi: the first of Panerai’s new crop of watches to be launched at next month’s SIHH watch fair in Geneva has been revealed: it is a split-seconds chronograph in a titanium case, bearing the reference number PAM00530 and the name Luminor 1950 Rattrapante 8 Days Titanio.
The watch’s split-seconds chronograph function (also known as a rattrapante) has a vertical clutch and twin column wheels. It operates two hands that are superimposed and partially independent: the first is entirely controlled by the pusher at 8 o’clock, which starts, stops and resets the chronograph hand; the second, controlled by the button at 10 o’clock, is used for measuring partial times or a second event simultaneous with the first. The hand of the small minutes counter moves in jumps, rather than continuously, which Panerai says makes it easier to read.
The movement that powers these and the watch’s other functions is Panerai’s P.2006, entirely developed and assembled in the Officine Panerai manufacture in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It is a hand-wound movement with an extra-long long power reserve of eight days — now a hallmark of many Panerai watches — which it achieves by means of a patented system of three spring barrels. The remaining power reserve can be read on the dial from a linear indicator above the 6 o’clock position. (Click on the watch photos for larger images.)
The movement also has a seconds-reset function, which zeroes the seconds hand by stopping the balance wheel until the winding crown has been returned to the running position. Panerai added this function to enable the watch to be easily synchronized with a reference signal.
The traditional Luminor case, here in brushed titanium and 47 mm in diameter, is fitted with Panerai’s trademarked lever device, which hermetically seals the winding crown to ensure water-resistance to a depth of approximately 100 meters. The 12-sided caseback has a sapphire viewing window to display the finishing of the P.2006 movement.
The titanium bezel has a polished finish that contrasts with that of the case, and surrounds a black dial assembled in Panerai’s hallmark “sandwich” style, using two superimposed disks with a layer of Super-LumiNova between them. Panerai has been using this construction for its divers’ watches since the 1930s, with the goal of maximizing legibility and visibility in very low light, particularly underwater.
Produced in a limited edition, the Luminor 1950 Rattrapante 8 Days Titanio, part of the brand’s Specialties collection, comes with a rubber strap, as well as a second, interchangeable strap and tools to change them.
Technical characteristics:
Movement: Panerai P.2006/3, manual-wound; 13 3⁄4 lignes; 9.6 mm thick; 34 jewels; Glucydur balance; 28,800 vph; KIF Parechoc shock absorption; eight-day power reserve (three barrels); double column wheel; 356 components.
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds; linear power reserve indicator; seconds reset device; split-seconds chronograph
Case and strap:Brushed titanium case, 47 mm in diameter; brushed titanium buttons with engraving and polished edges for split-seconds function at 10 o’clock and chronograph functions at 8 o’clock; polished titanium bezel; trademarked crown protector device in brushed titanium; 2-mm-thick sapphire crystal made of corundum, with nonreflective coating; sapphire exhibition caseback; water-resistant to 100 meters; on rubber strap with brushed titanium buckle. Supplied with a second interchangeable strap, a tool to change the strap and a steel screwdriver.
I would still prefer to see arabic numerals at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions balancing out the dial more nicely and still keeping more within the Panerai tradition