SIHH 2011: PAM 386 Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic Composite 44mm

May 20, 2011 - PRLog -- This is the first time that Panerai uses Composite material in case, the other case materials Panerai mostly adoptes are steel, PVD black, titanium, platinum, etc. Another material used by Panerai watch at SIHH 2011 is bronze, it seems like Panerai has used most of natural materials in watch-making.

Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic Composite – 44 mm adopts Panerai Composite® to make the Luminor 1950 case, and it is fixed with P.9000 self-winding movement. It keeps Panerai's excellent tradition in innovation and quality, which is another classical masterpiece, re-presenting Panerai's unique function and style.

The Luminor 1950 case and crown guard is made of Panerai Composite, which is first used on top watch by Panerai; it is man-made ceramic by using electric chemical technology to process aluminum, which is much lighter than real ceramic, much sturdier and more durable than steel; its surface layer seems to be polished, with an unusual appearance.

Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic Composite 44 mm, PAM 386, Brown Panerai Composite case, 44mm diameter; hour, minute, small second hand and date display, grey translucent sapphire crystal, 300m water-resistance; leather strap with PANERAI trademark, large size Panerai Composite buckle, attaching a steel screw and a spare strap.

The plain brown big-dial adopts the sandwich layer structure, with two same velums against the central layer Super-LumiNova, showing the fluorescent numerals and hour scale. Its thickness and the superior easy-readability at night both reveal Panerai's classical style. This watch uses anti-reflective sapphire crystal, through which to appreciate P.9000 self-winding mechanical movement; P.9000 diameter is 13¾ lignes, thickness in 7.9mm, which is the self-designed and self-made movement by Panerai's workshop in Neuchatel. The movement is functional in date display with small second dial at nine o'clock and three days power reserve provided by two linked winders and bidirectional self-winding balance wheel. Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic Composite – 44 mm can reach 30 Bars (300m) water-resistance. The watch is equipped with nut-brown oxhide leather strap and Panerai Composite® buckle as the same color. Its model is PAM 386, one of the modern series Contemporary Collection.    

Ceramic is a composite material by metal and nonmetal atom, which has been realized and used by human for several centuries. Man-made ceramic also can be made by simple craft and extremely complicated approach, thus combined to high-functional material. In watch making field, some similar ceramics have been put into use for a long time, for example, the combination of sapphire or ruby (they are different alumine-Al203), also meets the needs of the given hardness and reliability. Besides, in the field of watch making made of metal, ceramic comes to be the most successful material in producing cases and watch parts. Panerai Composite is a new material introduced to top watch making field by Panerai. Up to now, this material is only used in aviation parts and high-functional automobile and motorcycle parts producing; it is a unique material formed by using electric chemical technology to process aluminum.  

Panerai Composite is much sturdier and lighter and the ceramic (zirconia, ZrO2) usually used for producing case in watch field, and it is much harder compared with metals like aluminum, steel and titanium and so on, which make it to be the best material to create case; in addition to guarantee its comforts in wearing and beauty in appearance (can be combined to various colors), it is also functional in impact-resistance, scratch-resistance, and heat-resistance. Panerai Composite is also with high extensibility, which can be made to several geometric configurations and be complicatedly processed; meanwhile, its inertness helps to keep its structure and appearance to the same as before in long time.

Panerai P.9000 self-made mechanical movement: completely developed by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, thickness in 7.9mm, 28 jewels; Glucydur® balance wheel, 28,800 vph, Incabloc® shock-resistance, 3 days power reserve, 2 winders and 197 pieces parts.

Through ceramic produced, aluminum comes to be Panerai Composite material; this process is different from any other crafts in watch making. In the traditional coating craft, it sticks ceramic stive to metal surface, which just makes it on the top, while in combining Panerai Composite, the aluminum case is steeped into chemical liquid, passing an electric chemical technology process under effect of conducting liquid and high heated (reach 10,000°C) electric energy, which can change its structure, but keep its original geometry configuration. Its effect depends on hairpin, including the liquor and the time it is steeped, the processed material and parts'shape. Before assembled, every case must be dealt with and checked, to ensure its aesthetics and functions. After all these procedures, a well-proportioned, sturdy and soft material is formed. And the whole process meets the needs of environmental protection with the only residue hydrogen, but in fact, it is separated in the process of combining oxygen molecule and case.

In my opinion, Composite won't become the main material in making Luminor and Luminor 1950 cases, say nothing of Radiomir, because I think the personality of Composite doesn't fit the style of Luminor and Radiomir series, Luminor requires to look strong and robust, so steel and titanium are the best materials for it, about Radiomir, black PVD and some precious metals such as platinum will be nice choices.

Original source: http://www.paneraiblog.us/2010/12/2011-pre-sihh-luminor-m... Pre-SIHH: Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic Composite 44 mm)

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