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A deft blend
of Italian styling and Swiss technology,
Panerai has been a consistent leader in the world of professional
timing instruments for more than 140 years.
Indeed, when
Guido Panerai founded his company in Florence in 1860, it
was with the commitment to build professional timekeepers
more so than pocket watches.
His early work
led to many patents in the timekeeping and optics fields.
In the early 1930s, Panerai established a close relationship
with the Royal Italian Navy and began supplying the soldiers
with precision pocket watches and aiming sights for torpedoes.
During World
War II, Panerai supplied Radiomir watches to the Royal Italian
Navyfirmly establishing itself as a leader in precision
timing.
In 1993, after 50 years of creating watches exclusively
for the commandos of the Royal Italian Navy, Panerai offered
its timepieces to the world at large with limited editions
of the Luminor.
The precision
watches were recognized for their performances under extreme
situations and were eagerly sought by collectors. In 1997,
the Richemont Group purchased Panerai and evolved the brand,
adding new products upholding Panerais tradition and
increasing its worldwide presence.
Panerais successful oversized timepieces are based
on the Luminor and Radiomir, and each exists in the three
key Panerai collections: Historical, Contemporary and Special
Editions.
In the Historical
Collection, Panerai has unveiled the Luminor 44mm watch
with its own new hand-wound mechanical movement. Guaranteed
water resistant to 300 meters but tested to 400 meters,
this exceptional watch is cased in either steel or titanium
and has a transparent caseback to allow viewing of the engraved
movement.
In its Contemporary Collection, Panerai has added some complexities.
The Panerai Radiomir watch, pure and elegant in its simplicity,
is now available in two sizes: 40mm and 42mm.
Fitted with
an automatic mechanical GMT/Alarm movement, the watch is
now available in polished stainless steel.
Also new to
the Contemporary Collection is the Luminor Power Reserve
watch. Available in two sizes in titanium or steel, this
watch offers a power reserve of 42 hours. It houses the
exclusive OP1X caliber movement from Panerai with 21 jewels,
and is COSC certified.
Another new
model is the Luminor Marina Gold watchcreated in 18-karat
gold with a slight pink tingethe first Panerai Luminor
to have a gold case. Formed from a single block of precious
metal, the case is 44mm in diameter, is COSC certified and
is produced in a limited edition of just 150 pieces.
In its Special Editions Collection, Panerai has added the
Luminor Marina 1950 watch-a magnificent 47mm timepiece that
pays tribute to the first of its type unveiled in 1950.
Perfectly legible
under water, the watch conforms to its earlier counterpart
with a dial consisting of two superimposed layers and a
bridge device that is protected by trademarks.
The COSC-certified
chronometer watch offers a power reserve of 56 hours and
is crafted in steel. It will be produced in a symbolic 1,950
pieces over a two-year period.
Also in the Special Editions Collection is the exceptional
Luminor Blackseal watch that links past, present and future.
The watch features
a brushed steel cover that is engraved with two Italian
frogmen in action on their human torpedoan image that
also appears on the dial of the watch. The engraving is
executed entirely by hand by Panerais skilled craftsmen.
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