Panerai’s 2011 collection continues to do what it does very well, a solid dose of retro inspiration, a dash of in-house movement credibility and dastardly limited numbers of everything.
A key tactic of Panerai, if I may venture a guess, is to take one element from its vintage models each year and apply it to the new models. In past years it was “Reg. T. M.” on the crown lock, or it was faux aged Luminova. This year it is engraved dial text.
The first model with the engraved “Luminor Panerai” is the new Luminor 1950 3 Days PAM372. Inspired by the transitional Luminor, this watch case is a hybrid of the Radiomir and Luminor, with a flatter and rounder cushion-shaped case band but rectangular lugs and a crown guard. In another nod to the past it has a plexiglass crystal.
This is a 47 mm Luminor with the new P.3000 in-house movement which at 16 ½ ’” is a perfect replacement for the Unitas. Its size is perfectly appropriate for the case, making the view from the back reassuring. The case back is also notable because, like Panerai watches of old, it is flat.
A few other notable characteristics of the P.3000 are the double barrels with 72 hours of power reserve, the full bridge for the escapement and the variable mass balance wheel.
The new Luminor is not the only watch with the new P.3000 movement. Three more faithfully vintage watches in precious metal also use the new P.3000. At the very top is the Radiomir 3 Days Platino PAM 373 which also has engraved dial text. Inspired by a 1930s Panerai prototype, only two samples of which are known to exist, this is a peculiar looking watch. I am glad this dial design remained a prototype.
The next is the Radiomir 3 Days Oro Bianco PAM372. This one has what is commonly known as a “California” dial, with Roman and Arabic numerals.
Third is the Radiomir 3 Days Oro Rosa PAM379 with the traditional 3, 6, 9, 12 Panerai dial. The text on the dial is engraved, naturally.
There is one more watch with the new P.3000, however, the Luminor 1950 Composite PAM375. This is a 47 mm watch in a brown composite case. Aluminium coated with ceramic, resulting in a hard yet light material, the material was first used on the Radiomir composite of 2010.
The second composite watch for 2011 is the Luminor Marina 1950 Composite 3 Days PAM386. Unlike the other composite watch, this is 44 mm and not a special edition. And this is automatic with the P.9000 movement.
But the most interesting material this year is bronze in the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo PAM382. Thought not the first in watchmaking to use bronze, Panerai’s bronze alloy is uniquely red, bringing to mind a rose gold-plated watch. It is a marine bronze, resistant to seawater and corrosion, but untreated, meaning it will acquire a patina over time.
The movement is the P.9000 in-house automatic. Like all bronze watches the case back is titanium to prevent the bronze case from coming into contact with the skin. And to match the soon to be aged case this has a green dial, the first time Panerai is using green.
Another Luminor Submersible 1950 special edition for 2011 is the Regatta GMT PAM371. In a titanium case with second time zone function, this has a blue dial and is made for the Classic Yachts Challenge 2011.
One of my favourites is the Luminor 1950 Left-Handed 8 Days Titanio PAM368. As its name indicates, this is a titanium case 1950 with the P.2002 8 day power reserve movement.
Also left-handed is the last special edition for 2011, the Luminor 1950 monopusher chronograph in titanium. This features the in-house P.2004 8 days single pusher chronograph calibre in a 44 mm case. Usually I like the Panerai aesthetic but this one looks off balance, somehow the monopusher chronograph does not work as a left-handed watch.
Oddly enough another Panerai I am ambivalent about is another chronograph, the Luminor Chrono Daylight PAM356. This is clearly a modern Panerai yet it has aged Luminova and matching stitching on the strap. Overall the design elements don’t sit well together.
The last chronograph for the year is a 42 mm Radiomir chronograph. Again I find cause for complaint, the watch is small but thick, giving it very squat proportions. But this will presumably appeal to ladies who want a small, but complicated, Panerai.
Several more Radiomir watches were unveiled and I have no complaints about these. The first is a 42 mm Radiomir in rose gold. This is actually identical to the 42 mm Radiomir of last year, except it has a polished instead of brushed case.
Now the Radiomir line finally has an entry level “logo” watch, the Radiomir Black Seal Logo PAM380. Like the Luminor logo models this has a solid back. Somehow I find the logo works better on the Luminor than the Radiomir though.
The last new addition is the Radiomir 8 Days Ceramica. 45 mm with the P.2002 calibre, this is the second ceramic Radiomir after the Black Seal.
- SJX
This message has been edited by SJX on 2011-01-30 08:52:42 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2011-01-30 16:20:19