Jester introduces the Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech, a groundbreaking timepiece that showcases Panerai's "Laboratorio di Idee" and its commitment to innovation. This article delves into the watch's revolutionary use of carbon-based materials, from its unique case to a lubrication-free movement, offering a glimpse into the future of mechanical watchmaking.
PANERAI LAB-ID LUMINOR 1950 CARBOTECH 3 DAYS – 49mm
A REVOLUTIONARY WATCH DEMONSTRATES THE ABILITY OF PANERAI’S LABORATORIO
DI IDEE TO INNOVATE. THANKS TO A BRILLIANT DEVELOPMENT TAPPING INTO THE
INFINITE POTENTIAL OF CARBON, THE NEW CREATION IS A CASE WITH EXCEPTIONAL
CHARACTERISTICS, A COMPLETELY NEW DEEP BLACK DIAL AND A MOVEMENT NEEDING
NO LUBRICATION, GUARANTEED FOR 50 YEARS.
The past and the future come together in this extraordinary
new demonstration of high quality contemporary
watchmaking created by the Panerai Laboratorio di
Idee: the PANERAI LAB-ID. This new Special Edition,
consisting of only 50 units, is notable for the timeless
design of the Luminor 1950 collection, but it also presents
a series of technological innovations which are evidence
of the ability of the Florentine brand to draw inspiration
from its own past as it writes the future of high quality
watchmaking.
To create a watch with exceptional performance and
revolutionary characteristics, the Panerai Laboratorio di
Idee has sought inspiration in the world of high technology, exploring the most innovative international developments,
and it has found the answer in the infinite potential of
carbon. Every component of the new PANERAI LAB-ID demonstrates the ability of this chemical element to create
materials with exceptional properties: the case, made of a
composite material based on carbon fibre; the dial, covered
with carbon nanotubes; and the movement that, thanks to
the mechanical properties of carbon composites, works
perfectly without any lubrication. It is a remarkable glimpse
into the future of mechanical watchmaking, demonstrating
the infinite development potential of a supremely traditional
and appealing area of craftsmanship.
THE CARBOTECH CASE:
EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE
AND EVERY EXAMPLE UNIQUE
The Luminor 1950 case – 49 mm in diameter – is made of
carbotech, a composite material based on carbon fibre,
which was introduced into the world of watchmaking
by Panerai. As well as ensuring exceptional technical
performance, carbotech has a dense, uneven blackness
which varies with the cut of the material, making each
individual example different from all the rest, and
unrepeatable.
The structure of carbotech enhances both the appearance
and the performance of the material, which is used to
make the case and the bridge device with its locking lever
protecting the winding crown, thus helping to ensure the
watch’s water-resistance to 10 bar (a depth of about 100
metres). To form the sheets of carbotech from which these
components are made, very thin sheets of carbon fibre are
pressed together at a controlled temperature under very
high pressure with the organic polymer PEEK (Polyether
Ether Ketone), which links the composite material, making
it yet more resistant and reliable. The carbon fibres used
are very long, so as to achieve great aesthetic uniformity.
The sheets are superimposed and pressed together in
such a way the orientation of the fibres of each layer is
out of phase with the one below or above it. This structure
has the effect of increasing the mechanical properties of
carbotech compared to those of similar materials or others
often used in high quality watchmaking, such as ceramics
or titanium. Carbotech is actually lighter and more resistant
to external stresses, as well as being hypoallergenic and
not subject to corrosion.
THE TECHNOLOGY OF CARBON
NANOTUBES FOR A DEEP BLACK DIAL
Panerai watches have always been unmatched for the
legibility of their dials, resulting from a remarkable blend
of design, construction and materials technology, and
the new PANERAI LAB-ID forms a new chapter in the
company’s continuing history of research and innovation.
The dial has the classic sandwich structure invented by
Panerai, in which the luminous substance – in this case
blue-coloured Super-LumiNova® – emerges through the
openings made in the dial corresponding to the hour markers
and the small seconds dial, ensuring excellent visibility and
legibility. In the PANERAI LAB-ID these characteristics
are further enhanced by the innovative materials used:
the dial has a coating of carbon nanotubes, used for the
first time for the display dial. The optical properties of this
special coating have been specially developed to absorb
light, reducing reflection to a minimum and giving the dial a
particularly deep black appearance, forming a spectacular
contrast with the blue of the hour markers and hands,
which follow the classic Panerai design.
Because it is not possible to print or stamp a dial with
these characteristics, all the figures are formed directly on
the dial crystal, to which a double anti-reflective treatment
has been applied.
THE NEW P.3001/C MOVEMENT,
RUNNING PERFECTLY
WITHOUT LUBRICATION
The new PANERAI LAB-ID has a P.3001/C handwound
calibre with a power reserve of three days, now
presented for the very first time in an extraordinarily
innovative version, semi-skeletonised, completely without
additional lubrication and with only four jewels. By using
a wide range of solutions, specially devised for the
individual parts of the movement and associated with the
unique properties of carbon, the plates, bridges, barrels,
escapement and anti-shock device use self-lubricating and
dry lubricating materials, and are hence exempt from any
liquid lubrication. These solutions have revolutionized the
need for maintaining and overhauling the calibre, enabling
Panerai to guarantee it for no less than 50 years*.
– To remove the need for further lubricating the main
bridges and the plate, these components are made
of a completely new material: a low friction composite
which integrates a Tantalum based ceramic. This
new generation of composite is notable for its high
percentage of carbon which minimizes pivot friction,
making jewels and their related lubrication unnecessary.
– Also eliminated is the need to lubricate the escapement,
as a result of making the main components from silicon
and applying a special coating of DLC (Diamond Like
Carbon) to the wheelwork.
– A good two years of testing by the Laboratorio di Idee in
the Panerai Manufacture identified the best type of coating
– based on carbon – with which to treat the components
of the two spring barrels of the P.3001 calibre, so as to
make conventional lubrication superfluous. The solution
was to use a series of layers and sub-layers of coating,
the surface one being coated with DLC.
– Last but not least, a surface coating of DLC on the four
jewels means that there is no need to further lubricate
the Incabloc® anti-shock device.
Most of the P.3001/C movement of the new PANERAI
LAB-ID can be seen through the large porthole
protected by a sapphire crystal which is set in the back of
the watch, enabling the power reserve indicator to be read.
The skeletonising of the bridges and the barrels makes it
even easier to admire the technical excellence and finish
of a calibre of extreme reliability and great precision. The
movement’s distinctive features include a balance wheel
which is no less than 13.2 mm in diameter, fixed by a
bridge with twin supports and oscillating at a frequency of
3 Hz, and the device which stops the balance and returns
the seconds hand to zero (seconds reset) when setting the
time, so that the watch can be perfectly synchronized with
a reference signal.
The new PANERAI LAB-ID (PAM00700) is supplied with
a black leather strap, with contrasting sewing in the same
blue as the luminous details of the dial.
MOVEMENT Hand-wound mechanical, P.3001/C calibre, executed entirely by Panerai. FUNCTIONS Hours,
minutes, small seconds, power reserve indicator on the back, seconds reset. CASE 49 mm, carbotech. DIAL Deep
black with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. Small seconds at 9 o’clock.
POWER RESERVE 72H.
WATER-RESISTANCE 10 bar (~100 metres).
