Panerai PAM526 Luminor 1950 Regatta Flyback

AnthonyTsai provides a detailed first look at the Panerai PAM526 Luminor 1950 Regatta Flyback, a significant release from SIHH 2013. This post highlights the watch's innovative and truly functional regatta countdown complication, a notable departure from previous 'Regatta' labeled models. AnthonyTsai's hands-on video and operational breakdown offer invaluable insight for collectors interested in this specialized timepiece.

The next piece I want to highlight is the Panerai PAM526 Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic in a 47mm titanium case.

What is fantastic about this PAM526 Regatta is that this year's Regatta is actually a functional watch you can really use at the Regatta - the PAM526 actually countdowns the time in minute intervals!  Prior yearly version of the Panerai Regatta pieces were usually just Panerai's with a blue colored hand, and Panerai labeled it as a "Regatta" model for that year.

Retail price on the PAM526 is $18,800, and 700 pieces will be made this year.  Anticipated launch is September; but you know with Panerai, if they say September, it won't come out till many more months later.  This Regatta is not listed as a Special Edition but is placed in the Contemporary Collection, so it's my guess that we will see more of these at SIHH 2014.  Perhaps the SIHH 2014 Regatta piece will have a different colored dial or the orange changed to a different color such as red or yellow?

 
In any case, the PAM526 is powered by the P.9100/R caliber.  "R" stands for Regatta.  It's a chrono flyback (blue colored central seconds hand is for this chrono) with a jumping countdown minute chronograph hand (orange colored central hand).

To give you an idea of how to operate the chrono flyback & countdown minute timer, see the below video I took of it in action. 

The blue central seconds chronograph hand is activated by pushing the chrono pusher at 10 o'clock.  This then activates the chronograph feature and the blue hand starts rotating clockwise.

In the above video, you will see the orange countdown minute timer at -4 minutes, meaning there are 4 more minutes till the orange hand moves to the 12 o'clock position.  At 23 seconds into the video, you will see the blue hand reaching 12 o'clock and the orange hand jumps one notch from -4 minutes to -3 minutes.  Now there are 3 minutes left in your countdown for whatever your timing. 

To set the orange countdown minute hand, you have to press the chrono pusher at the 4 o'clock position.  See the below picture, and notice this pusher has an orange resin inlay to match the same orange colored hand.

To active the chronograph, you press the pusher at 10 o'clock which is marked as "S" as in "Start". 

To stop and reset the chronograph or to active the flyback, you push the 7 o'clock pusher.  "R" stands for "Reset" and "F" stands for "Flyback".

I believe this is Panerai's first year where the chrono pushers are engraved in relief with these "S" and "R|F" letters.  Not only do these engravings improve aesthetics, they are also functional because they offer better friction for your fingertips for operating these chrono pushers.

Overall, I'm very impressed with Panerai's Regatta piece for this year because it's a real countdown timer.  It can be set to countdown 59 minutes, so it's useful for many every day applications such as timing parking meters or keeping track of the oven while baking.

The dial specifically highlights a 5-minute window because of timing in a Regatta such as a the America's Cup.  Crews are given a 5-minute window to prepare their boats and position themselves for best entry at the starting line.  So crews must manage their speed and cross at maximum speed at the starting line.  Hence, this 5-minute countdown period on the PAM526 Regetta.

A countdown timer is not a complication you oftenly see in a mechanical watch.  In fact, it's pretty rare I believe.  You'll have countdown features in quartz watches but not for mechanical watches.  Yes, one can argue that a regular chronograph provides elapsed time and it can be used as a countdown timer, but it's not exactly the same thing if you ask me.

From the brands I avidly follow, I can't recall any model off the top of my head which has a countdown minute timer.  The closest model I can think of is the IWC Aquatimer Split-Minutes but that's really not a "true" countdown timer.  Does anyone know of any other brand that has this complication?  In any case, this year's Regatta piece is, hands down, the best Regatta piece Panerai has made to date. 

And finally, below is Panerai's official video for the PAM526 Regatta.

Cheers,
Anthony