Manufacture
SJX's comprehensive report on Panerai's "Time and Space - Tribute to Galileo Galilei" exhibition in Shanghai offers a rare glimpse into the brand's heritage and horological innovations. This article provides a detailed visual tour, connecting Panerai's historical roots with its modern-day advancements and astronomical complications.
Panerai just concluded the "Time and Space - Tribute to Galileo Galilei" exhibition in Shanghai, which ran from May 20 to 31 at the Shanghai Sculpture Space. The show exhibits Panerai watchmaking from the very beginning to the modern day, as well as some artefacts related to Galileo, to mark the 400th anniversary of his first astronomical observations.
The exhibition premiered in Florence last year, and the next stop is the USA at an as yet undetermined future date. It will be worth visiting at its next stop.
The Shanghai Sculpture Space
Entering the exhibition area
Formerly a steel factory and now a bohemian enclave of offices and exhibition space, the Shanghai Sculpture Space was the venue for the exhibition. Aside from art galleries the space is also occupied by what seem to be design and media outfits.
Angelo Bonati, Officine Panerai CEO, along with Paolo Galluzzi, Director of Florence's Galileo Museum, held a press conference before the exhibition opening. Signore Bonati explained Panerai's history and achievements, including the dozen or so in-house calibres that have been unveiled to date. Professor Galluzzi on the other hand gave an interesting and technical talk on Galileo and his work related to timekeeping.
And afterwards the opening ceremony.
And now for the exhibition.
Before entering the exhibition proper a movie about the cosmos is played in a circular theatre.
The first part of the three part exhibition chronicles vintage Panerai watches from the beginning of Officine Panerai up till the pre-Vendome period. The watches are from the Panerai museum in Florence. This is the most comprehensive assembly of vintage Panerai I have ever seen. - SJX This message has been edited by SJX on 2011-06-01 00:49:29
The second part of the exhibition details Panerai watches from the 1997 acqusition till today and includes most of the notable watches from the brand since then. The 2011 watches like the Bronzo are shown as well. It also shows all the 'manifattura' movements, including the tourbillons. And also Mike Horn's banged up Arctos which he wore on his trek across the pole. Also in the room were watchmakers demonstrating various watchmaking skills. One of the watchmakers was putting together the tourbil
The last section is a tribute to Galileo. It presents Panerai's trilogy of astronomical timepieces, the L’Astronomo (Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Titanio – 50 mm), Lo Scienziato (Radiomir Tourbillon GMT Ceramica – 48 mm) and Jupiterium planetarium clock. Exhibited alongside are some artefacts from the Galileo museum, including Galileo's leather-covered telescope. - SJX
I really enjoyed this. Fascinating stuff! Thanks for taking the time to share.
especially for those of us who didn't get the chance to attend... Best Regards -Tuscanii-
Thank you you for this report You captured it all perfectly past present & future of Panerai venue is also amazing I must show it to my best man he is huge Singapore fan Best damjan
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