Luxury and Brilliant L'Astronomo Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT from Panerai

Panerai is a Italian luxury watch brand which initially introduced timepieces and instruments for Italian Navy. It is just several years when Panerai targets itself from military use to public. From 1997, each Panerai watch is created in Neuchatel, Switzerland. Today's Panerai watches are all equipped with its in-house outstanding movement.

The L'Astronomo Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT is a sophisticated and outstanding timepiece. It features Panerai's classic cushion-shaped oversized case. The 50 mm diameter case has a special attraction for men. This time, Panerai choose light and solid nicely brushed titanium to create this L'Astronomo Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT watch. The bezel is round and also made of polished titanium. It is fitted 5 Arabic numerals. It can display the sunrise and sunset time. The L'Astronomo Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT watch is characterized by its elegant black dial, fitted with a month indicator located at 3 o'clock. As the sunset and sunrise are inextricably connected with latitude, Panerai technicians will set the time for the customer's appropriate time zone before shipping the watch. The "Equation of Time" Complication, located above the 6 o'clock, indicates a 30-minute, critical time interval, starting from -15 up to +15. This interval represents the difference between the real solar time, and human perception of time, which differ with up to 15 minutes, eider we perceive a slower or faster time passing due to the Earth’s particularities connected with its orbit.

The most impressive feature of the remarkable Officine Panerai L'Astronomo Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT also called PAM 365 is a fascinating map of the sky, animated by a remarkable mechanism it precisely shows the image of the sky in every moment of the year. Depending on the hemisphere chosen, the celestial disc moves either clockwise or counterclockwise, constantly updating its position.

Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon GMT P.2005

If the tourbillon invented by Abraham Louis Breguet in the end of the 18th century was an innovative product born for pocket watches, then the P.2005 movement that was launched by Panerai was the first revolutionary product born for wrist watches. The tourbillon structure of P.2005 movement got patent in Switzerland in 2005 and got American patent in 2006. The reason why it was approved wasn't the existed difference between it and the tourbillon of other brands, but was its original design intention - compltely for wrist watches, there were few people knew this thing: the object of designing P.2005 was to solve the position difference when the watch was being worn on wrist, its innovative mind was consistent with Abraham Louis Breguet's idea in developing tourbillon, they all wanted to make the watch work more precisely, only the watches in Mr. Breguet era were placed in pocket, and the watch in Panerai era were worn on wrist.

P.2005 tourbillon doesn't operate like traditional tourbillon, whose escapement, escapement wheel and balance wheel rotate together, but P.2005 doesn't work in this way, the relative position of its balance wheel, escapement and escapement wheel won't be changed, what will be changed over time is the relative position between the whole group of escapement and timing structure as well as the movement, so we call P.2005 vertical tourbillon structure, later some manufacturers launched similar products, but most were dual-axis tourbillon, maybe they had an increased technical appreciation value, but relatively had lower safety.

Panerai chose a practical design, if you have observed the most regular status of the watch, you will understand the original design intention of P.2005, the most common position of watch was naturally pendulous or placed falt on the deck, gravity is at right angles with the axis of the balance wheel in most cases, to balance out the gravity's impact on the movement, making the balance wheel is a good entry point. Certainly, appreciating its design concept is one thing, but you must know the tourbillon won't improve the accuracy of the watch to a large extent, just like a 8kt diamond, you can't take it to feed yourself, but we all know the value of the diamond.

Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon GMT PAM 316 is equipped with this movement, all elements of this watch maintain the high standards of Panerai, the watch is built with 950 platinum in case and folding buckle, reflecting specific Panerai style, the dial is amazingly simple, you can't see the tourbillon through the glass face, but there is an active blue dot indicator to indicate the tourbillon's position. Besides, it also has gmt and long-time power reserve functions.

Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon GMT

Movement: P.2005, 31 jewels, 28,800VPH, 239 components, 6-day power reserve, vertical tourbillon device.

Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, gmt, tourbillon indicator, power reserve indicator on case back.

Case: 950 platinum made, 48mm in diameter.

Crystal: Sapphire

Case Back: Transparent sapphire crystal glass.

Strap: Alligator leather strap, coupled with platinum folding buckle.

Limited: 75

Reference: PAM 316

Price: NT$4,195,000

PAM 276 Panerai Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT

PAM00276 / AISI 316L stainless steel / Panerai P.2005 manual winding movement / hours, minutes, small seconds / tourbillon / gmt / 6 days power serve / luminous Arabic numbers and hour markers / 47mm in diameter / arc-shaped sapphire crystal, transparent case back / limited edition / suggestion price: NT$3,323,000

Since Panerai's foundation, they have always upheld the spirit of researching and developing. To achieve consistent innovation, Panerai threw a lot of manpower and money. In 1938, with the professional technology that Panerai relied on to make the first group of professional diving watches for Italian Royal Navy, it first ranked among the watch-making industry, until now, Panerai has accumulated decades of experience in watch-making. Recently, Panerai upgraded its process again, introduced several kinds of in-house movements, which were entirely designed, developed and manufactured by Panerai's factory. "Calibre", in short, was a technical name of the movement, it was also the "engine" of the wrist watch and made it possible to display time. In technology, P.2005 was absolutely the most precise and complicated one among the four in-house movements of Panerai, that was exactly the movement Panerai used in Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT, which was a masterpiece that mixed long tradition and sports feature.

The tourbillon frame was vertically set with the axis of the balance wheel , a very special type.

The biggest characteristic of the brand-new Luminor watch was its tourbillon. Tourbillon was invented by the great watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet in the end of the 18th century, this device was designed to eliminate the inaccuracy of the time, that was to avoid the faster or slower situation. Reasons that caused time inaccuracy included: the impact of gravity on balance wheel, deviation of the manufacturing process, oil condensate and the resulting friction between different positions of the watch. To eliminate time inaccuracy, Mr. Breguet made a constant rotating framework, which consisted of balance wheel, escapement device and some pivots. In this way, any inaccuracy which occurred when balance wheel traveled to a specific position could be eliminated. More than two centuries, tourbillon has always been the synonym of ultimate technology, it required the most high-precision processing technology. This technology was just used in watch-making industry in recent years, and the watch brands that adopted it were naturally the representatives of highest quality. Watch enthusiasts from generations to generation have been obsessed with the tourbillon escapement, which was a recognized technical challenge in watch-making industry. However, Panerai was not afraid of challenge, it even successfully made an innovation in this field and left its own mark in this advanced watch technology that has rarely changed since the invention.

Movement: 16¼ lignes / 9.1mm thick / 28,800 vph / tourbillon / 31 jewels / 6 days power reserve / 3 barrels

Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT, its tourbillon rotated on axis that was in parallel with the base of the movement, rotating twice per minute. The time inaccuracy of the wrist watch was higher than the pocket watch because of the position, but the two innovation made this Panerai tourbillon better compensate for this deviation. P.2005 operated through a series of unique gearings that were similar to automotive differential gears, this was also one of the characteristics which P.2005 was different from other tourbillon watches. P.2005 had 239 components, manual winding, 3 barrels, it could supply 6-day power when being fully wound. Besides, Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT had GMT function, it used sapphire crystal glass face and see-through case back, so there was a panoramic view of the movement's operation through the case back, you could not only appreciate the charming appearance of the tourbillon, but the state of the power reserve could be read from the indicator.

Small seconds subdial and tourbillon indicator were at 9 o'clock, showing the operation of the movement.

This watch was highly distinctive, featured the unique crown guard that has been used by Luminor models for more than 60 years, polished and brushed stainless steel, 47mm in case diameter. It was water resistant to 100 metres, which fully met the standards of a navigation casual watch. The dial adopted sandwich structure and was protected by the antireflective sapphire crystal glass, 2mm thick. The middle layer of the dial was coated luminescent material, so the hour markers and Arabic numbers were particularly clear and readable even in the dark place. Hour and minute hands were large and wide, contrasted clearly with the slender arrow-shaped gmt hand, the gmt function was adjusted through the crown. Compared with the tourbillon watches of other watch brands, Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT didn't specially set a opening on the dial to show off this technical expertise, however, Panerai presented this feature in a distinctive way, the small detail at 9 o'clock, there was a blue dot indicator except the small seconds, its speed was two times the small seconds, 30 seconds per circle. The hand on another subdial at 3 turned a circle every 24 hours, the "pm" or "am" words told the wearer now was the day or night. The Panerai watch was fitted with alligator leather strap and Panerai personlised large brushed steel buckle, spare leather strap and the tools to replace the strap were also supplied.

Panerai Radiomir Ceramic 48mm 6 Days Skeleton Tourbillon GMT PAM 348

Officine Panerai presents a very special exclusive edition of its Radiomir featuring made-over aesthetics and technology but all the usual appeal: the Radiomir Tourbillon GMT Ceramica 48mm.

The main novelty of the Radiomir Tourbillon GMT Ceramica 48mm is its refined skeleton structure, clearly visible from the dial. This in fact, is made of a fine mesh that supports both a fine external band, with small ecru-coloured luminescent Arabic numerals and hour markers and also the subsidiary dials, showing the small seconds, tourbillon movement and am/pm. The second time zone is indicated by a third central hand, which finishes in an arrow point, as luminescent as the hour and minute hands. The shape of the dial allows the numerous parts of the movement to be seen, including the tourbillon regulator at 10-11 o'clock. The dial is protected by sapphire crystal made from corundum (1.9 mm thick), with double antireflective coating.

The 48mm diameter case is made of a zirconium oxide ceramic, an exceptionally hard, corrosionresistant material that is first pressed in a single block and then fine-milled to give it, after numerous operations, its final cushion shape. The back-plate, made from a ring of titanium, houses a large window in sapphire crystal through which the movement can be seen.

Despite the technical complexity of the tourbillon movement and the special material used for the case, this watch is waterproof to 10 bar (about 100 metres), thus qualifying as a true traditional Radiomir.

The new Radiomir has a P.2005/S movement with a diameter of 16 frac14; lignes and 31 rubies, characterised by its tourbillon that rotates perpendicularly to the axis of the balance, completing two rotations a minute instead of one and thus guaranteeing greater precision. Comprising 277 parts, the movement is the result of exceptional work by the maestro watch-makers at Officine Panerai and, thanks to its three spring barrels, enables a power reserve of six days, indicated by a hand that can be seen through the back plate moving through the arc of a circle.

With reference PAM00348, the Radiomir Tourbillon GMT Ceramica 48mm will be produced in only 30 units, all millemised and numbered. It comes on a leather strap with adjustable buckle in scratchresistant burnished steel.

Specifications of Panerai Radiomir Ceramic 48mm 6 Days Skeleton Tourbillon GMT PAM 348

Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, Panerai P.2005/S calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 16frac14; lignes, 10.05 mm thick, 31 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 6 days, three barrels. 277 components.

Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, second time zone, 24h indicator, power reserve indicator on the back, tourbillon.

Case: Diameter 48mm, black ceramic with removable wire loop strap attachments (patented) in steel with special hard black coating. Screw-down winding crown in ceramic personalised OP.

Bezel: Black ceramic.

Back: See-through sapphire crystal.

Dial: Skeleton dial with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. 24h indicator at 3 o'clock, small seconds and tourbillon indicator at 9 o'clock.

Crystal: Sapphire, made from corundum, 2 mm thick. Double anti-reflective coating.

Water-resistance: 10 bar (100 metres).

Strap: PANERAI personalised leather strap and adjustable steel buckle with special hard black coating.

Reference: PAM00348

Panerai Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Titanio 50mm PAM 365

Dedicated to fans of technical grand complications, the Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Titanio 50mm by Officine Panerai is a tribute to the genius of Galileo Galilei, a combination of some of the rarest, most exclusive and fascinating specialities in watch-making.

Produced in just 30 examples, the Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Titanio 50mm is the most technically sophisticated wristwatch ever produced by Officine Panerai: a tourbillon with equation of time, indication of sunrise and sunset times for the city chosen by the purchaser and depiction of the night sky of the same city on the back plate.

The watch functions are immediate and clear on the dial: a date window at 3 o'clock, alongside a tiny dial that shows the month with a hand; sunset time; equation of time; sunrise time and finally small seconds at 9 o'clock, where the rotation of the tourbillon with a tiny ecru disc is visible through a small dial. Times for sunrise and sunset are shown by two cursors that run along numbered circular sectors and vary depending not only on the seasons but also on the latitude chosen by the purchaser. The dial has the classic Panerai sandwich structure, guaranteeing exceptional night-time visibility thanks to the luminescent substance inserted between the two layers.

Equation of time is the difference between the time shown by the watch, which is that universally adopted for ease and real or solar time, which varies every day due to the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit and the inclination of its axis. 4 days a year, these two times coincide perfectly but on all the other days they actually differ by up to 15 minutes, either faster or slower. The linear cursor at 6 o'clock immediately shows this time difference and this calculation is a speciality of top-end watchmaking and a feature that very few watches have.

Other indications can be seen through the sapphire glass on the lower part of the movement P.2005/G, based on the Officine Panerai P.2005 in-house calibre, modified to include new functions. With 375 components, the P.2005/G calibre features a typical Panerai tourbillon regulator, which can be admired from the back, turning on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the balance and making two rotations a minute, instead of one. With three spring barrels, it has a manual-wound movement and ensures 4 days' autonomy, with the remaining power reserve shown by a hand, this too visible on the back.

The last hugely fascinating element that completes the personality and refinement of this model, is the map of the sky on the lower part of the mechanism. The disc that shows the map rotates in one direction or the other, depending on the hemisphere chosen, thus constantly updating the night sky above the city chosen by the purchaser. The name of the city is also engraved on the back, together with the millesimation.

Specifications of Panerai Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Titanio 50mm PAM 365

Case: Titanium, cushion-shaped, 50mm in diameter

Bezel: Titanium

Dial: Black

Crystal: Sapphire, corundum, 2mm thick, antireflective coating

Movement: Panerai P.2005/G Calibre, manual winding, 375 components, 36.6mm in diameter, 11.04mm thick, 46 jewels, 3 barrels, 28,800vph, 96 hours power reserve

Functions: Date, month, equation of time, tourbillon, power reserve, sunrise and sunset time

Price: $220,000

Panerai PAM00331 Tourbillon GMT P.2005

In 2010, Panerai launched one of the most complicated and unique watches - PAM00331 Tourbillon GMT,which equipped with the most precise movement - P.2005.

PAM00331 featured Luminor 1950 case, which was Titanium made and brushed, 47mm in case diameter. 100m waterproof, which reflected Panerai's consistent pursuit of leisure sailing. Different to other tourbillon watches, PAM00331 displayed the movement of tourbillon in an unique way: on the small seconds subdial at 9, besides a small second hand, there was also a blue dot indicator. This indicator was connected with tourbillon, its rotate speed was 2 times of the small second hand, turned around every 30 seconds(tourbillon's speed). In the other side, at 3 o'clock, the hand turned around every 24 hours, the "pm" or "am" on the dial meant day or night.