Watches & Wonders 2020: Panerai

Panerai dives deeper into material alchemy.

True to its 'laboratorio di idee’ credo (‘laboratory of ideas’), Panerai’s research and development team has been putting pedal to the metal, evinced by the brand’s recent track record of introducing new-fangled materials.

From popularising the use of bronze cases back in 2011 with the PAM000382, to premiering the highly robust BMG-TECH, a material made of bulk metallic that used to make the case of the PAM00692 in 2019, Panerai further cements its position as a proponent of advanced materials this year with two notable offerings – the Luminor Marina Fibratech PAM01663 (top) and Luminor Marina Goldtech PAM01112.

Far from vanity projects, both the Luminor Marina Fibratech and Luminor Marina Goldtech (above) feature groundbreaking materials that enhance the looks and hardiness of the respective watches. Fibratech comprises mineral basalt fibres, a rock-based material, eco-sustainable row fibres and other polymers. When combined, the material is said to be 60 per cent lighter than steel, yet highly corrosion-resistant. Goldtech, on the other hand, is Panerai’s proprietary red gold alchemy that features a high percentage of copper (24 per cent) mixed with a bit of platinum (0.4 per cent), which lends the material a deep and distinctive colour as well as accords oxidation resistance.

Panerai Luminor Marina DMLS 44mm PAM01662

It’s worth nothing that Panerai’s focus for Watches & Wonders 2020 lies squarely on the Luminor range. Besides the Luminor Marina Fibratech and Luminor Marina Goldtech, the brand has unveiled a slew of new Luminor models that all appear to embrace case materials and construction methods outside of the norm, such as Carbotech (PAM01118) and titanium made using an advanced 3D-printing technology known as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (PAM01117).

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