PANERAI RADIOMIR AND LUMINOR 1950

Two new models brought to life by the tiny “beating heart” which represents the highest expression of Officine Panerai manufacturing skill: the calibre P.2005 with tourbillon. This movement - in all its structural complexity and highly innovative technology - now equips the Radiomir Tourbillon GMT 48 mm, Pink Gold, and the Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT 47 mm, Titanium, both belonging to the Manifattura collection.

From a technical viewpoint the tourbillon is the most sophisticated calibre of the entire Officine Panerai collection: hand-wound and with three spring barrels to accumulate the power necessary to keep the watch running for no fewer than six days, with a power reserve indicator.

This tourbillon is the only one in existence whose balance wheel rotates inside a cage that is parallel instead of perpendicular to the base of the movement. This unusual feature better compensates for any inaccuracies caused by the vertical and horizontal positions the watch may assume when worn on the wrist, and by virtue of the fact that the cage makes a full rotation every 30 seconds and not, as generally occurs, every minute. This complex device is made from a series of planetary conical gear wheels requiring an accuracy and precision which only the master horologists of Panerai Manufacture possess. Furthermore, both models feature a second time zone hand.

The Radiomir Tourbillon GMT model (PAM00330) case comes in pink gold and has a diameter of 48 mm. Cushion-shaped and with a screw crown, it faithfully reproduces the design of the very first watches of its kind, but with new, innovative wire loop strap attachments which can be easily removed by way of a patented screw system. Water-resistant to 100 metres, this watch has a see-through caseback in sapphire crystal revealing the fascinating movement of the tourbillon and to check the power reserve by way of a hand which moves along a circular arc.

The Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT (PAM00331) has the classic Luminor 1950 case, marked by the unmistakable crown-protecting bridge. Water resistant in depths of up to 100 metres, the new model measures 47 mm in diameter and comes in grade five titanium. The bezel is brushed instead of polished like the original model, with polished edges. The dial, no longer dark brown but black, matches the strap and this watch also has a see-through caseback to reveal the exquisitely handcrafted movement.

The Radiomir dial is brown and has a knurled edge flange in pink gold, while the Luminor is dial black. Both have large Arabic numerals and markers, a sandwich construction and a luminous material between the two layers forming the dial itself. This exclusive innovation – which guarantees perfect visibility in all conditions – was pioneered by Officine Panerai in the 1930s. The hands are also luminous – in pink gold in the Radiomir, whose second time zone hand is distinguished by an arrow point. The two sub-dials have a leaf hand, with the one at 3 indicating whether the hour shown by the GMT hand is during the day or night, and the other - the continuous second hand at 9 - making a complete rotation every sixty seconds. Finally, the dial also features a small circular indicator (ecru in the Radiomir and blue in the Luminor) which moves twice as fast as the seconds hand as it is connected to the tourbillon cage which rotates every 30 seconds.

The hand-wound movement is the calibre P.2005 with a diameter of 16 ¼ lignes and thickness of 9.1 mm. Made up of 239 components and with three spring barrels and a 144-hour power reserve, it has been designed and manufactured by Officine Panerai.

The two watches form part of a limited edition - 100 units for the Radiomir and 150 for the Luminor – and come with an alligator strap with a large personalised Panerai buckle in the case material.