.gif)
Panerai has revealed a new Luminor that uses silicon in the movement; the brand is so sure of the new technology that the watch comes with a 70-year warranty of service.
Panerai teamed up with Philips auctions to release the watch. The Luminor LAB-ID PAM1700 has a far longer warrant than most high-end watches, which goes to show just how confident the Italian/Swiss watchmaker is with the technology.
Only 70 pieces will be available to clients.
The watch comes with Panerai’s double-barrel P.3001C caliber, a hand-wound movement with 203 components and a three-day power reserve. It comes from the company’s devoted research and development arm, Laboratorio di Idee.
The movement was created using silicon on the escapement, which removes the need for lubrication. So the theory goes, that will cut down on the need for frequent servicing hence the larger warranty.
.gif)
Panerai’s CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué says he hopes in future other watchmakers will benefit from silicon escapements, in the way that it has done.
However, the watch world does not necessarily agree. Niche watchmakers such as F.P. Journe have adamantly stuck to standard metals in their products. The reason? The ability to fix the watch for generations to come.
So the argument goes, watches have been around for hundreds of years and even the most complicated timepieces from the 1800s can be repaired today, because they were crafted by regular materials.
Start building movements with advanced technology – that might not be supported over the next hundred years – and you might lose the ability to repair the watch.
Regardless your opinion on the technology, the Panerai PAM1700 comes with SuperLuminova Grade X1 – which is brighter than standard Lume – and a 49mm high-tech carbon-fibre case.
Esquire now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit ‘Like’ on our Esquire Facebook page and ‘Follow’ on our @esquiremiddleeast Instagram and Twitter account.
