A powerful, fascinating reminder of the sea makes the new Special Edition Luminor Submersible unique. This professional underwater watch is the development of the model made by Officine Panerai more than half a century ago for the commandos of the Egyptian Navy. The new Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo – 47 mm is actually made of bronze, one of the materials associated since antiquity with the world of the sea.
Bronze is an alloy based on copper and one other metal, usually tin, to which other elements can be added to achieve particular performance. The bronze chosen by Officine Panerai for the case of the new Luminor Submersible is CuSn8, an alloy of copper and pure tin very resistant to corrosive action by sea water and atmospheric agents. As well as its high degree of structural strength, this material preserves the warm shades of the original while acquiring over time the aged appearance through the patina which covers it. This patina is the result of the reaction of the bronze to external agents (air, humidity, heat and wear) and it does not alter the properties of the material but is rather a sign of its ageing, making each example unique and personalised.
The brushed bronze case, 47 mm in diameter, is water-resistant to 300 metres and has a unidirectional rotating bezel with ratchet click and graduated scale for calculating the times of immersion, with raised studs for reference. The characteristic bridge protecting the winding crown, with the lever ensuring perfect water-resistance of the crown itself, is also made of bronze. The sapphire back is fixed to the caseband by a ring of titanium, a metal chosen for its hypo-allergenic qualities.
The dial follows the characteristic appearance of the Luminor Submersible, with bar markers applied in place of the figures 12 and 6, but it is executed in an unusual dark green colour which goes well with the bronze colour of the case. Protected by a sapphire crystal, the dial has skeleton hands which are highly luminous, the little dials of the small seconds at 9 o'clock and, in a symmetrical position, the window with the date.The movement of the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo – 47 mm is the automatic P.9000 calibre, entirely designed and produced in the Officine Panerai manufacture in Neuchâtel. The P.9000 calibre has a structure with a three-quarter plate, clearly visible through the transparent caseback, a diameter of 13¾ lignes and two spring barrels which provide a power reserve of three days. Identified by the reference PAM00382 and produced in a limited edition of 1.000 units, the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo – 47 mm is completed by a leather strap, treated in such a way as to have an appearance similar to that of the period models and fitted with a personalised titanium buckle.
Movement: Automatic mechanical, Panerai P.9000 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 7.9 mm thick, 28 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 3 days, two barrels. 197 components.
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, calculation of immersion time.
Case: Diameter 47 mm, brushed bronze.
Bezel: Brushed bronze with polished edges, anti-clockwise unidirectional rotating bezel with graduated scale for calculating the time of immersion and ratchet click at minute intervals.
Back: See-through sapphire crystal, brushed titanium external ring.
Device protecting the crown: (protected as a Trademark) Brushed bronze.
Dial: Green with luminous hour markers. Date at 3 o'clock, small seconds at 9 o'clock.
Crystal: Sapphire, made from corundum, 4mm thick. Anti-reflective coating.
Water-resistance: 30 bar (300 metres).
Strap: PANERAI personalised leather strap and large-size brushed titanium buckle. Supplied with a second interchangeable strap and a steel screwdriver.
Reference: PAM00382.
Calibre P.9000
The P.9000 automatic movement, entirely designed and created in the Officine Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, has a diameter of 13¾ lignes and a thickness of 7.9 mm. The three versions available – P.9000, P.9001 and P.9002 – have the date at 3 o'clock and the small seconds at 9 o'clock. They are distinguished by the variable inertia balance wheel, that is, one in which the adjusting screws are arranged radially, and is the single base balance cock. The frequency of oscillation is 28,800 alternations per minute, equivalent to 4 Hz, and the balance wheel is free-sprung.
The power reserve is 3 days, achieved by the two spring barrels connected in series, the second of which has a slipping spring. The use of two spring barrels means that long, thin springs are used which provide a very even force. The evenness with which the force is delivered translates into very accurate timekeeping in that it keeps the oscillation of the balance wheel at a constant amplitude. The oscillating weight winds the springs as it rotates in both directions.
The system which supervises the rapid adjustment of local time is the same as that used in the P.2000 calibres: a star wheel with 12 teeth and a small spring clutch enables the hour hand indicating local time to be moved in clicks of one hour at a time, without interfering with the movement of the minute hand or the running of the watch.
An innovative device enables the automatic winding system to be disconnected when the watch is being wound by hand: this is arranged by a moving intermediate wheel which can adopt two different positions. When the winding crown is rotated, the wheel moves and engages a wheel beneath it with the teeth of the first spring barrel; but when it is in automatic winding mode, it is the spring barrel which, as it rotates, moves the intermediate wheel and disconnects the engagement with the wheel below and therefore the connection with the winding stem.
Functions
- Hours, minutes, small seconds
- Date
Technical specifications
- Automatic winding
- Power reserve 3 days
- 197 components
- 28 jewels.
- 13¾ lignes in diameter
- 7.9 mm thick
- Two spring barrels
- Frequency of oscillation 4 Hz
- Incabloc® anti-shock device
