Panerai Lab-ID

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Panerai Lab-ID - Panerai
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Thanks to the development into the infinite potential of carbon, the new Luminor 1950 CarbotechTM 3 Days – 49 mm features exceptional characteristics, a deep black dial and a movement guaranteed for 50 years.

The past and the future come together in this new demonstration of high quality contemporary watchmaking created by the Panerai Laboratorio di Idee: the Panerai Lab-IDTM. This new Special Edition of only 50 units is notable for the timeless design of the Luminor 1950 collection and also presents a series of technological innovations. To create this watch, the brand sought inspiration in the infinite potential of carbon.

The Luminor 1950 case – 49 mm in diameter – is made of carbotech, a composite material based on carbon fibre, which was introduced into the world of watchmaking by Panerai. As well as ensuring exceptional technical performance, carbotech has a dense, uneven blackness which varies with the cut of the material, making each individual example different from all the rest, and unrepeatable. The structure of carbotech enhances both the appearance and the performance of the material, which is used to make the case and the bridge device with its locking lever protecting the winding crown, thus helping to ensure the watch’s water-resistance to 10 bar. To form the sheets of carbotech from which these components are made, very thin sheets of carbon fibre are pressed together at a controlled temperature under very high pressure with the organic polymer PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), which links the composite material, making it yet more resistant and reliable. The carbon fibres used are very long, so as to achieve great aesthetic uniformity. The sheets are superimposed and pressed together in such a way the orientation of the fibres of each layer is out of phase with the one below or above it. This structure has the effect of increasing the mechanical properties of carbotech compared to those of similar materials or others often used in high quality watchmaking. This material is lighter and more resistant to external stresses, as well as being hypoallergenic and not subject to corrosion.

Panerai Lab-ID

The dial has the classic sandwich structure invented by Panerai, in which the luminous substance – in this case blue-coloured Super-LumiNova® – emerges through the openings made in the dial corresponding to the hour markers and the small seconds dial, ensuring excellent visibility and legibility. On this model these characteristics are further enhanced by the innovative materials used: the dial has a coating of carbon nanotubes, used for the first time for the display dial. The optical properties of this special coating have been specially developed to absorb light, reducing reflection to a minimum and giving the dial a particularly deep black appearance, forming a contrast with the blue of the hour markers and hands.

The new Panerai Lab-IDTM has a P.3001/C hand-wound calibre with a power reserve of three days, now presented for the very first time in an innovative version, semi-skeletonised, completely without additional lubrication and with only four jewels. By using a wide range of solutions, specially devised for the individual parts of the movement and associated with the unique properties of carbon, the plates, bridges, barrels, escapement and anti-shock device use self-lubricating and dry lubricating materials, and are hence exempt from any liquid lubrication. These solutions have revolutionised the need for maintaining and overhauling the calibre, enabling Panerai to guarantee it for no less than 50 years.

Most of the P.3001/C movement can be seen through the sapphire crystal caseback, enabling the power reserve indicator to be read. The skeletonising of the bridges and the barrels makes it even easier to admire the technical excellence and finish of a calibre of extreme reliability and great precision. The movement’s distinctive features include a balance wheel which is no less than 13.2 mm in diameter, fixed by a bridge with twin supports and oscillating at a frequency of 3 Hz, and the device which stops the balance and returns the seconds hand to zero (seconds reset) when setting the time, so that the watch can be perfectly synchronised with a reference signal. 

The new Panerai Lab-IDTM is supplied with a black leather strap, with contrasting sewing in the same blue as the luminous details of the dial.

 

Panerai Lab-ID

 

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