Panerai has launched a brand new range of watches using a completely new material for the brand. The product people at Panerai turned to a carbon fibre reinforced polymer known as Carbotech for the case, bezel and crown lever bridge, the first time Panerai has used a carbon fibre composite.
Long popular with brands like Hublot and Richard Mille, it is now Panerai’s’s turn to use carbon fibre composite for a watch case. The new Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic (PAM00616) is named after the carbon fibre reinforced polymer used for make the case, bezel and crown lock bridge. Carbon fibre composites like Carbotech have a characteristic wave-like pattern due to the layering process used to make the material.
Sheets of carbon fibre are laid on top of each other, with a polymer resin in between to hold it together. It is then put in an autoclave, a sort of high pressure oven, resulting in a light and strong composite. The distinctive striped appearance is due to the layers of carbon fibre inside.
Rated to 300 m, like most of the other Panerai Submersible watches, the case is 47 mm in diameter, with blue accents on the dial as well as parchment coloured Super-Luminova.
While the case is carbon composite, the screw-down back is titanium due to the fact that carbon fibre composite not reacting well to torsional (or twisting) forces. The PAM616 is equipped with the P 9000 automatic movement and a rubber strap.
The Submersible Carbotech is part of the regular collection, with pricing yet to be announced.
