PANERAI Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days BRONZO

By TLex Bronze is the new black! OK maybe not, but as far as dive watch construction is concerned it has become very much in vogue asserting itself as popular choice for achieving that desirable artisan look. PANERAI unveiled the stunning new PAM00382 'Bronzo' at SIHH 2011 . . .



From PANERAI 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–47mm 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.