Officine Panerai Develops New Professional Divers' Watch
Officine Panerai has recently introduced a new divers' watch based upon the brand's well-maintained traditions related to the development of professional precision and measuring devices.
The history of the brand was highlighted by the production of the first watches for professional divers, and the Italian Navy commandos in particular, in the first half of the 20th century. At the same time Panerai got involved in the elaboration of the depth gauges for the pioneers to wear on their wrists. Panerai Luminor 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge has united these two essential measuring and checking instruments in a single timepiece.
The new Panerai divers' watch is driven by an automatic chronometer certified movement. It is equipped with a depth gauge with the calibration individually tested and certified by the Swiss Federal Office for Metrology. This certification was vital as any minor flaw of the depth gauge or its faulty calibration would lead to high risk for divers. That is why Panerai wanted its Luminor 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge to be officially approved as an instrument for professional use.
The newly developed Depth Gauge timepiece is housed in the distinctively designed case of the brand's Luminor models. The case measuring 47 mm in diameter is 120-meter water-resistant. It features the immediately recognizable bridge with the lever device necessary to protect the winding crown. The model is crafted in titanium, the metal opted for due to its hypoallergenic qualities, as well as combination of toughness and lightness. Panerai watchmakers chose brushed steel to produce the push-piece of the depth gauge and the winding crown protecting bridge.
The bridge featured by all Luminor models presses the crown coaxially against the case, providing supreme water-resistance of the crown. The bridge also prevents unintentional movement of the hands, so the timepiece can be worn at great depths and in extreme conditions.
The wide unidirectional rotating bezel is produced from brushed steel. The bezel gives an opportunity to calculate the times of immersion with help of oval markers in relief featured every 5 minutes and studs every 15. To operate the bezel it is necessary to rotate it in an anti-clockwise direction. The bezel makes little clicks at every one-minute interval. The screw back also produced from titanium is cambered. It has six deep grooves through which a silicone membrane senses the water pressure.
In 2007 Officine Panerai plans to produce 600 pieces of the Luminor 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge.