Ever since the release of last year's Luminor Marina 8 Days (PAM 510) using the new in-house P.5000 movement, there has been talk of Panerai discontinuing its entry-level Luminor models. The PAM 510 is a doppelganger of the PAM 111, with the exception of the words “8 Days” on the dial and the movement underneath, the 2 watches are practically identical.
At this time, it is worth talking a little about this new P. 5000 movement, which only debuted this past year. First and foremost, this is a hand-wound movement that's comprised of 127 components and beats at 3Hz or 21,600bph. The movement, like most other Panerai in-house movements, is fairly large at 15 3/4 lignes, but this is necessary because, as you know, Panerai makes large watches. Most of all, it boasts a power reserve of 8 days which is achieved by having two barrels in series. This type of configuration allows longer, thinner springs to be used, giving it its long power reserve.
The newest 45mm steel Radiomir Black Seal 8 Days Acciaio watch along with the Radiomir 8 Days Acciaio are closer in picture to their forebear, with soldered lugs and all the genetic traits from the legacy. What’s new this is actually the incorporation of a hand-wound motion developed by Panerai – P.5000 – with an impressive eight-day power book. The Black Seal model, having a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock (usually earmarked for Luminor models), pays homage to the “Gamma Group” frogmen whose adventurous underwater assignments wreak havoc on Allied battleships.Panerai has also introduced a new Luminor Marina 8 Days Acciaio 44mm stainless steel watch, which shows excellent fidelity towards the first dive watch with its small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, the iconic crown-protecting bridge, and exceptional water-resistance to 300 metres. Equipped using the hand-wound P.5000 calibre having an eight-day power book, the brand new Luminor watch features an engraving of the famous Italian frogmen straddled on a submersible torpedo. From time to time, technological developments pose a danger to the market, leading to real revolutions. But high-quality mechanical watchmaking has always managed to resist this and also to relaunch itself again after every crisis. The fascination of a mechanical watch comes with a distinctive additional value, and from an enthusiast’s point of view it is irreplaceable.” Bonati doesn’t believe the brand is threatened by innovations such as smart watches. “I believe the single point in common between luxury watchmaking and the Apple Watch is the wrist. Mechanical watches are full of passion, emotion, history and tradition — a universe of values that technology cannot replace.”
This year, Panerai is releasing five new Luminor models (three Base modes, two Marina models with sub-seconds at nine) that will be powered by this newly developed movement. And they're:
- Luminor Base 8 Days Acciaio – PAM 560
- Luminor Base 8 Days Acciaio (White Dial) – PAM 561
- Luminor Base 8 Days Titanio – PAM 562
- Luminor Marina 8 Days Acciaio – PAM 563
- Luminor Marina 8 Days Titanio – PAM 564
The PAM 560 is usually the PAM 112, but with the new aforementioned P.5000 movement. The PAM 561, on the other hand, is a white dial version of the PAM 560.
Other popular Luminor models that were refreshed with this new movement includes the titanium-cased PAM 176 and PAM 177. The P.5000 versions of the two are the PAM 562 and PAM 564 respectively and they have titanium cases.
And finally we have the PAM 563, that is a white dial version of last year's PAM 510.
All five of those watches are 44mm wide and are water resistant to 300m, which means they're bona fide dive watches. In addition, with exception of the white dial models which have dot markers, the watches all feature Panerai's signature sandwich dial design. They will also all have sapphire case backs to demonstrate the P.5000 movement and distressed leather straps with Pre-V buckles.
Panerai is reportedly seeking to outfit all of its watches with in-house movements by 2021, which new P.5000 movement allows them to do so. panerai.com
