Der Hanseat
03.05.2007, 13:55
TEN YEARS OF IDEAS: THE OFFICINE PANERAI WORKSHOP
In March of ten years ago, the then Vendôme Group, now Richemont, acquired the branch of Officine Panerai concerned with Watches, Compasses, Depth Gauges and Precision Optical Instruments.
Also acquired along with the branch was the brand Officine Panerai, while the previous organization was called Panerai Sistemi.
In the 1930s Officine Panerai was official supplier to the Italian Navy of sophisticated, high precision devices. Amongst the multitude of ideas and instruments realized, a special range of watches was created specifically designed for use in extreme and highly risky conditions.
Since 1993 these special and secret military watches have been made available to the general public in limited editions under the original brands Luminor and Mare Nostrum.
The acquisition of Panerai from the Vendôme Group has underlined the turning-point of the Brand consecrating Panerai, through an international launch, as Brand of sport watchmaking with high quality.
A long voyage then, and one full of ideas, reflecting the values that Panerai has held since its origins. Values of ideas, values of men and women, values of a city, Florence, international home and point of reference of craftsmanship, creativity and a taste for beautiful things.
Ten years ago an idea emerged – to put together a watch with an unusual and yet authentic shape, with an extraordinary testimonial, Sylvester Stallone - but no brand existed.
What has been accomplished in these ten years is recent history:
· a research and development company called Officine Panerai Marketing & Comunicazione, with the aim of promoting the original, all-Italian project, thus giving the brand a long-term international opening that reflects Panerai’s original identity and authenticity;
· a distribution network that is highly selective and professional: 450 points of sale;
· the opening of five boutiques situated in the most important international venues:
Florence
Portofino
Hong Kong
Los Angeles
Shanghai;
· the Manifattura in Neuchâtel, which today boasts qualified craftsman and specialist watchmakers capable of operating at the highest levels. The Manifattura has the most highly advanced and technological systems to ensure the utmost quality of the manufacturing process;
· a technical research centre for materials and movements which uses the most advanced technologies;
· the creation and production of a range of fine watch movements which already boasts more than 10 exclusive patents. This range of movements means the presentation of at least one new and innovative calibre each year;
· recruitment of a specialised workforce for the new needs.
Today Officine Panerai is able to announce the first four Panerai calibres:
· P.2002 8 Days GMT: manual winding.
· P.2003 10 Days GMT: automatic mechanical.
· P.2004 8 Days GMT Chrono Monopulsante: manual winding.
· P.2005 6 Days GMT Tourbillon: manual winding.
These four movements are destined to power Panerai’s creations in the future, watches with values that will be increasingly appreciated among collectors and among those who make daily use of their watch an instrument of quality that lasts over time. Following ten years of intense activity, of ideas, here is a new brand:
OFFICINE PANERAI
The Calibre P.2002
The first movement developed by Officine Panerai combines the best of Italian creativity and tradition with Swiss technical knowledge. The power reserve, with the 8 days of autonomous operation picked up from the Angelus movements of the 1940s, has here been achieved through an energy accumulator of new design consisting of three spring barrels and linear power reserve indication. The system for setting the time uses the second reset device (which with the GMT function will also appear in the next three movements developed), which stops the balance and causes the seconds hand to spring back to zero when the winding crown is pulled out, facilitating accurate setting of the time and synchronisation with the time signal being used as a reference. The GMT function, another characteristic of Panerai watches, uses a method with two hands indicating 12 and 24 hours.
Technical characteristics:
- 245 components
- 13 ¾ lignes (31.8mm. X 6.60mm.)
- Frequency 4Hz
- Hand-wound calibre, power reserve 8 days
- 3 high-speed spring barrels
- Second reset and GMT functions
- Linear power reserve indicator
http://i16.tinypic.com/4ldcwic.jpg
The P.2003 Calibre
The unusual feature of this mechanical movement is its automatic winding with an autonomy of 10 days (240 hours). As in the case of the P.2002, such a prolonged power reserve is possible because of the innovative system with its unusual energy accumulator, consisting of three spring barrels: two of these are located one above the other, while the third is linked through a gear train which enables the power remaining to be indicated on an appropriate graduated scale.
The new movement has been constructed according to the quality standards of Officine Panerai: as shown by the brushed finish of the structural parts with chamfered edges and polished screws. The oscillating weight is also of brushed finish and is personalised by the logo and the brand name in blue.
Technical characteristics:
- 281 parts
- 13 ¾ lignes (31.8 X 8.00 mm.)
- Frequency 4Hz
- Automatic calibre, power reserve 10 days
- 3 high-speed spring barrels
- Second reset and GMT functions
- Linear power reserve indicator
http://i10.tinypic.com/4xnltfr.jpg
The P.2004 Calibre
It is the first chronograph movement created entirely by the brand, an expression of the quality of mechanical tradition applied to sports watches.
The Calibre P.2004 is a hand-wound mechanical movement with a single button column wheel chronograph which combines the start/stop/reset functions in a single push-piece. This push-piece is positioned at 8 o’clock so as to maintain the unusual appearance of Luminor watches, with the bridge protecting the winding crown, a distinctive feature of the design of Luminor cases. Its position also allows the most immediate control of the operations of the chronograph when making time measurements. The chronograph seconds hand is in the centre with the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, enabling the measurements themselves to be clearly read. But the heart of the movement consists of the sophisticated system for controlling the chronograph functions: the column wheel, a characteristic feature of high-quality chronographs, ensures the greatest precision in starting, stopping and second-resetting the chronograph hands.
The back reveals the structure of the movement with its separate bridges, their brushed finish with chamfered edges and the polished screws.
Technical characteristics:
- 333 components
- 13 ¾ lignes (31.8 X 8.20 mm.)
- Frequency 4 Hz
- Hand-wound calibre with 8 days power reserve
- 3 high-speed spring barrels
- Second reset and GMT functions
- Linear power reserve indicator
- Column wheel
http://i17.tinypic.com/4qi9yxw.jpg
The P.2005 Calibre
The Calibre 2005 is a movement with a tourbillon escapement, the greatest technical expression of mechanical horology: a complication notable for the difficulty of its construction and the accomplishment of which is the result of the outstanding craftsmanship of master horologists and the most advanced electronic technology.
The special feature of the regulating organ perfected by Panerai lies in the fact that the tourbillon cage rotates on an axis at right angles to the axis of the balance wheel and that it makes two rotations per minute: this rotation, which is faster than usual, ensures greater accuracy, providing the best compensation for the irregular rate caused by the effect of the force of gravity. The fascinating motion of the tourbillon, which attracts the attention of everyone who looks at it, can be admired from the back of the watch, while on the dial side there is a little circular blue indicator, within the seconds counter at 9 o’clock, which travels twice as quickly as the seconds hand because it moves at the speed of the tourbillon cage.
Technical characteristics:
- 243 components
- 16 ¾ lignes (37.2 X 9.10 mm.)
- Frequency 4 Hz
- Hand-wound calibre with 6 days power reserve
- 3 high-speed spring barrels
- GMT functions
- Power-reserve indicator on the back of the movement
http://i13.tinypic.com/4vq2ybc.jpg
In March of ten years ago, the then Vendôme Group, now Richemont, acquired the branch of Officine Panerai concerned with Watches, Compasses, Depth Gauges and Precision Optical Instruments.
Also acquired along with the branch was the brand Officine Panerai, while the previous organization was called Panerai Sistemi.
In the 1930s Officine Panerai was official supplier to the Italian Navy of sophisticated, high precision devices. Amongst the multitude of ideas and instruments realized, a special range of watches was created specifically designed for use in extreme and highly risky conditions.
Since 1993 these special and secret military watches have been made available to the general public in limited editions under the original brands Luminor and Mare Nostrum.
The acquisition of Panerai from the Vendôme Group has underlined the turning-point of the Brand consecrating Panerai, through an international launch, as Brand of sport watchmaking with high quality.
A long voyage then, and one full of ideas, reflecting the values that Panerai has held since its origins. Values of ideas, values of men and women, values of a city, Florence, international home and point of reference of craftsmanship, creativity and a taste for beautiful things.
Ten years ago an idea emerged – to put together a watch with an unusual and yet authentic shape, with an extraordinary testimonial, Sylvester Stallone - but no brand existed.
What has been accomplished in these ten years is recent history:
· a research and development company called Officine Panerai Marketing & Comunicazione, with the aim of promoting the original, all-Italian project, thus giving the brand a long-term international opening that reflects Panerai’s original identity and authenticity;
· a distribution network that is highly selective and professional: 450 points of sale;
· the opening of five boutiques situated in the most important international venues:
Florence
Portofino
Hong Kong
Los Angeles
Shanghai;
· the Manifattura in Neuchâtel, which today boasts qualified craftsman and specialist watchmakers capable of operating at the highest levels. The Manifattura has the most highly advanced and technological systems to ensure the utmost quality of the manufacturing process;
· a technical research centre for materials and movements which uses the most advanced technologies;
· the creation and production of a range of fine watch movements which already boasts more than 10 exclusive patents. This range of movements means the presentation of at least one new and innovative calibre each year;
· recruitment of a specialised workforce for the new needs.
Today Officine Panerai is able to announce the first four Panerai calibres:
· P.2002 8 Days GMT: manual winding.
· P.2003 10 Days GMT: automatic mechanical.
· P.2004 8 Days GMT Chrono Monopulsante: manual winding.
· P.2005 6 Days GMT Tourbillon: manual winding.
These four movements are destined to power Panerai’s creations in the future, watches with values that will be increasingly appreciated among collectors and among those who make daily use of their watch an instrument of quality that lasts over time. Following ten years of intense activity, of ideas, here is a new brand:
OFFICINE PANERAI
The Calibre P.2002
The first movement developed by Officine Panerai combines the best of Italian creativity and tradition with Swiss technical knowledge. The power reserve, with the 8 days of autonomous operation picked up from the Angelus movements of the 1940s, has here been achieved through an energy accumulator of new design consisting of three spring barrels and linear power reserve indication. The system for setting the time uses the second reset device (which with the GMT function will also appear in the next three movements developed), which stops the balance and causes the seconds hand to spring back to zero when the winding crown is pulled out, facilitating accurate setting of the time and synchronisation with the time signal being used as a reference. The GMT function, another characteristic of Panerai watches, uses a method with two hands indicating 12 and 24 hours.
Technical characteristics:
- 245 components
- 13 ¾ lignes (31.8mm. X 6.60mm.)
- Frequency 4Hz
- Hand-wound calibre, power reserve 8 days
- 3 high-speed spring barrels
- Second reset and GMT functions
- Linear power reserve indicator
http://i16.tinypic.com/4ldcwic.jpg
The P.2003 Calibre
The unusual feature of this mechanical movement is its automatic winding with an autonomy of 10 days (240 hours). As in the case of the P.2002, such a prolonged power reserve is possible because of the innovative system with its unusual energy accumulator, consisting of three spring barrels: two of these are located one above the other, while the third is linked through a gear train which enables the power remaining to be indicated on an appropriate graduated scale.
The new movement has been constructed according to the quality standards of Officine Panerai: as shown by the brushed finish of the structural parts with chamfered edges and polished screws. The oscillating weight is also of brushed finish and is personalised by the logo and the brand name in blue.
Technical characteristics:
- 281 parts
- 13 ¾ lignes (31.8 X 8.00 mm.)
- Frequency 4Hz
- Automatic calibre, power reserve 10 days
- 3 high-speed spring barrels
- Second reset and GMT functions
- Linear power reserve indicator
http://i10.tinypic.com/4xnltfr.jpg
The P.2004 Calibre
It is the first chronograph movement created entirely by the brand, an expression of the quality of mechanical tradition applied to sports watches.
The Calibre P.2004 is a hand-wound mechanical movement with a single button column wheel chronograph which combines the start/stop/reset functions in a single push-piece. This push-piece is positioned at 8 o’clock so as to maintain the unusual appearance of Luminor watches, with the bridge protecting the winding crown, a distinctive feature of the design of Luminor cases. Its position also allows the most immediate control of the operations of the chronograph when making time measurements. The chronograph seconds hand is in the centre with the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, enabling the measurements themselves to be clearly read. But the heart of the movement consists of the sophisticated system for controlling the chronograph functions: the column wheel, a characteristic feature of high-quality chronographs, ensures the greatest precision in starting, stopping and second-resetting the chronograph hands.
The back reveals the structure of the movement with its separate bridges, their brushed finish with chamfered edges and the polished screws.
Technical characteristics:
- 333 components
- 13 ¾ lignes (31.8 X 8.20 mm.)
- Frequency 4 Hz
- Hand-wound calibre with 8 days power reserve
- 3 high-speed spring barrels
- Second reset and GMT functions
- Linear power reserve indicator
- Column wheel
http://i17.tinypic.com/4qi9yxw.jpg
The P.2005 Calibre
The Calibre 2005 is a movement with a tourbillon escapement, the greatest technical expression of mechanical horology: a complication notable for the difficulty of its construction and the accomplishment of which is the result of the outstanding craftsmanship of master horologists and the most advanced electronic technology.
The special feature of the regulating organ perfected by Panerai lies in the fact that the tourbillon cage rotates on an axis at right angles to the axis of the balance wheel and that it makes two rotations per minute: this rotation, which is faster than usual, ensures greater accuracy, providing the best compensation for the irregular rate caused by the effect of the force of gravity. The fascinating motion of the tourbillon, which attracts the attention of everyone who looks at it, can be admired from the back of the watch, while on the dial side there is a little circular blue indicator, within the seconds counter at 9 o’clock, which travels twice as quickly as the seconds hand because it moves at the speed of the tourbillon cage.
Technical characteristics:
- 243 components
- 16 ¾ lignes (37.2 X 9.10 mm.)
- Frequency 4 Hz
- Hand-wound calibre with 6 days power reserve
- 3 high-speed spring barrels
- GMT functions
- Power-reserve indicator on the back of the movement
http://i13.tinypic.com/4vq2ybc.jpg