Panerai unveils a timeless tribute to Chinese New Year with the Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688, a 100-piece limited-edition watch that merges the elegance of a burgundy dial with the preciousness of Panerai Goldtech™. This auspicious pairing, complemented by the lucky number 88 in the reference – deeply rooted in Chinese tradition – is an ode to fortune, abundance and the perpetual arrival of prosperous years to come.
“With the Luminor Perpetual Calendar, we pay tribute to the rich cultural significance of the Chinese New Year. For the first time ever, we have personalized the dial with Chinese characters which embodies our commitment to crafting timepieces that resonate with our global audience, celebrating their unique heritage and values," says Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Panerai.
The first of Panerai’s watches with this distinctive feature, the dial of the Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688 beautifully integrates Chinese characters for the day and date indicators, with the rotating disc specifically personalized for this watch. A masterclass in subtlety and intricacy, the new timepiece offers more than meets the eye. The elements of the dial are kept to a minimum, including minutes, hours, day, date, 24H GMT hand and 24H sub-dial at 9 o’clock, with small seconds and a day-night indicator, maintaining the characteristic clarity and simplicity of Panerai design. Key indications such as month, year, and leap year are visible through the sapphire open case back, a window to the P.4100 movement’s prowess. The only indication of the actual degree of complexity within is the inscription ‘Calendario Perpetuo,’ an ode to Panerai’s Italian spirit.
When it comes to high-complication, Panerai stands out for its commitment to innovation and simplicity of usage. This spirit is embodied by the Maison’s manufacture in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where the Laboratorio di Idee resides. Once again with the new Luminor Perpetual Calendar, Panerai remains faithful to its ethos of creating clear and intuitive instruments even in its high-complication segment, conforming with the original purpose of creating a clean user-friendly design for elevated legibility, functionality and performance.
An eternal companion, PAM01688 ensures a correct calendar function until 2399, with just an adjustment at the end of each century. The P.4100 calibre was chosen for this timepiece to symbolize a lasting legacy for generations to come. Panerai’s Perpetual Calendar features an intuitive function where adjustments are made only with the crown allowing changes to the day, date, month, and leap year without using a tool or corrector, including during month-end periods and approaching midnight. This innovation is the result of research and development that spanned over five years by Panerai’s Laboratorio di Idee.
PAM01688 is further enriched by a GMT complication. With a 24-hour display, it is a return to the Maison’s heritage, echoing some of the first models developed in the early 2000s. This feature adds a new dimension to the watch’s usability, especially for those who track multiple time zones.
With a three-day power reserve, the watch’s energy is stored in two barrels with off-center micro-rotor that winds the movement beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), to ensure precision and reliability in timekeeping. The off-center position of the micro-rotor allows for more space to display all the information – with just 15 ½ lignes (35.1 mm) in diameter and 7mm in thickness – resulting in a highly functional timepiece for everyday wear despite the number of features it sustains.
PAM01688 brings out the distinctive key elements characterizing the Luminor line: the crown-protecting device with lever, cushion-shaped case, solid lugs and sandwich dial filled with Super-LumiNova®. The timepiece is set in a 44mm Panerai Goldtech™ case, a gold material developed by the Maison that includes a combination of platinum and copper, giving an intense red hue and improving durability. Water resistant up to 5 bar (~50 meters), the watch has been rigorously tested, subjecting it to a pressure up to 25% greater than the guaranteed water resistance value to ensure it fulfils Panerai’s stringent standards. The improved value is a significant milestone in a domain deeply intertwined with Panerai’s heritage that has consistently made the Maison a preferred choice.
The dial shade is perfectly matched with a matt black alligator strap, hand finished to achieve an aged effect, burgundy security stitching points at the case and equipped with a Panerai Goldtech™ buckle for ease of wear, added security and an elegant finishing touch to protect the complication. With a second black rubber strap, PAM01688 is presented in a wooden box as part of the Maison’s limited-edition releases. Luminor Perpetual Calendar PAM01688 is a boutique exclusive available worldwide.
