Officine Panerai’s Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT

Music to the ears

Officine Panerai has launched its most complicated watch yet: the Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT. Boasting the first minute repeater by the brand, along with dual time zones and a tourbillon, the timepiece houses the stunning new in-house P.2005/MR movement, which is skeletonised and shown within a 49-mm red gold case in Panerai’s signature cushion shape.

The minute repeater’s difference lies in its chime. Three hammers (instead of the more common two) are activated by a pusher at eight o’clock – and because they sound three different pitches instead of two, the resulting chime is more melodious. Another noteworthy feature is that the timepiece can be activated for two time zones. To switch the minute repeater function between the two time zones, unlock the pusher at eight o’clock by rotating the crown until the black indicator on it is no longer visible from the dial-side. Then, select the time zone to be connected to the minute repeater by clicking the push-piece on the crown.

The minute repeater may be the tour de force in this watch, but no less remarkable is the tourbillon located between 10 and 11 o’clock. Protected by a cage that rotates on an axis perpendicular (instead of parallel as is the norm) to that of the balance, it completes one revolution every 30 seconds. Due to the movement’s intricate skeletonisation, this fascinating whirl can be admired from both the dial-side and caseback.

The Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT is a special edition made-to-order timepiece, offering clients the possibility of customisation down to the choice of straps, style of hands and case material.

Officine Panerai will be staging a public exhibition at Museo Marino Marini in Florence, Italy, from 18 to 21 May 2016. Titled ‘Panerai — Dive Into Time’, the exhibition will showcase a previously unseen collection of creations from the Florentine brand, iconic timpeieces created for the Royal Italian Navy from the 1930s to 1950s, along with a selection of new models.

www.panerai.com