BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
In recent times Panerai has really pushed the barriers of creativity to showcase its experimental side by creating products that make extensive use of innovative technologies and materials such as the Lo Scienziato watches. First introduced in 2010 the Lo Scienziato collection has constantly evolved and has now reached its third and should we say most advanced iteration. The 2019 Lo Scienziato Panerai Luminor Tourbillon GMT aka PAM00768 brings on board the use of Carbotech, new green accents, and a few other changes.
Akin to the previous versions of the Lo Scienziato watches this new watch features a 3D printed titanium case which has been made using Direct Laser Sintering, a technique which creates the casing layer by layer through a fibre optic laser using powdered grade 5 titanium. The case bears a sandblasted look for the most part except for the crown and its locking mechanism and the bezel on top which have been manufactured using Carbotech, a carbon fibre composite. The case measures a massive 47mm but at the same time weighs a mere 18 grams, making it extremely lightweight to ensure wrist comfort when the watch is worn continuously for a long time. Water resistance is marked at 100 meters and there is a sapphire glass at both front and back of the case.
The face of the watch is heavily skeletonized and bears a complex industrial look. The dial features applied hour markers which are a combination of curved lume filled rectangles and Arabic numerals at 12,3,6 and 9 that evoke the signature Panerai look. Time can be read using the simple looking hour and minute hands which along with other hands on the watch have been blackened to provide a nice contrast against the rest of the dial. Apart from normal time keeping functions you also have a centrally mounted GMT hand, an am/pm indicator at 3, a power reserve indicator between 7 and 8 and running seconds at 9 all of which feature nice green highlights adding a nice splash of color to the dial and aiding legibility.
The new Panerai Luminor Tourbillon GMT Lo Scienziato is powered by the brands in-house hand wound caliber P.2005/T. The movement features a patented tourbillon mechanism, and has finely skeletonized bridges and plates made from titanium which has led to a signification reduction in the weight of the movement making it 35% lighter than its normal skeletonized brother the P.2005/S. It operates at a frequency of 4Hz, consists of 277 components and offers a great power reserve of 6 days using 3 barrels.
The Lo Scienziato Panerai Luminor Tourbillon GMT is not amongst the most good looking Panerai’s out there, but it certainly shows that the brand is ready to leave their comfort zone to create something unique and different. The watch would come attached to a grey alligator strap with a titanium folding buckle and would retail at a price of EUR 145,000.
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