BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Panerai is introducing two new watch models in its gigantic Luminor Chrono Flyback range just in time for the holiday season. I’m gonna say it right at the start, if you don’t have big wrists, then good luck wearing one of these things and not looking a little ridiculous. That said, if you have an affinity for Panerai or just watches in general, or if you’re trapped on a bus, then these are still worth checking out.
As you know, green and related colours are coming into fashion, and while I believe that they will be the replacement for blue as the colour of the [X] number of years, there’s still a way to go before that happens. Nevertheless, the first watch (PAM01296) features a green dial which Panerai calls Verde Militaire, you know, because they’re Italian. As is the case for Panerai watches, the dial is a sandwich type which means the main dial plate has cutouts allowing the layer of lume sat on the dial baseplate to be visible, this unusual method was easier to produce back in the early days of glow in the dark watches, but it now is recognised for its extra depth on the dial. The chronograph functions are marked in orange with chronograph seconds, minutes and hours (up to 12), and this watch also has a tachymeter, the scale for which is printed on the inner flange ring. This watch is cased in a polished stainless steel cushion case and comes with a green alligator leather strap.
The second model, PAM01298, uses a material familiar to Panerai: ceramic. The black case matches extraordinarily with the black sunburst sandwich dial. The flashes of orange make this one work even better than the other model, although I suspect that with the black alligator leather strap included that this will be like a black hole on your wrist. Both watches measure 44mm in diameter, and while these aren’t as monstrous as the Luminor Regatta models, these are still bound to be thick as well. Inside both watches is the P.9100 movement with automatic winding, a 4Hz beat rate and 72-hours of power reserve delivered by twin barrels. It also features a column wheel for better control and accuracy and a vertical clutch for infinite running of the chronograph without adding extra wear to where the chronograph and main movement come together. And then there’s the flyback function, too, which allows you to reset the chronograph without needing to stop it first.
Both of these watches are big and chunky beats, limited to 500 examples of both and costing €13,500 for PAM01296 and €15,500 for PAM01298.
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