Simply Abu Dhabi XX

1 0 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I P anerai has a dedicated following of fans and a club of aficionados called Paneristas. The legions of Panerai admirers are won over by a history of producing tough, durable watches with a very distinct style that is unmistakable Panerai. The Radiomir model was developed for the ItalianNavy just before the start of World War II. The last seven decades plus means that today’s models have improved with an array of technological developments, but that immediate recognition of a Panerai is still there. The Lo Scienziato (the Scientist) range was first launched five years ago and was devised in homage to the great genius from Tuscany, Galileo Galilei. It’s a perfectly appropriate choice of tribute as Galileo revolutionised time measurement when he formulated the law of isochronism and the small oscillations of the pendulum. This bold timepiece, which is very much well timed as skeleton watches are seeing strong popularity this year, was created by the Laboratorio di Idee at the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel. It is a very striking piece and the dial really holds attention. The linear hour markers and numbers are all coated in ecru Super-LumiNova® and they are directly fixed to the engraved name ‘Lo Scienziato’, but what really shines here is of course the tourbillon. The skeletonised P. 2005/S movement is a hand-wound calibre and the tourbillon is unorthodox in that a single rotation is completed in 30 seconds rather than the usual minute. It also rotates on a perpendicular axis instead of being parallel to the balance wheel. The effect is spellbinding. There is also a power reserve indicator, GMT function with a central hand indicating a second time zone, plus a day and night indication on the auxiliary dial at 3 o’clock. Panerai are presenting this 48mm beauty for the first time in a Radiomir 1940 case made of 5NPT red gold, Officine Panerai’s proprietary alloy which is different from standard red gold because of the percentage of copper used, creating a particularly intense red hue. To enable the sophisticated skeletonising to be admired, the watch does not have a normal dial: the small seconds dial at 9 o’clock, with its indicator dot rotating simultaneously with the tourbillon cage, and the counter at 3 o’clock, with the AM/PM indication, are integral with the movement. The Radiomir 1940 Tourbillon GMT is released in a limited edition of 30 watches and it is mounted on a black alligator strap with a polished red gold folding buckle to compliment the case. As one would expect from a brand associated with the Italian Navy, it is water-resistant to a depth of 50 metres. Panerai R a d i o m i r 1 9 4 0 T o u r b i l l o n G M T