Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXV

Panerai LAB-IDLuminor 1950Carbotech 3Days E xploring the uses of new and innovative materials is a highly competitive and costly arena in the world of luxury watchmaking. Panerai’s Liboratorio Di Idee has excelled in this field with the creation of the LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days – a stunning contemporary mechanical watch that comes with an unprecedented promise. A 50 year guarantee! That’s right, you did read that correctly. Panerai is so confident in the performance of this new timepiece and the fact that it needs no lubrication in its servicing that it will guarantee the owner a half century of perfect functioning. And there will only be fifty proud owners, as this is a limited creation. The P.3001/C hand-wound calibre has a power reserve of three days and is semi-skeletonised; it performs without any additional lubrication and it has only four jewels. By using a wide range of solutions, specially devised for the individual parts of the movement and associated with the unique properties of carbon, the plates, bridges, barrels, escapement and anti-shock device use self-lubricating and dry lubricating materials, and are hence exempt from any liquid lubrication. This has revolutionised the need for maintaining and overhauling the calibre, enabling Panerai to offer the guarantee. It is a remarkable glimpse into the future of mechanical watchmaking, demonstrating the infinite development potential of a supremely traditional and appealing area of craftsmanship. There is also a new ultra-deep black dial and carbon case on this stealthy black beauty. Panerai used carbon nanotubes to create this utterly black dial which effectively absorbs light and reduces reflection. The dial is so profoundly black that the indexes and branding could not be applied to it and so these have been applied directly onto the crystal, which is subsequently given a double-antireflective coating. The impossibly pitch-black dial throws into stunning relief the blue SuperLuminova on the hands and markers. The design aesthetic comes from the Luminor 1950 collection, and Panerai here show great sense in using their own patrimony whilst simultaneously innovating with cutting-edge technology. The 49 mm-wide case is water-resistant to 100 metres and is made of Carbotech, a composite material based on carbon fibre, which was introduced into the world of watchmaking by Panerai. The structure of Carbotech enhances both the appearance and the performance of the material, which is used to make the case and the bridge device with its locking lever protecting the winding crown. Thin sheets of carbon fibre are compressed at high pressures in a controlled temperature with a polymer called PEEK (polyether ether ketone), a process which binds the two and makes the resulting product stronger. Not only is the material intensely durable but it’s also hypoallergenic and not subject to corrosion. The new Panerai LAB-ID (PAM00700) is mounted on a black leather strap, with contrasting sewing in the same striking blue as on the luminous details of the dial. There will be fifty timepieces for fifty lucky owners who will pay… € 50,000 of course. 1 0 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I