A VISIT TO PANERAI’S HISTORIC FLORENTINE BOUTIQUE
Florence, Italy, the capital of the Tuscany region, is long renowned for the arts and architecture. The city's most iconic cathedral, “Duomo” was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Florence is also the home of Michelangelo's “David”, Bottecelli's “Birth of Venus” and the “Annunciation” by the great Leonardo da Vinci, and, for over a century, the historic Panerai boutique, located just across the baptistry at the Piazza San Giovanni, has been producing exceptional timepieces for its sophisticated clientele. This writer had a chance to visit the Panerai boutique and view this boutique exclusive timepiece.
Panerai recently unveiled the
Luminor 1950 Firenze 3 Days Acciaio (PAM00972) and this timepiece is delicately engraved by hand, reflecting Florentine Iconography. The Luminor 1950 Firenze 3 Days Acciaio features the handwound P.3000 movement, with a 3 day power reserve, and is exclusive to its historic boutique. The calibre is the P.3000/F version, with the bridges finely laser engraved with Florentine motifs similar to those which decorate the case, which can be admired through the watch’s transparent back. Both the craftsmanship of the case and the watchmaking technology of the movement bestow this watch with a strong personality, a true classic Panerai in inspiration and content, but distinctly original.
Much like the marble facades of the Florentine churches, the engraving of the Luminor 1950 Firenze Acciaio greatly enhances the geometry of the 47mm polished steel case covering the caseband and bridge device, which protects the winding crown. Master engravers sculpt the hard AISI 316L steel to form geometric shapes, such as the Florentine lily, the symbol of the Tuscan capital since the 11th century. Each case is meticulously worked on by an engraver, the design is first drawn temporarily using a chalk or magnesium powder, then engraved with his burin. The engravings are covered with very narrow parallel lines, giving depth to the design, and emphasizing the contrast be-
tween dark and light.
Found on the back dial, enhanced by a lily with a satiné soleil finish, which catches and diffuses the light to create an appealing and unexpected effect, is the engraving, “Firenze” - the birthplace of Panerai and the sole inspiration for this particular timepiece. As in most of Panerai's creations, enhancing the luminosity of the dial is the sandwich structure: the luminous substance emerges through holes corresponding to the hour markers in one of two superimposed discs that form the dial.
Visible though the sapphire porthole in the back of the Luminor 1950 Firenze 3 Days Acciaio, one can admire the hand wound P.3000/F calibre, exclusively made in the Panerai Manufacture at Neuchâtel, the movement is both solid and reliable. The P.3000/F has two
spring barrels which stores a 3 day power reserve. Four brushed bridges protects the movement structure, all finely engraved; one of which has twin supports that firmly fixes the large balance wheel (13.2mm diameter), oscillating at 3Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour). The P.3000 calibre also in corporates the useful device, enabling the
hour hand to be adjusted forward or backward with speed and precision without interfering with the movement of the minute hand. The new Luminor 1950 Firenze 3 Days Acciaio models are water resistant to a depth of 100 meters (10 bar) and comes with brown leather straps, with beige stitching for that added contrast.