A first in the series, this new Luminor Quaranta release from the Florentine brand has been unveiled in a full Carbotech™ case!
Even for those just about to dip into watches, a Panerai Luminor has got to be one of the most recognisable watches of all time. There’s no mistaking it: the giant silhouette, the almost comical yet ruthlessly secure crown guard, and the fantastical amount of lume used are all hallmarks of the famous watch.
Sure, it may not win many awards in the ‘delicate dress watch’ category, but Panerai watches have always been about fearsome practicality and rugged good looks – much like the often absolutely jacked movie stars that wear them, such as The Rock or Sylvester Stallone. There really won’t be another watch like it for years to come, if at all.
So how, then, does the Richemont brand keep such a legendary design that is so effortlessly timeless? They play into their strengths, of course! Debuting at Salón Internacional Alta Relojería México (SIAR), the new Luminor Quaranta has made its presence known in a smaller 40mm Carbotech™ case.
Despite the Luminor Quaranta family having been around since 2021, only now has it been provided with a Carbotech™ case. Where Carbotech™ differs from your standard carbon fibre is in its creation, where thin sheets of carbon fibre are pressurised alongside a polymer called PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone).
The 300m water-resistant Carbotech™ case is a composite material that is both highly shock and corrosion-resistant, whilst being 80% lighter than steel, 73% lighter than ceramic and 64% lighter than titanium. Another unique quirk of Carbotech™ is in its aesthetic quality, sporting uneven striations akin to that of Damascus steel. Varying depending on how the material is cut, no two watches will ever be the same – adding a unique character to the timepiece should you pick one up.
Panerai has chosen to go green with the Luminor Quaranta Carbotech™, giving the watch an olive green sandwich dial and corresponding rubber strap, when paired with the Carbotech™ case, gives this watch a stealthy military look – I’ll bet you’ll see Jason Statham rocking this at some point in the near future! The sandwich dial is now a staple for Panerai with a full disc of lume under the dial, in this case, Super-LumiNova® X1 that has Panerai’s iconic green glow and lasts all night.
Panerai have always been strap monsters and were one of the first brands in the industry to offer a quick change system on their watches well over a decade or so ago. However, unlike the button and pin sliding mechanism, which can still be found on the 44mm Luminors, the new Luminor Quaranta has the PAM Click Release System – a button mechanism built into the clasp, very similar to that of IWC allowing you to unclick the strap instantly. This is ideal, as with all Panerai’s, they give you a second strap to change out, should you feel the need. In this case, the olive green rubber strap can be interchanged for the included brown calfskin strap, all with the push of a button!
The beating heart behind it all is the ever-reliable P.900 movement, visible through the sapphire caseback. Beating at 4Hz (28,800VpH) on a 72-hour (3 day) power reserve, this movement was an evolution of the P.9000 movement, which was a staple of Panerai’s timepieces for many years, in this case, shrunk down to accommodate the 40mm case size.
Final Thoughts
Panerai’s ability to constantly innovate on what is ostensibly two collections (well, three, if you separate the Luminor and Submersible), is nothing short of admirable. Despite having legacies that can rival the likes of other great dive watches, the Radiomir and the Luminor have still been able to consistently share the spotlight with their more contemporary peers.
Only now, it’s been given the Carbotech™ touch that it needs to appeal to the new generation of enthusiasts, combining their signature pragmatic design with spectacularly futuristic materials. With the release of this Panerai Luminor Quaranta reference PAM01526, it’s clear that the Italo-Swiss brand is not intent on letting the legendary reputation of the Luminor stand on its own, opting to support it with the ruthless engineering and modern techniques that made them so famous in the first place.
Reference: PAM01526
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 40mm case diameter
- Case Material: Carbotech™
- Dial: Military Green Sandwich dial, date and small seconds
- Movement: Automatic P.900 Calibre bearing at 4Hz / 28,800 VpH, pivoting on 23 jewels
- Power Reserve: 72h
- Water Resistance: 300m (30bar)
- Strap: Green rubber strap with titanium pin buckle and brown calf skin strap, both included
