News Central

Officine Panerai has created a new special edition timepiece for Chinese watch enthusiasts — a Luminor Marina dedicated to China (PAM00366). This special edition comes with a 44mm Luminor Marina case made out of a single block of polished stainless steel, a black oxhide straps and a OP II calibre, a hand-wound mechanical movement developed by Panerai and certified by C.O.S.C.. The character "Fu" is at 6 o'clock which interestingly replaced the original numeral on the typical Panerai dial.

OFFICINE PANERAI PRESENTS THE LUMINOR MARINA

A SPECIAL EDITION DEDICATED TO CHINA

The year 2010 marks the fifth year since Officine Panerai first entered into the market of China. It is also an important year in which Officine Panerai expedites development of new markets. More than paying close attention to the vigorous growth of the Chinese market, Officine Panerai is also increasingly attracted to the charming Chinese culture and through launching this watch, Officine Panerai shows its respects and understanding towards traditional Chinese culture and pays homage to its Chinese clientele. The same has also made this watch unique in its meaning and value.

The concept of the time-honored Chinese character "Fu" (good fortune or happiness) is explained in ancient Chinese writings in five aspects: longevity, prosperity, health, virtue and a well-ended life. People in China have been posting decorations of "Fu" (usually written on red paper) on their door fronts since the time of Southern Sung Dynasty. To others, the character speaks of one's best wishes; to oneself, it is an expression of the pursuit of happiness. Numerous set phrases with positive meanings consist of which and they signify the Chinese people's aspiration after good lives. As time goes by, the meaning of "Fu" is further extended and expanded; yet, the posting tradition persists as the term never ceases to implicate being blessed and protected and having good fortune. Officine Panerai has therefore infused the character into the dial to create a perfect fusion of Chinese tradition elements and Italian classic design. It is also the wish of the brand that every wearer will receive this valuable blessing and be grateful.

The watch will first be launched in mid-August at Officine Panerai boutiques in Shanghai and Beijing as well as selected network of authorized China dealers. The same will be available afterwards in Officine Panerai boutiques in Greater China.

Officine Panerai

Officine Panerai was founded in Florence in 1860 as a watch-making establishment, shop and school; for years it supplied the Italian Navy with precision timepieces, particularly to cover the needs of the special underwater diving corps. The projects it worked on at the time, including the Luminor and Radiomir watches, were covered by the military secrets act for years and Panerai watches were launched on the international market after the Richemont group purchased the brand in 1997.

Today, Officine Panerai is the only Italian haute horlogerie manufacturer. It develops and manufactures its watches and movements in Neuchâtel, combining Italian design and history with Swiss watch-making know-how. Panerai watches are sold all over the world through an exclusive network of distributors in addition to its boutiques in Florence, Portofino, Geneva, Madrid, Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires, Beirut, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macao, Shanghai and Tokyo.

LUMINOR MARINA

A SPECIAL EDITION DEDICATED TO CHINA

Movement:   Hand-wound mechanical, exclusive Panerai OP II Calibre. 16^1/2 lignes, 17 jewels. Monometallic Glucydur® balance, 21,600 alternations/hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 56 hours. Bridges and oscillating weight personalised PANERAI. Chronometer certificate (C.O.S.C.).

Functions:    Hours, minutes, seconds.

Case:     Diameter 44 mm.

              Brushed in AISI 316L steel.

Bezel:    Polished steel.

Back:     Screw, brushed steel.

Device protecting the crown:   Brushed Steel. Protected as a Trade Mark.

Dial:      Black, with hour markers and Arabic numerals at 3 and 12 o'clock, marked with vintage luminous. Small seconds dial at 9 o'clock. Chinese sign for "Good Fortune" ( 福 ) at 6 o'clock.

Crystal :   Sapphire, made from corundum, 1.6 mm thick, anti-reflective coating.

Water-resistance:       30 Bar (about 300 metres).

Strap:    PANERAI personalised Black Calf strap with ecru stitching and polished steel buckle.

Reference:    PAM00366

* Officine Panerai is not the owner of the trademarks Glucydur® and Incabloc®