Panerai – Luminor 1950 3day Chrono Flyback Automatic Ceramica
The latest Panerai offering gets our watch fanatic’s heart pumping
Review by John Galt
Being a watch writer I receive many press releases here at Riddle Magazine, some are opened with trepidation and some with pure excitement as to the next gem the brand is releasing. Panerai press releases are always opened with excitement; like a child opening presents at Christmas as I am a fan of theirs and this watch is no exception. With its bold smouldering looks and dark matt finish this is a true stunner.
Officine Panerai’s new version of the Luminor 1950, still keeps the essential lines of the now iconic case with the unmistakeable Panerai crown guard and dial but this is made of ceramic. The 44mm case is machined from a synthetic ceramic based on zirconium oxide which is five times harder than steel but much lighter as well as being exceptionally resistant to scratching. The process to create the case is long and very delicate but is definitely worth it just by looking at the end result. To transform zirconium powder into black ceramic each part of the case is moulded separately and under goes many stages of firing, first at around 100 degrees c then at much higher temperatures in the region of 1500 degrees c for two to three days, the process is completed by bead blasting the final assembled piece to give it the smooth matt black finish which I think looks stunning.
So as not to ruin the ascetic of their pieces and keep the crown guards that Panerai are famous for, they have fitted the Chrono pusher on the left hand side of the case; the pusher at 10 o’clock starts and stops the Chrono function with the other pusher at 8 o’clock to operate the flyback function which instantly zeros the Chrono hands and restarts them without the need to stop and zero them first thus being able to record time perfectly. The dial is very minimalistic; as the piece is fitted with a flyback there are no Chrono dials to clutter it up just a date window at 3 o’clock and a small sub seconds dial at 9 o’clock, the hands are beautifully rhodium plated and the centrally mounted flyback hand is blue which really stands out against dark matt black dial and case.
Turning the piece over you are greeted by an exhibition case to show off the in-house P.9100 chronograph movement, the first chronograph automatic winding calibre completely developed and made by Panerai. It looks stunning in matt black in keeping with the dark and moody theme of this piece, as with Panerai in-house movements this is a top of the range chronograph with features such as column wheel, vertical clutch and twin barrels to provide a power reserve of three days.
Finishing off the piece is a beautiful natural leather strap in light brown with white stitching and a buckle in titanium with black coating in line with the case material. Panerai also send a second black rubber strap which is easy to change using the screwdriver which is supplied. I though much prefer the untreated leather which in my option contrasts excellently against the case.
Conclusion:
I really like this piece a lot with its dark and moody looks from the matt black case, through the untreated leather strap to the blue flyback hand that seems to jump from the dial. Panerai have got this piece spot on in my opinion and I love it. 
Enquiries: www.panerai.com/en/home.html