LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE 1950 3 DAYS AUTOMATIC CERAMICA / PAM00508
THE ABSOLUTE DARKNESS WHICH RULES IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA IS REFLECTED IN THE APPEARANCE OF THE LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE 1950 3 DAYS Automatic Ceramica,
the new Officine Panerai Special Edition which, with its matt ceramic case, its P.9000 manufacture movement and the details inspired by the historic heritage of the brand,
represents a perfect synthesis of history, technology and watchmaking design. The Luminor 1950 case with the bridge protecting the winding crown,
a characteristic Panerai feature, is made of brushed black ceramic, a material synthesised from zirconium oxide powder which ensures lightness and toughness as well
as resistance to scratches, corrosive agents and high temperatures. The classic shape of the case 47 mm in diameter is created by a complex series of working and
finishing operations which also give it a particularly uniform, smooth, matt appearance. The unidirectional rotating bezel enabling the length of the dive to be determined
is made of the same matt ceramic as the case. The only colour which contrasts with the profound black of the case and of the dial is the ecru Super-LumiNova® on the
applied hour markers, the graduated scale and the partially skeletonised hands. The date window is at three o’clock while the classic Panerai small seconds dial is positioned
at nine o’clock. The case is sealed by a titanium back coated in black, with an SLC torpedo engraved in the middle, and it contains the automatic P.9000 calibre, entirely
developed and executed in the Panerai manufacture in Neuchatel. The Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Ceramica is water-resistant to 30 atmospheres (300 metres)
and it is supplied with a black leather strap, fastened by a large trapezoid-shaped buckle covered in black PVD. *
SPECS
MOVEMENT Automatic mechanical, Panerai P.9000 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 7.9 mm thick, 28 jewels,
Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 3 days, two barrels. 197 components.
FUNCTIONS Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, calculation of immersion time.
CASE Diameter 47 mm, black ceramic.
BEZEL Black ceramic anti-clockwise unidirectional rotating bezel with graduated scale for calculating the time of immersion and ratchet click at minute intervals.
BACK Screw, titanium with special hard black coating.
DEVICE PROTECTING THE CROWN (protected as a trademark) Black ceramic.
DIAL Black with applied luminous hour markers. Date at 3 o’clock, seconds at 9 o’clock.
CRYSTAL Sapphire, made of corundum, 4 mm thick. Anti-reflective coating.
WATER-RESISTANCE 30 bar (~ 300 metres).
STRAP PANERAI personalised leather strap and trapezoidal titanium PVD coated buckle. Supplied with a second interchangeable strap and a steel screwdriver.
MATERIAL USED
For the Luminor and Luminor 1950 cases, Officine Panerai uses a high-tech ceramic made of zirconium oxide (ZrO2).
The material is made from powder which is isostatically pressed while the final shapes of the various components are formed by grinding.
This high-tech ceramic has many different qualities: extreme hardness (up to five times greater than that of stainless steel),
resistance to scratches and shocks and its surface has a very high aesthetic impact.
Preparation of zirconia powder
The powder consists of about 80% zirconia powder and 20% of a binding powder. To achieve the black colour, a colour pigment highly resistant to heat is added.
Injection of the mixture into the mould
During the injection process, the zirconia powder with the binder is warmed slightly so that it flows as a liquid substance into the injection machine.
This liquid substance is forced under extremely high pressure into the mould that forms the shape of the component. This manufacturing step is called the “green stageâ€.
Machining during the green stage
The case middle, lever and bridge are machined during the green
stage. Since the consistency of the material is still very soft, the components can be shaped by turning, milling and drilling.
Removal of the binder
The binder is removed from the components by a chemical process at a temperature of approximately 100°C. It takes several hours for all the binder to be removed.
Sintering of the ceramic
Over a period of about three days, the components are heated to 1500°C and then allowed to cool down. After this stage,
the components consist of 100% zirconia ceramic and have a hardness of 1200HV (5 times greater than stainless steel).
Grinding the ceramic in the hard stage
The grinding phase gives the components their final dimension. In order to achieve the required tolerances, special diamond grinding tools are used.
Since the ceramic is extremely hard, the grinding process is very time consuming.
Finishing
The finishing of the ceramic component is carried out by sandblasting.
