Editor’s note: This short snapshot of the new Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Goldtech™ has been photographed at the Sydney Panerai boutique. For our usual detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here. This is NOT a sponsored post.
Perpetual Delight
The new Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Goldtech™ ref. PAM00742 retailing for 68’300 AUD. It was announced alongside the Luminor Perpetual Calendar Platinumtech ref. PAM00715 with a gorgeous green dial (and retailing for 98’000 AUD)
It is a great offering for those who love the Panerai design architecture and would prefer that the majority of the perpetual calendar complications be removed from the dial face for a more minimalistic aesthetic.
Like a true perpetual calendar, it’s for those who wouldn’t wish to make changes every month – the Panerai P.4100 calibre automatically takes into account the number of days in each month, even catering to the oddball 28 or 29, days. Theoretically if the watch his kept wound, the wearer would not have to make manual adjustments until 2100.
There is a John Gould Fletcher quote that reads: “In the afternoon, over gold screens,I will brush the blue dust of my dreams”. Blue and gold go together like a dream. The two colours seem to bring out the best in each other, and the dark blue shade used in this watch when paired with the shade of gold creates moments of visual delight courtesy the sun-ray dial’s response to being hit by the light.
With the new Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Goldtech™, lovers of the brand get the opportunity to strap on their wrists a PC timepiece that boasts of a highly legible sandwich dial, iconic cushion-style case and crown guards and a complication rarely seen in the brand’s portfolio.
The Hands-on Experience
When you have the watch in your hands, the first feature you focus on is the case-back. The dial side is very Panerai-esque, and the real appreciation for the watch comes when looking at the execution of the perpetual calendar complication. It’s both different and rather interesting.
The Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar features the automatic wounding mechanical P.4100 calibre, executed by Panerai. I am not too sure what the ‘executed’ part means to be honest, but could be another way of saying in-house.
This 35.1mm x 7mm movement comprises 55 jewels, beats at the standard frequency of 4Hz, offers an impressive 3-day power-reserve, and features Glucydur® balance and KIF® anti-shock device.
It is encased inside a 44mm diameter and 15.6mm thick brushed Goldtech™ case with a polished bezel that makes the watch wear a bit small thanks to the contrast. Including the unique Panerai crown styling, the watch measures 52.5mm.
Come to think of it, the watch is pretty much a square, with the lug-to-lug measuring in at 53.5mm. It may be a bit big for my ~16cm wrist, but for anyone who can rock a ~53mm lug-to-lug watch, it is definitely a stunner.
The Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar weights 149g with the strap and is water-resistant to 50m and comes on a handsome fume blue alligator strap with an interior lug spacing of 24mm (that tapers down to 22mm).
I like how the beige stitching on blue strap mirror the golden case and blue dial aesthetics.
The dial front showcases the functions of central hours and minutes, a counter at 9’o clock featuring small seconds and am/pm indicator, and mirroring this at 3’o clock is the aperture for day and date complications. On a beautiful blue sun-brushed dial, the typical cut-outs reveal the luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. I admire that the date and day wheel has been matched to the dial of the colour.
Flip the watch that will be available in limited numbers of 270-pieces only and one witnesses the functions of month, year, leap year, and a power reserve indicator.
For a watch that features a plethora of complications, the new Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Goldtech™ is truly a very impressive iteration of a timepiece that retains at core the fundamental Panerai design DNA, doesn’t compromise on the legibility, and presents collectors with a rather minimalistic and uncluttered beautiful blue dial.
To find out more about the new Panerai Luminor Perpetual Calendar Goldtech™ and other Panerai timepieces, please head to their website here. You can also use their phone sale service in Australia by contacting 1800 271 037. All images unless otherwise specified are ©Watch Ya Gonna Do About It.
