Big dimensions and Panerais go hand-in-hand. A lot of the Italian brand’s cushion case watches are 44mm in diameter or larger (like the Luminor Tre Giorni) but they also produce a smaller series at 40mm, known as the Quaranta. Now, for the first time, Panerai have produced a Luminor 40mm in ceramic – the high tech, scratch resistant material popular among high-end sports watches. It’s being introduced in the form of the Luminor GMT Ceramica PAM01460.
It’s something of a surprise that there has never been a 40mm Luminor in ceramic because Panerai are no strangers to the material. They first used it in 2007 with the Radiomir Black Seal Ceramica PAM0029, so they have close to two decades of experience with it. That experience shows in the design of the PAM01460 as it looks very sleek in its matte black colour with the complex multi-shape structure of the Luminor case. The body of the case has a cushion design while the bezel circular and intricate crown protection system consists of multiple components. It also maintains its 300m water resistance rating, preserving the Luminor’s dive watch status.
The updated case has been paired with a black sunray brushed dial to match the black of the ceramic, contrasting to the bright, stark white hour markers and hands. It’s constructed in the signature sandwich dial style with two dial plates separated by a layer of Super-LumiNova that shines through the cutouts of the upper dial. It features central hour, minute and 12-hour dual time hands, small seconds at 9 o’clock and a date at 3.
With the strong black and white colour scheme, it feels like a tuxedo of a watch, which feels bizarre to say about a diver. But there is something elegant about the smoothness of its design and understated layout that makes the watch feel formal – especially because it’s presented on a black calf leather strap, which is definitively not a sports strap. If you want to take it into the water, you’ll need to swap it for the additional rubber strap that it comes with, which is easy enough with the click release system.
Inside the watch is the P.900/GMT calibre with 72-hour power reserve. It’s visible through the watch’s exhibition caseback, revealing that the movement has also been blacked out to match the aesthetic of the watch. The Luminor GMT Ceramica PAM01460 is priced at £13,000, which is in the standard ballpark for Panerai’s ceramic watches. Now though, thanks to its smaller dimensions, it’s opened up to a wider range of collectors.
Price and Specs:
More details at Panerai.
I’m personally not a fan of Panerai watches, too big, too bold, too expensive, but this new release does look nice and, at 40 mm is in the realms of practically of normal people in terms of wrist size, but for me, it should have been a Radomir, so no hideous crown protector.
Sorry to disagree with Michael, but despite the leather strap, it can never be considered a dress watch.