Few watches can have the wrist presence of a Panerai. Of course, there’s more at play than just size when it comes to discerning the charm of such a watch. Following the classic recipe of old-meets-new, the Luminor Marina Carbotech PAM1661 takes a classic Panerai design and combines it with the high-performance Carbotech composite material to deliver a dive watch that is both light in weight and remarkably tough.
Making a bold statement
The Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech features a bold yet wearable case size of 44 millimetres (Paneristi rejoice). The cushion-shaped case’s Carbotech construction is instrumental to its weight. At only 96 grams, the Luminor Marina Carbotech’s lightness is pivotal to the quality of its mechanical performance. The Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) composite is first formed by stacking layers of carbon fibre sheets while alternating their alignment. Baking these sheets under pressure at a controlled temperature with a binding matrix produces a material that’s superbly resistant to mechanical impact and corrosion. The result is a comfortable and hard-wearing timepiece – the perfect qualities for a tool watch to have.
Panerai’s willingness to forego convention is further showcased through the Luminor Marina Carbotech’s contrasting blue Super-Luminova markings, set against a black sandwich dial. This results in a distinctive visual that meshes well with its brand identity and design language. An accompanying black water-resistant Panerai Sportech strap with blue stitching matches the colourway of the dial. In keeping with its avant-garde styling, the case of the Luminor Marina Carbotech also possesses a unique texture as a natural consequence of the material’s production process. No two timepieces will look alike due to the random alignment of the carbon fibre sheets.
Slim movement with a quick-set hour
The in-house P.9010 calibre at the heart of the watch was designed and developed within the Panerai manufacture in Neuchâtel. The hour hand adjusts in one-hour jumps – convenient when entering different time zones. The quick-set hour also simultaneously adjusts the date. Two barrels working in tandem allows the six millimetre-high movement to have a longish three-day power reserve.
True to its heritage, the Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech retains all its functionality as a proper dive watch and is water-resistant to depths of 300 metres. With its Luminor roots, it also features the iconic oversized crown guard that signifies its birthright as a Panerai timepiece.
Eye-catching wristwear
While the concept of a visually arresting dive watch may seem alien to some, there is certainly nothing wrong with incorporating an element of style into an otherwise stoic design, especially if it means venturing into hi-tech innovation. In Panerai’s case, it’s a matter of form meeting function.
