Panerai Luminor LAB-ID PAM01700: A Celebration of 70-Year Legacy

Panerai is one of those brands that surface the nostalgia of vintage divers’ watches. It is probably the first in time in history that a company has launched a timepiece for an auction, well this time the reason is quite befitting. The Italian brand that is celebrating its 70th Anniversary this year has the best launch saved for the last – the Panerai Luminor LAB-ID PAM01700!

Photo Credit: Panerai

Debuting at the Philips ‘Racing Pulse’ auction to be held in New York on December 12, the watch is the first and the only of the 70 watches to be produced yet which makes it truly valuable and ahead of its time. The newest launch is the proof of the imagination and technical dexterity of the Panerai Laboratorio Di Idee, a research and development arm of Panerai focused on technical innovation, showcased through a new generation of LAB-ID watch. Taking the best from the 2017 Panerai LAB ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech, a similar 49mm case back with 50 years of warranty, Panerai has managed to push the boundaries to take the warranty period further to 70 years – that is truly something amazing!

Photo Credit: Panerai

Luminor LAB-ID PAM01700 has a 49mm carbon fibre case. Carbotech is a resilient, carbon fibre-based material that is 14%lighter than Titanium. The classic sandwich blanketed dial resurfaces the vintage feel that the Florentine brand is known for. The Super-LumiNova Grade X1 – a luminous substance is used at the openings in the dial corresponding to the hour markers, the small seconds’ dial and case, crown protector bringing back the glory of the neon green Pantone 802-C colour from the earlier Panerai pieces. The brand also said that the X1 lume is brighter in deep-water environs.

Photo Credit: Panerai Luminor LAB-ID PAM01700

The best part about his latest launch? The Panerai Luminor LAB-ID PAM01700 uses the P.3001/C calibre movement that does not require any lubrication – thus eliminating the need for frequent servicing visit. With this technology in place, the brand has announced they would offer a 70-year warranty. Even though the buyer might not live long enough to test the watch out, the brand believes that the second generation could prove that Panerai holds its word.

Photo Credit: Panerai

The tour de force hand-wound movement with a power reserve of three days and is partially skeletonized with only four jewels. The timepiece uses a series of innovative measures to capitalize on the special properties of carbon and tailoring them to the functions of individual parts—plates, bridges, barrels, escapement and anti-shock device. This obviates the need to ever apply liquid lubrication to the main bridges and plate, which are composed of a low friction composite which integrates a Tantalum based ceramic. A black leather strap with luminous green contrast stitching matching the details of the dial is included with the new Luminor LAB-ID PAM01700. The watch is also water-resistant up to 100 meters.

This beauty of excellence and celebration will be $70,000, however, Philips is yet to announce the estimate for the piece at auction. Follow the auction here to be updated with the timepiece.