THE Luminor Marina, bestseller of the Officine Panerai collections, is presented for the first time in the completely new size of 42 mm in the latest Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic, available in two versions: the sportier one in steel (PAM00392), and the more elegant one in red gold (PAM00393). The new size of the Luminor 1950 case has not changed the classic proportions of this model faithfully inspired by the watches created by Panerai in the 1940s onward for the commandos of the Italian Navy. Like its predecessors, the new Luminor Marina has the bridge with locking lever, which helps to ensure a high degree of water-resistance and also protects the winding crown from accidental shocks. The crown itself operates a convenient setting mechanism by which the hour hand is rotated in one-hour steps in either direction, also adjusting the date correspondingly, without interrupting the running of the watch. The dial, simple and quintessential in its iconic design, has the sandwich construction devised by Panerai in the 1930s to ensure maximum clarity and legibility both underwater and in the lowest lighting conditions: two superimposed discs contain a layer of Super-LumiNova which shines through cut-outs in the upper disc corresponding to the hour markers and numerals, providing exceptional visibility. In the version in steel the dial is black and the watch is fitted with an alligator strap of the same color, while in the version made of red gold the dial and strap are an elegant brown which harmonizes perfectly with the special ecru-colored Super-LumiNova. While the design of the watch is closely linked to the history of the brand and inspired by it, the choice of materials and the manufacture P.9000 caliber demonstrate Panerai's continuous commitment to research and development into the best technical solutions. The steel of the new Luminor Marina is AISI 316L stainless steel, an alloy with a low carbon content notable for its high resistance to corrosion. The red gold of the more elegant version is 5Npt: a special alloy with an unusually high percentage of copper (24.1 percent) which gives more depth to the color, and 0.4 percent platinum which helps to prevent any oxidation of the metal. – SG
