Panerai Luna Rossa collection 2023 Review
The Panerai Luna Rossa collection 2023 subscribes to the brand’s Italianate style incorporating traditional Panerai design elements paired with contemporary, sometimes cutting-edge, materials.
The quest for performance
Since the dawn of the 20th century, transport has assumed greater importance, providing an efficient means to travel from one place to another. While primarily used to convey individuals from their homes to places of work, transport has led to men and women yearning to cover distances in the shortest time possible. Indeed, the annals of history are littered with the words ‘first’, ‘fastest’ and ‘quickest’. By default, there are numerous boats, cars, planes and trains that have been painstakingly honed to deliver maximum performance.
Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team
The Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team comprises a group of individuals who relentlessly explore the limits of performance, all with the shared aim of winning the 37th America’s Cup. Many hours have been expended refining the shape of the boat’s hull, its foils, sails and rudder. Measuring just over 20 m in length, the boat is formed of carbon fibre and aluminium, a combination that is strong, yet light. Everything is optimised for speed and race success.
Panerai and the Royal Italian Navy
Panerai has a rich history operating within the marine world. Founded in 1860, it soon began developing high precision products for the Royal Italian Navy. Most famously, in 1913, Panerai made luminous devices for naval gun sights, timing mechanisms, depth gauges and mechanical calculators, again for military use. In 1938, the company created the ‘first military diver’s watch in history’, a genre of timepiece that remains at the heart of the company’s DNA. Like Luna Rossa, Panerai is very familiar with operating in a marine setting.
Image – Panerai Luminor Due Luna Rossa PAM01381
Panerai embraces new technologies
Despite its rich heritage, Panerai has repeatedly shown that it does not dwell in the past. Indeed, in recent years, it has pushed the performance envelope, embracing an array of new technologies, including Carbotech™️, DMLS, Goldtech™️, Bmg-Tech™️ and Platinumtech. These materials confer advancement over regular steel and noble metals. It is this relentless pursuit of performance, as well as its association with the marine world that led to Panerai entering into a partnership with the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team in 2019.
Panerai x Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team
Since the watch brand and sailing team joined forces, the Italian-Swiss firm has released several dual-branded creations, often endowed with straps enlivened with the ebullient Luna Rossa logo. Now, the luxury watch firm has released five new references, significantly enlarging the Panerai Luna Rossa collection. In this feature, I provide a brief overview of each of these new timepieces, pointing out some of the key features that will no-doubt arouse excitement among the Paneristi.
Panerai Luna Rossa collection 2023
Panerai Luminor Quaranta Steel DLC Luna Rossa PAM01408
In some ways the Panerai Luminor Quaranta Steel DLC Luna Rossa PAM01408 upholds the styling of the famous 1950s Luminor Panerai, the ultra-desirable model fitted with an Angelus 8-day movement. Like the 1950s model, the specification of the PAM01408 includes the patented, and now iconic, crown protection device, as well as a small seconds display, at 9 o’clock. However, this new model is housed in a neater 40 mm case that brims with modernity courtesy of its brushed steel DLC torso.
The modern-day automatic P.900 calibre sits at the heart of the PAM01406 and proffers a three-day power-reserve. Panerai has endowed this model with a bewitching blue sun-brushed dial, plump hour markers and prominent luminescent hands. The watch is presented on a rubber/textile Luna Rossa dark blue strap.
- Price: £8,000 (RRP as of 16.7.2023)
Panerai Luminor Quaranta BiTempo Luna Rossa PAM01404
The Panerai Luminor Quaranta BiTempo Luna Rossa PAM01404 is presented in a 40mm brushed steel case, topped with a contrasting highly polished bezel. Once again, the dial is executed in a blue sun-brushed finish and is paired with baton-style hour and minute hands. Other highlights include a cheery-red small seconds hand at 9 o’clock with a date indication positioned opposite. Furthermore, this model is endowed with an additional, red/white tipped hour hand that provides a simple means of indicating the ‘home time’. Sometimes termed a ‘GMT watch’, the PAM01404 is ideally suited to those individuals who regularly juggle their lives in two different time zones. The model is supplied on a bi-material rubber/textile Luna Rossa dark blue strap.
- Price: £8,300 (RRP as of 16.7.2023)
Panerai Luminor Chrono Carbotech™️ Luna Rossa PAM01519
With its neoteric appearance and 44 mm case, the Luminor Chrono Carbotech™️ Luna Rossa PAM01519 confers much wrist presence. The case is made of Carbotech™️, a composite material comprising carbon fibre sheets, heated and compressed with the addition of ‘high-end polymer’. This material is light, strong and hypoallergenic.
The blue sun-brushed dial incorporates two counters, a 30-minute chronograph register at 3 o’clock and small seconds display at 9 o’clock. A tachymeter is positioned on the flange, providing the wearer with the means to calculate the speed of an object over a known distance (when used in conjunction with the central chronograph seconds hand).
In recent years, Panerai has sold ‘special Experience edition watches’. The PAM01519 perpetuates this trend, offering ‘watch owners access to a special experience to take place in Cagliari. Together with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, participants will have the opportunity to immerse in various activities and workshops connected to the world of sailing and the sea.
Each participant in the Luna Rossa experience will also receive an NFT containing information to support their experience, such as a specific training card, technical information about the watch, a warranty booklet, and finally, an artwork created specifically by the Panerai Studio.’
- Price: £41,400 (RRP as of 16.7.2023)
- Limited to 37 pieces
Panerai Luminor Due Luna Rossa PAM 1378/PAM01381
Image – Panerai Luminor Due Luna Rossa PAM01378
In this instance, the Panerai Luminor Due Luna Rossa, available in 38 mm and 42 mm case options, eschews the blue hues of the aforementioned models in favour of pure white tones. Both models are housed in a polished steel case paired with a matching, polished steel bezel. The familiar Panerai design codes are once again in evidence, including the crown guard, bold hour markers, baton-style hands and small seconds display at 9 o’clock.
Image – Panerai Luminor Due Luna Rossa PAM01381
Panerai again incorporates a few subtle nods to the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team, including a red small seconds hand and Luna Rossa branded straps. The PAM1378 affixes to the wrist with a ‘white Saffiano calf Luna Rossa strap’, while the PAM1381 comes supplied on a grey bi-material rubber/textile Luna Rossa strap.
- PAM 1378 – Price: £6,400 (RRP as of 16.7.2023)
- PAM 1381 – Price: £6,700 (RRP as of 16.7.2023)