Panerai watches are tough, just ask the Italian Navy. However, not all Panerais are equally tough. While collections like the Submersible Navy SEALs series are incredibly robust with 300m – 500m water resistance, huge diameters and titanium constructions, others like the Luminor Quaranta are far more civilian in their specification. With a 40mm diameter in polished steel and 100m water resistance, they have never been built for rugged adventures. Until now. Meet the upgraded Luminor Quaranta Carbotech PAM01526.
Jumping right to the case, it of course measures 40mm because that’s what makes it a Luminor Quaranta. However, instead of steel it’s made from Panerai’s proprietary carbon composite material, Carbotech. It’s 80% lighter than steel, 73% lighter than ceramic and 64% lighter than titanium, making it extremely light on the wrist. On top of that, this is the first Luminor Quaranta model with a water resistance rating of 300m. So, if you’re an adventurous type who doesn’t happen to have forearms the size of Sly Stallone’s, now there’s finally a Panerai you can wear that will keep up with your lifestyle.
Building on the rugged style of the carbotech case, the Luminor Quaranta Carbotech PAM01526 has a matte green sandwich dial. While it’s not quite so purebred of a military design as the camouflage straps on the Navy SEALs series that I mentioned earlier, it still has a fatigues sort of vibe. Especially as the dial colour is matched by the practical rubber strap. My main comment regarding the dial is that I would like the Super-LumiNova to be retro beige colour instead of pure white because A. it would feel more like a vintage military timepiece and B. the white is quite jarring in contrast to the green and black of the dial and case.
Below the sandwich dial is housed the calibre P.900, one of Panerai’s most common movements. It’s a time-and-date calibre with a small seconds display and a 72-hour power reserve. It’s visible through the exhibition caseback, which reveals that the movement is DLC coated in black to fit alongside the stealthy appearance of the Carbotech case.
It is worth noting that the upgraded specs of the Panerai Luminor Quaranta Carbotech PAM01526 come at a significant premium compared to the standard Quaranta. The regular steel model is £6,700 but the PAM01526 comes in at £11,400, just under double the price. Given the high-tech nature of carbon composite cases that’s not unexpected. Plus, I do like the overall aesthetic of the watch and idea of a high-spec, smaller diameter Panerai.
Price and Specs:
More details at Panerai.
