Panerai has introduced a new limited edition timepiece at the 2024 Watches & Wonders show in Geneva. Behold the Panerai Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition, an exclusive timepiece that celebrates the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team’s quest for the America’s Cup. Just like the most exclusive watches released by the Italian luxury watch manufacturer, the newest creation by Panerai comes bundled with a once-in-a-lifetime experience for its owners. Limited to just 20 examples, the exclusive experience watch comes with a trip to the 37th America’s Cup finals in Barcelona. The unique experience curated by the Maison will offer the buyers inside access to Panerai’s thrilling world of sailing, along with a behind-the-scenes look at the competition and the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team. The owners of the exclusive watch will get the chance to “experience the excitement and strategy of this prestigious event up close, embracing spontaneity and genuine moments.”
The new Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition
Measuring 45mm in diameter, the new limited edition timepiece is smaller than previous tourbillon-equipped Submersible models. In fact, it’s the first 45mm Submersible to feature a tourbillon. In addition to that, it’s also the first timepiece by Panerai to come with the tourbillon complication in a case crafted out of Carbotech, a composite material based on carbon fiber. The use of the futuristic material is a nod to the composition of Luna Rossa’s boat hull, which is made almost entirely of carbon fiber. Despite the downsizing of the case, the watch still retains its presence on the wrist while improving its wearability. A domed sapphire crystal sits above the dial, which is surrounded by a unidirectional rotating timing bezel made from black DLC-coated titanium.
The exclusive timepiece features an open-worked dial that showcases the watch’s complex mechanical construction. The red and white accents on the hands and hour markers stand out against the black background, improving the legibility, while they also complement the distinctive colors of the Luna Rossa racing team. The horizontal 30-second tourbillon is located on the upper left-hand side of the dial.
Two different colors of Super-LumiNova are used throughout the watch to facilitate reading diving time or simply legibility in poor lighting conditions. Housed inside the case is the hand-wound P.2015/T mechanical caliber that took three years to develop and offers 4 days of power reserve. According to Panerai, the assembly of the movement and tourbillon cage requires “eight painstaking hours of craftsmanship.”
“Our continuous collaboration with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team is a course that intertwines innovation with our rich legacy. This Experience edition is also our commitment to offering invaluable insights to our clientele, allowing them to not only own a timepiece of precise engineering but also the opportunity to immerse in experiences that define modern heroes,” said Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Panerai. The timepiece comes with two different straps: a standard 24mm black rubber strap and a bi-material strap in gray textile and rubber with the Luna Rossa team’s signature red stripe and a DLC-finished titanium buckle. The Panerai Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition is priced at $206,000, which includes the unique experience.
America’s Cup
The America’s Cup is one of the most prestigious and oldest international sailing competitions in the world. It is a series of sailing yacht races held between two yacht clubs: the defender, representing the yacht club that currently holds the America’s Cup, and the challenger, representing the yacht club, challenging for the Cup. Panerai’s relationship with America’s Cup began in 2017 when it became an Official Partner of the prestigious sailing competition and the sponsor of the Oracle Team USA and Softbank Team Japan. The Italian watch brand became the Official Sponsor of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli for the first time in 2019. “Our association with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team resonates deeply with Panerai’s maritime heritage and our pursuit of boundary-pushing performance. This partnership is a natural extension of our brand’s core values,” said the CEO of Panerai, Jean-Marc Pontroué.
