Introducing: The Panerai Luminor Luna Rossa GMT 44mm

April 24, 2020

Inspired by the 36th America's Cup, Panerai has released the new Luminor Luna Rossa GMT. At 44mm, this DLC-coated titanium timepiece celebrates and invokes the Challenger of Record for the famed yachting contest which has taken place since 1851. Adding to Panerai's seafaring heritage, this new offering is robust, decidedly modern, and full of texture and detail. Not to mention the fact that, aside from an impressive 300m water resistance, it also bears a rather useful dual-time function.? Beating away inside the Luna Rossa GMT is the in-house P.9010/GMT caliber which provides every bit of functionality necessary for a dual-time timepiece and is a crucial component for synchronizing time zones for the America's Cup. The movement, designed and developed entirely by the Panerai Manufacture, boasts a mighty three-day power reserve. The watch otherwise gives you everything you would expect from the brand, including an extra strap in the box. Panerai has always had a penchant for balancing large sizing and purpose-built construction with deft Italian design, and the same can be said about this new offering.? Initial Thoughts One of the more striking attributes on this watch is the dial. In color alone it is grey, sure. But in leaning fully into the celebration of the America's Cup, Panerai has covered the entire dial surface in technical fabric taken from the sailing equipment of the AC75 monohull of Luna Rossa. The tactile quality and texture exuded in the dial design creates quite an enjoyable viewing experience. In typical Panerai fashion, the dial itself is done in a sandwich configuration whereby the numerals give way to the white of the underside of the dial below. This watch is more than capable of handling the open water with its 300m water resistance but, with this iteration, Panerai has also added GMT functionality in a really satisfying configuration.?The P.9010 movement allows for independent operation of the hour hand (which in turn functions to operate the date), making this watch a true GMT. The case of the watch is made of titanium which is covered in a special carbon-based DLC coating which adds an increased degree of wear resistance to the titanium's corrosion-resistance. ? For a watch as stark grey as this one is, any added splash of color is welcome. What we have here are essentially two red pointers: one as the running small-seconds hand, and the other serving to display the second time zone. Pair that with the stark white stick hands and white numerals, and you get an amazingly legible timepiece ready for action. Capping off the America's Cup inspiration is a nice engraving on the caseback featuring Luna Rossa. This watch has strong looks that are bolstered by a strong design. You may not ever step foot on a yacht, let alone take part in one of the oldest boating competitions in modern history, but it would be cool to wear a watch that makes you feel like you might.? The Basics Brand: PaneraiModel: Luminor Luna Rossa GMT 44mmReference Number: PAM01036Diameter: 44mmThickness: 15.65mmCase Material: Titanium with black DLC coatingDial Color: Dark grey, sandwich structure, covered with technical sail fabricIndexes: Arabic numerals and white indicesLume: Super-LumiNovaWater Resistance: 300 metersStrap/Bracelet: In Ponte Vecchio calfskin, black with white stitching. Trapezoidal pin buckle in titaniumwith black DLC coating. Additional strap in black rubber. The Movement Caliber: P.9010/GMTFunctions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, GMTDiameter: 13 3?4 lignesThickness: 6.0mmPower Reserve: 3 daysWinding: Mechanical with automatic windingFrequency: 28,800 vibrations/hourJewels: 31Chronometer Certified: NoAdditional Details: Glucydur balance, Incabloc shockproof device, two barrels. Pricing & Availability Price: $10,900Availability: ImmediatelyLimited Edition: NoFor more, click here.