Panerai Introduces the New Submersible Elux LAB-ID Watch with Mechanical Luminescence

Innovation has always been crucial to Panerai, a luxury watchmaker with a rich history dating back to 1860 when it was founded in Florence, Italy. Known for the distinctive design and technical prowess of its watches, Panerai has continuously improved on its offerings through a blend of tradition and innovation. Lume or luminescence is a significant feature of Panerai watches, playing a critical role in both their functionality and aesthetic appeal. The brand has also continuously improved its luminescent technology with advanced, safer and more effective materials. Taking this technology a notch higher, the timepiece maker has now introduced the new Submersible Elux LAB-ID (Ref. PAM01800) watch with a four-patent system. 

The new timepiece from Panerai combines the Maison's expertise in luminescence to create a fully mechanical movement capable of powering light on demand, reflecting eight years of dedicated research and development. Elux LAB-ID PAM01800 is a limited edition of 150 pieces; 50 pieces will be available per year over three years.

Panerai's Submersible collection reflects the brand’s deep roots in maritime history and its commitment to producing high-performance dive watches. In fact, Panerai's origins are closely tied to the Italian Navy, and the Submersible collection pays homage to this heritage. The watches are inspired by the historical models created for combat divers. These watches are crafted to withstand extreme conditions, using materials like titanium, ceramic, and Carbotech, which ensure that the pieces are both lightweight and incredibly tough. 

The new watch features a 49 mm blue Ti-Ceramitech™ case, a 60-minute bezel, and lugs made of ceramised titanium, a patent-pending material. After seven years of painstaking research and development, Panerai has filed a patent application for a titanium ceramisation technique using Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation to obtain a highly distinct blue tint. This method converts the titanium alloy surface into a dense ceramic layer. The precise components employed, together with the electrolyte composition, have resulted in the new watch's unique and stunning blue hue, inspired by the boundless oceans. At 3 o’clock is the signature crown with protector and a pusher at 8 o’clock activates the Elux lume.

Panerai’s team has successfully transferred electricity to the bezel outside of the watch casing while retaining a 500-metre water resistance. The 8 x 2.3 mm microgenerator uses unique coils, magnets, and a stator to maximise energy efficiency. It has no active electronics but a high-speed rotor that rotates at 80 revolutions per second and produces a 240 Hz electrical signal. Because of its magnetic drive, which allows for smart lighting, it only illuminates the well-positioned LEDs below the dot, resulting in only 15 LEDs being illuminated at the same time, compared with a total of 60 LEDs within the ring. The anticlockwise revolving bezel of the timepiece is illuminated by a patent-pending light system. Super-LumiNova® X1 illuminates the blue-accented minute hands and dots on the bezel.

The black dial gets a power reserve light indicator LAB-ID at 6 o’clock and a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock. Both the dotted oval hour markers and the hour hand are accented with green Super-LumiNova® X2, and the blue-accented minute hand is illuminated by Super-LumiNova® X1. The mechanism can produce continuous illumination for up to 30 minutes.

Powering the watch is Calibre P.9010/EL with a Glucydur® balance wheel stop and six barrels; the movement has a 72-hour power reserve, while the power light has a reserve of 30 minutes. The movement has four dedicated energy-storing barrels — one of six accessible in the movement — that are precisely built to unwind in a microgenerator that turns mechanical energy into electricity. 

The dodecagon screw Ti-Ceramitech™ caseback has an engraving of green lume Elux. The watch comes with a blue rubber strap and a second bi-material strap. The blue rubber bracelet is accompanied by a trapezoidal titanium pin buckle.

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