The last time we heard of Panerai breaking unprecedented grounds, it was with the unveiling of the Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanio at SIHH 2016. And now, just a quarter of the year through, they are about to make headlines again, with a complication this time, which we know few other examples of in the horological realm.
Introducing the Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT, a new decimal minute repeater with the capability of chiming out both local time and home time, and switch between the two – instantly.
Where the decimal minute repeater functionality stands, the Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT has few peers, namely – Kari Voutilainen’s Decimal Minute Repeater (which has seen a few variations to date), Credor’s Spring Drive Minute Repeater and lastly, an SIHH 2015 introduction from A. Lange & Söhne – the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater. The other instance of a decimal repeater (a variation of sorts) is found within Patek’s incredible Grand Master Chime, where the masion has executed the date repetition function with a decimal repeater.
However it is with the capability of chiming out both local time and home time that the Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT finds itself in a true league of its own. Because while we have had repeaters from DeWitt and Louis Vuitton which are able to chime both local and home time – Panerai’s is the first of its sort that can instantaneously switch from one to the other.
This is done by a simple twist of the crown to switch the watch into a selector mode. Here the wearer is able to press the pusher on the crown to alternate between the local/home repeater mode (indicated by the display under the am/pm indicator at 9 o’clock). This mode also arrests the pusher at 8 o’clock, which is otherwise used to activate the minute repeater.
The decimal repeater functionality means that the watch is able to chime out hours (with a single low gong), the minutes in 10s (with triple chimes) and lastly, the minutes in 1s (with a single higher pitched gong). The sound mechanism is achieved by three gongs working in synchrony for the necessary indication.
As we consider the technical achievement that the Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT represents, it is only natural to wonder what significance the watch bears in Panerai’s grand story. And in discussing that very matter, it was Wei who summarized it best for us. He said, “This minute repeater is an amazing culmination of what Panerai CEO Angelo Bonati began in 2005, in Florence, when he first unveiled the full vision of his in-house movements. I think it is no coincidence this amazing home time/local time repeater with its incredible ability to switch the strike mode between two time zones is built on the P2005 Tourbillon platform, which 11 years ago was the movement that transported Panerai into the realm of the high complication heavy weights.”
In light of the exclusivity of the complication, and no doubt the complexity that its construction demands, Panerai will be producing the Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT on a made-to-order basis with options for alternate case materials and few other bespoke details.
For the want-to-order, and those who are just plain drooling right about now – Panerai will be showcasing this grand creation of their’s at the upcoming “PANERAI – DIVE INTO TIME” Exhibition at the Museo Marino Marini. So if you find yourself in Florence within 18 – 21 of May, make sure you drop by, not only to witness the new Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT, but many other previously unseen creations from various periods of the brand’s existence.
PANERAI – DIVE INTO TIME:
The History and Future of Panerai on Show in Florence
Event details:
Date: 18 – 21 May 2016 (Wednesday to Saturday)
Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Location: Museo Marino Marini, Piazza San Pancrazio, Florence
All this and more, now live on www.panerai.com
