Panerai’s journey with the America’s Cup, a symbol of nautical excellence and innovation, marks a significant chapter in its storied history. The relationship began in 2017, when Panerai stepped into the sailing sport elite and became the Official Partner of the prestigious sailing competition and the sponsor of the Oracle Team USA and Softbank Team Japan.
Becoming the Official Sponsor of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli for the first time in 2019, it was during the 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada, held in the Hauraki Gulf of Auckland in 2021, that Panerai culminated its nautical ties with the sailing team. This partnership emerged naturally for a brand like Panerai that makes performance and technological innovation its distinctive flags. Over these six years of cherished relentlessly developed collections of technical watches, one for each year of preparation in the run-up to the ultimate challenge, either drawing inspiration from the technologies and materials used in the America’s Cup or from the insights and needs of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team.
“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,” says CEO of Panerai, Jean-Marc Pontroué. In the run-up to the 37th America’s Cup set in Barcelona, Panerai reaffirms its commitment as the Official Sponsor, joining forces with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team for the second consecutive edition.
“The synergy with Panerai takes us on a shared journey in pushing the limits of performance, where precision, innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence are at the heart of our endeavours,” says Max Sirena, the Team’s Skipper and Director.
This collaboration intersects with all the pillars of the Panerai identity, embodying Italian DNA, the Maison’s deep-rooted connection to the marine world, and its commitment to crafting instruments for modern heroes. Watches engineered and tested for the toughest conditions, epitomizing the brand’s dedication to durability, reliability, and functionality.
The new Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-Ceramitech™ PAM01466 and PAM01543
The release represents a strategic alliance of high performance and cutting-edge technology in the shape of a new innovative material, Ti-Ceramitech™, mirroring the ethos of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team at the apex of sailing competition.
“The launch of the Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-Ceramitech™ series, PAM01466 and PAM01543, marks a significant milestone in our innovation journey,” says Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Panerai. “We are excited to showcase the pioneering Ti-Ceramitech™, a material seven years in the making by our Laboratorio di Idee at the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, that epitomizes our dedication to advanced technologies as well as the spirit of Luna Rossa’s quest for daring performances.”
“In recent years, as boats have gotten faster, the forces acting on sails and other boat parts have increased. Friction, which can add up to 30% more force, became a major issue. So, research was done on materials that don’t create as much friction, including titanium, special steels, composites, and more. However, none were ideal until by chance, it was found that a certain type of treated ceramic had a very low friction. After many tests, materials that are very strong and coated with ceramic were used, reducing friction to below 10%. This discovery is now used in many parts of the boat, like pulleys and carts, wherever there’s movement or rubbing under heavy load,” explains Max Sirena, the Team’s Skipper and Director.
The 44mm Ti-Ceramitech™ case, is inspired by a material and process originally used in high-performance competitive environments. The innovative use of ceramic-coated materials, developed through the high-demand, high-tech sailing world of Luna Rossa, represents an example of how cutting-edge technology and materials science can elevate performance in sport environments. This process, particularly the ceramization of steel parts to significantly reduce friction, enhances the efficiency and speed of racing boats and was a source of inspiration for Panerai.
Through seven years of meticulous research and development, Panerai has filed a patent application for a titanium ceramization process through Electrolytic Plasma Oxidation able to achieve a very distinctive hue of blue. This process transforms the titanium alloy surface into a dense ceramic layer, and the specific choice of elements used, combined with the electrolyte composition, allowed for the creation of the watch’s peculiar and striking blue color, a shade inspired by the open seas. The technique yields a significantly enhanced hardness, and the resultant case is 44% lighter than steel yet has fracture toughness ten times higher than traditional ceramic. A material that can withstand high pressure, and very high thermal stress, it is an ode to the Panerai’s pursuit of creating reliable innovative instruments.
At the heart of the Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-Ceramitech™ is the automatic P.900, a caliber renowned for its reliability with a 3-day power reserve. The P.900 is an automatic caliber that integrates expansive function within the confines of remarkably streamlined proportions. It measures 12½ lignes (28mm) in diameter and is only 4.2 mm thick. The energy necessary to accumulate a power reserve of three days is delivered by a bidirectional oscillating weight and stored in a single barrel. Its balance wheel, oscillating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, is securely fixed in position by a balance cock. The caliber is equipped with a stop-second function that enables precise time setting.
The bezel, like the case, reflects the advanced pursuits of the Maison’s manufacture. Machined titanium is ceramized and then meticulously reworked to reveal the metal beneath at strategic points, creating an eye-catching contrast of materials, punctuating the crown and its protecting lever, the edge and indexes of the bezel, the back-case, and the trapezoidal pin buckle. The blue shade resulting from the ceramization process is so distinctive that it prompted the development of a bespoke color for the accompanying straps, further accentuating the watch’s singular character. Water resistant up to 50 bar (~500 meters), these watches have been rigorously tested, subjecting them to a pressure up to 25% greater than the guaranteed water resistance value to ensure they exceed Panerai’s stringent standards. The improved value is a significant milestone in a domain deeply intertwined with Panerai’s heritage that has consistently made the Maison a preferred choice.
PAM01466’s aesthetic evokes the spirit of the sea with its blue sun-brushed dial, while PAM01543 is resplendent with a white-matt grained dial, both accented with a decal of Luna Rossa and small red second hands, a subtle nod to the sailing team’s vivid identity. The date window stands at 3 o’clock while a discreet seconds subdial rests at 9 o’clock, surrounded by luminous hands and hour markers that ensure legibility in the ocean’s depths or the dark of night. The general color palette is reminiscent of the open ocean at twilight, rich and saturated, yet with a subtle gradient that gives it texture and movement. Ensuring versatility and style, the watches come with two strap options. The first bi-material strap features a striking red stripe with the words Luna Rossa in white against a blue backdrop, while the second rubber strap boasts a uniform blue tone.
The new timepieces are set to make waves starting July 2024 in the lead-up to the 2024 America’s Cup races, with PAM01466 available across all networks, and PAM01543 exclusively in boutiques.
The new references strengthen the multi-year partnership between Panerai and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, expounding on Panerai’s DNA in forging a portfolio of remarkable watches with a particular focus on instruments for aquatic adventures by combining innovation and passion-driven research for advancement.
