Manufacturer: Panerai Year: 2013 Reference No: PAM00508 Case No: BB1614606 Model Name: Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Ceramica Material: Black ceramic Calibre: Automatic, P.9000, 28 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Brown Panerai calf leather strap Clasp/Buckle: Black ceramic Panerai buckle Dimensions: 47 mm. bezel width Signed:Case, dial and movement signed, case further engraved P0036/1000 Accessories: With Panerai Certificate confirming the present watch is numbered 36 of a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, Guarantee Certificate dated 6 January 2014, additional rubber strap, instruction manual, screwdriver, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
This present PAM00508 in the Luminor Submersible collection is distinguished by its black ceramic case, which is also the first time a Luminor Submersible watch has been executed in ceramic. The black ceramic case has a fine sandblasted finish, giving it a matte discrete appearance. The material is very light weight and with excellent resistance to scratches and corrosion. Offered in like new condition, the present watch is numbered 36 of a limited edition of 1,000 pieces only.
Known for its robust designs and large case sizes, Officine Panerai was established in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai in Florence, Italy. Around 1900, Giovanni's grandson Guido Panerai took over, and Panerai became the supplier to the Regia Marina — the Royal Italian Navy. After supplying the navy with high-precision instruments for a number of years, Officine Panerai created Radiomir, a radium-based powder that gives luminosity to the dials of sighting instruments and devices. By 1936, the Royal Italian Navy approached Panerai again with the request to design a watch resistant to extreme underwater conditions. The watch they created became known as the "Radiomir".
Panerai's watches made during the early twentieth century era were comprised of cases designed and manufactured by Rolex SA, with Cortébert, a Swiss manufacturer, supplying the majority of their movements. The most recognizable designs from the firm are the Radiomir and Luminor. To date, vintage models from the first half of the 1900s, such as the reference 3646 and 6152 models, remain the most desirable among collectors.