Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge 2017 Collection – Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio(44mm) and Luminor 1950 PCYC Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio(47mm)
In 2017 Panerai celebrates the 13th year of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the most important international circuit of races for vintage and classic yachts. Joining the celebration are two special series of watches designed for lovers of the sea and especially for regatta enthusiasts.
Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio – 44mm
The two new Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic watches (PAM00653 and PAM00654) reveal their association with the world of classic yachting through a masterly combination of technology, design and fascinating little details, such as the engraving of an elegant classic yacht on the back, beneath the inscription PANERAI CLASSIC YACHTS CHALLENGE.
But the powerful sporting identity is primarily demonstrated by the chronograph flyback function of the P.9100 automatic calibre: the push-piece at 8 o’clock instantly zeroes the chronograph hands and immediately restarts them, without it first being necessary to stop them and return them to zero by pressing on the stop and reset button at 10 o’clock.
Distinctive features of the two chronographs are the dial design and the strap. The dial of PAM00654 is ivory with beige markers and blue details and it is supplied with a strap in brown leather with beige sewing; PAM00653 has a black dial with beige figures and an untreated brown leather strap, with the same contrasting sewing.
To make reading the dial and its relative functions as clear and as simple as possible, the chronograph minute and seconds hands are of different colours and positioned centrally, while the hour counter is at 3 o’clock and the small seconds dial is at 9 o’clock, its hand being the same colour as the central chronograph seconds hand.
Another element which expresses the link with the sea, while at the same time performing a useful additional function, is the tachymeter scale in knots printed on the flange, which enables the average speed of the yacht over a particular distance (one nautical mile) to be measured by the chronograph minute hand.
The case of the new Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic is 44 mm in diameter and it is made of AISI 316L stainless steel, an alloy which is extremely resistant to corrosion. Made of the same material as the case but with a contrasting brushed finish, the characteristic bridge device with lever locking the winding crown helps to ensure the water-resistance of the watch to 10 bar (a depth of about 100 metres).
The P.9100 automatic chronograph movement features the vertical clutch, the column wheel, the two spring barrels connected in series providing a power reserve of three days, the seconds reset device, the bi-directional rotor, and the variable inertia balance which oscillates at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The calibre consists of 302 components and it is 13¾ lignes in diameter with a thickness of 8.15 mm.
Technical details
Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio – 44mm (PAM00653)
- Movement: Automatic mechanical, P.9100 calibre.
- Power Reserve: 72H
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, seconds reset, flyback chronograph, knots scale for calculation of average boat speed
- Case: 44 mm, AISI 316L polished steel
- Dial: Black with luminous Arabic numerals. Chronograph hour counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds and minute hands, knot scale on the rehaut
- Water-resistance: 10 bar (~100 metres)
Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio – 44mm (PAM00654)
- Movement: Automatic mechanical, P.9100 calibre.
- Power reserve: 72H
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, seconds reset, flyback chronograph, knots scale for calculation of average boat speed
- Case: 44 mm, AISI 316L polished steel
- Dial: Ivory with luminous hour markers and dots. Chronograph hour counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds and minute hands, knot scale on the rehaut
- Water-resistance: 10 bar (~100 metres)
Luminor 1950 PCYC Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio – 47mm
The new Luminor 1950 Regatta PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic has all the characteristics which have made the Luminor 1950 one of the international icons of high quality sports watchmaking, with the technical excellence of the P.9100/R movement.
The Regatta countdown function is remarkably simple to use, a tribute to the excellence of the technical innovation contained within the P.9100/R automatic chronograph calibre. A push-piece at 4 o’clock moves the gilded central chronograph minute hand back one minute each time it is pressed, to the position required in relation to the duration of the countdown.
Pressing the push-piece at 10 o’clock starts the chronograph: the relative hands begin moving, first indicating the minutes and seconds remaining until the start and, once the countdown is finished, recording the time elapsed from the start of the race.
The pushpiece at 8 o’clock stops the measurement and returns all the chronograph hands to zero or, if operated when the hands are still moving, it activates the return to zero (flyback) function, thus immediately starting the measurement of a new time interval without needing to activate the stop and reset mechanism.
The black dial of the Luminor 1950 Regatta PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic has a distinctive design with large markers, enhanced by all the elements which display the indications of the chronograph functions.
The easily recognisable chronograph hands are central and of different colours (the seconds hand is rhodium while the minute hand is gilded), and the chronograph hour hand rotates in the counter at 3 o’clock, mirroring the small seconds dial at 9 o’clock.
As well as the scale of 15 minutes for the countdown, the flange is also marked with the tachymeter scale in knots which enables the average speed of the yacht over a particular distance (one nautical mile) to be measured by the chronograph minute hand. The beige elements on the dial are complemented by the sewing of the brown strap in natural untreated leather, closed with a titanium clasp buckle and heat-stamped with the OP logo.
The Luminor 1950 case (47 mm in diameter) has the characteristic Panerai lever device which protects the winding crown, contributing to the water-resistance of the watch to a pressure of 10 bar (a depth of about 100 metres).
It is made of brushed titanium – a material which combines lightness and strength – with a contrasting polished bezel, while the inscription PANERAI CLASSIC YACHTS CHALLENGE and an elegant classic yacht with its sails deployed are engraved in relief on the back.
As well as the Regatta countdown function, the P.9100/R automatic movement has various other characteristics which demonstrate the high degree of technical excellence.
It is a sophisticated chronograph movement with a vertical clutch and column wheel, a variable inertia balance which oscillates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, the seconds reset device for accurate synchronisation, a bi-directional rotor, and two spring barrels providing a power reserve of three days.
Technical details
Model: Luminor 1950 PCYC Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio – 47mm (PAM00652)
- Movement: Automatic mechanical, P.9100/R calibre.
- Power reserve: 72H
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, seconds reset, flyback chronograph, regatta countdown, knots scale for calculation of average boat speed.
- Case: 47 mm, brushed titanium
- Dial: Black with luminous Arabic numerals. Chronograph hour counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds and minute hands, knot scale on the rehaut
- Water-resistance: 10 bar (~100 metres)
About Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge
The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge has long been acknowledged as the leading international circuit for classic and vintage sailing yachts. Celebrating its 13th outing in 2017, the circuit spans 11 of the world’s most fascinating and maritime tradition rich regattas on a calendar that has become a reference point for lovers of the stunning beauty, glorious history and absolute uniqueness of all classic craft.
As per tradition, the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge rounds in France (Antibes, Cannes), Italy (Argentario) and Spain (Mahon on the island of Minorca) comprise the Mediterranean Circuit. The yachts participating in each of the events on the Circuit build up points which go towards winning the overall Trophy.
In previous years, the latter has been won by some of the most famous craft in sailing history, not least creations by the illustrious likes of William Fife III (Cambria built in 1928, Mariquita built in 1911, Moonbeam IV built in 1914) and Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (Chinook built in 1916) as well as Italian Naval vessels (Chaplin built in 1974 and Stella Polare built in 1965), past Olympic stars (Bona Fide built in 1899, gold medallist at the Paris Olympics in 1900) and those with history-making owners (Manitou built in 1937, once owned by President John Fitzgerald Kennedy).
Also participating in the Mediterranean regattas will be Eilean, the Bermudan ketch designed in 1936 by William Fife III and acquired in 2006 by Officine Panerai which then restored and relaunched her.
The Marblehead, Newport, Nantucket and Bristol regattas allows participating boats to compete for the second Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge Trophy, which is presented to the winner of the North American Circuit, staged each August and September in the waters of New England. For the last two years, the North American Trophy has been in the hands of Siren, a member of the NY-32 class designed in 1936 by Olin Stephens of the legendary Sparkman & Stephens.
Aside from the two overall Mediterranean and North American Trophies, the winners of the individual events – including the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the Panerai British Classic Week, which for geographical reasons are not included in either Circuit – will receive a Panerai watch as their prize.
Since it designed and produced the first watch for the Italian Royal Navy’s specialist diving corps in 1936, Panerai has been creating precision instruments that combine striking Italian design with leading-edge Swiss watchmaking technology, making them ideal for sea-lovers.
Suggested retail price
- Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio – 44mm (PAM00653): $12,300
- Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio – 44mm (PAM00654): $12,300
- Luminor 1950 PCYC Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio – 47mm (PAM00652): $17,200
