Panerai has unveiled two new models of the "Luminor Firenze Ottogiorni" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its Florence flagship store, which opened in Piazza San Giovanni in 1926. Both models are inspired by a rare Ref. 6152/1 prototype owned by a collector. In particular, the PlatinumTech™ Ref. PAM01734 even reproduces the cutouts on the surface of the crown protector seen on the prototype.
Panerai unveils the "Luminor Firenze Ottogiorni" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its Florence flagship store.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of its flagship store in Piazza San Giovanni, Florence, Panerai has unveiled two new "Luminor Firenze Ottogiorni" models. Inspired by a rare prototype of the Ref. 6152/1 from the 1960s, both models feature the "PANERAI FIRENZE" inscription on the dial, representing the brand's roots. The cases have a diameter of 44mm, with the Ref. PAM01734 in PlatinumTech™ limited to 100 pieces and the Ref. PAM01794 in stainless steel limited to 1000 pieces.
Panerai's history began in 1860 when Giovanni Panerai established a watch shop and workshop in Florence. The shop subsequently moved around the city, and in 1926, it moved to its current location in Piazza San Giovanni under the name "Orologeria Svizzera." The Florence flagship store, which handled not only watch sales but also assembly and repair, became an important center for accumulating knowledge of watchmaking. Even today, the store retains the "OROLOGERIA" sign and the original wooden display windows, preserving the brand's history.
The new model is inspired by a rare prototype owned by a collector.
The two models unveiled this time were inspired by a rare Ref. 6152/1 prototype owned by a collector, which Panerai has confirmed to be authentic. Both models inherit the "PANERAI FIRENZE" engraving from this prototype, but the case size has been changed from 47mm to 44mm. They also incorporate features such as a cushion-shaped middle case, a flat crown protector, and a contrast between polished and satin finishes. The crystal is a domed sapphire crystal, giving it a finish reminiscent of the plexiglass used in models from the 1960s.
Both models feature a simple two-hand display, and the dial has an iconic sandwich structure. Cut-out Arabic numeral and bar indices are combined with luminous pencil-shaped hour and minute hands. The brass dial has a circular brushed finish, creating a unique shine and color variation when exposed to light.
Two variations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Florence flagship store.
The Ref. PAM01734, crafted from PlatinumTech™, features a case with a green dial and gold-effected hands. PlatinumTech™ is a special alloy containing 95% platinum, and its unique treatment increases its hardness by 85% compared to standard platinum. The movement can be admired through the transparent case back.
Manual winding (Cal. P.5000). 21 jewels. 21,600 vibrations/hour. Power reserve approximately 192 hours. Platinumtech™ case (44mm diameter). 100m water resistance. Limited edition of 100 pieces worldwide. 8,404,000 yen (tax included).
A notable detail of the Ref. PAM01734 is the notch on the surface of the crown protector, which originates from the Ref. 6152/1 prototype that served as its inspiration. This was experimentally introduced to ensure operability even when wearing gloves or in low-visibility environments.
The Ref. PAM01794, on the other hand, features a stainless steel case and combines a black dial with blued hour and minute hands. This blue color is created by a heat treatment at approximately 300°C, a design element also seen in Panerai's vintage models. The case and bezel have a polished finish, while the crown protector has a satin finish. The solid case back is engraved with the Florence flagship store's mark.
Manual winding (Cal. P.5000). 21 jewels. 21,600 vibrations/hour. Power reserve approximately 192 hours. Stainless steel case (44mm diameter). 300m water resistance. Limited edition of 1000 pieces worldwide. 1,639,000 yen (tax included).
Both models are equipped with the hand-wound Cal.P.5000 movement. This movement has two mainsprings, ensuring a power reserve of approximately 192 hours. It features a design that enhances durability by sandwiching most of the gear train between two wide plates and supporting the balance wheel on both sides. Furthermore, the water resistance is 100m for Ref.PAM01734 and 300m for Ref.PAM01794, providing ample peace of mind for everyday use.
Both models feature Tuscan calf leather straps hot-stamped with the Florentine lily emblem. Ref. PAM01734 comes with a black calfskin strap, a white gold buckle, and a green rubber replacement strap. Ref. PAM01794 comes with a dark brown calfskin strap, a stainless steel buckle, and a black rubber replacement strap.
