Page 95 - The Book For Men Spring/Summer 2024

a visit to Luna Rossa’s headquarters in Cagliari, Italy. “You discover materials that are used in this high-speed world that we don’t use in Switzerland,” he says, “because we work mainly with watch suppliers.”
The watch is the result of seven years of development, undertaken at Panerai’s Laboratorio di Idee in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The Ti-Ceramitech coating is 44 per cent lighter than steel, with a fracture toughness 10 times higher than traditional ceramic — an ideal combination for the world of high-stakes competitive sailing.
“We use this same ceramic coating concept on the boat to reduce friction in the bearings and turning blocks,” says Sirena. “Because, whatever you can do to reduce friction, you gain in efficiency.” As complicated as it is to initially produce Ti-Ceramitech, however, Pontroué says that rendering this cutting-edge coating in the distinctive shade of sea blue required for the Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa was the most time-consuming part of the process.
And, like every watch made by Panerai, the completed prototype was subjected to a battery of challenging in-house tests, with additional field-testing handled by the Luna Rossa crew. “They tested in real conditions,” says Sirena. “For them, a watch is a good watch if they don’t feel it, and they can read the time quickly.” With its clean, ultra-legible dial, rubber and textile strap with Luna Rossa livery,
and 500 metre water-resistance (a 200-metre improvement over the rest of the QuarantaQuattro line), the watch ticked every box.
While the Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-Ceramitech will make anyone who wears it feel like a member of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, the new limited-edition Panerai Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition will take a fortunate few even closer to the action. In addition to being the first 45 mm Submersible to combine a tourbillon with a carbon-composite Carbotech case (yet another example of Luna Rossa’s use of advanced materials), it also includes access to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the 37th America’s Cup this year.
For, limited to just 20 pieces, the incredible tourbillon also comes with an invitation to the finals of the sailing competition in Barcelona this October, and the chance to both view the race from the deck of Panerai’s historic wooden yacht, Eilean, and enjoy a series of behind-the-scenes cultural and culinary experiences. And, while Panerai unfortunately can’t guarantee the trip will see you witness a win for the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, the brand has put every effort into building a watch fit for a historic victory. “We are a brand equipping modern heroes,” says Pontroué. “These are people who want to win.”
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