Watches & Wonders 2021: PANERAI Luminor Chrono Luna Rossa

To celebrate the passion and talent of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, Panerai has introduced a new limited-edition chronograph to the Luminor collection at Watches & Wonders 2021 - the Luminor Chrono Luna Rossa PAM 1303. For those who aren’t familiar with the history, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, originally named Prada Challenge, then Luna Rossa Challenge, is an Italian sailboat racing syndicate first created to compete for the 2000 America's Cup. 

Panerai is no stranger to the chronograph. Around 1943, the reference year of the Mare Nostrum project, a model was designed for the deck officers of the Italian Navy, which was developed only to the prototype stage. One of the prototypes is still carefully preserved in the Panerai museum in Florence. 

In addition to the sandblasted titanium,  titanium DLC, ceramic and Carbotech cases on the already existing Luminor Luna Rossa editions, Watches & Wonders 2021 saw the introduction of a new steel version. With a brushed case and a contrasting polished bezel, this new 44mm Luminor Chrono Luna Rossa is just an extension of the Luminor line dedicated to measuring precision performance.

To preserve the iconic design conferred by the crown protecting bridge on the right, unlike traditional chronographs, the start, stop and reset pushers here are on the left. 

Powered by the new self-winding P.9200 Calibre, Luminor Chrono Luna Rossa has a mere 42 hour power reserve that is delivered by the energy stored by a single barrel. Not a feat I’d boast about. That being said, the spotlight here is on that deep blue sandwich dial with a satiné soleil finishing. Sporting Arabic numerals and indexes in white Super-LumiNovaTM with green luminescence, it displays the chronograph minutes counter at 3 o’clock, the seconds at 9 o’clock, a central chronograph seconds hand and a tachymeter scale on the flange.

Waterproof up to 10 bar (more 100 meters), the Luminor Chrono Luna Rossa is available with two bi-material straps in technical fabric and rubber. A blue one sporting the Luna Rossa personalization with a trapezoidal pin buckle in brushed steel and an additional white one.

Also included is a tool to allow interchangeability of the straps and a screwdriver for removing the buckle. All the materials are housed in a box encased in sailcloth and signed by Panerai and Luna Rossa.

Made in a limited edition, the Luminor Chrono Luna Rossa PAM01303 will be available in just 1000 pieces.