On May 18, Officine Panerai will open “Panerai: Dive Into Time,” an exhibition showcasing the company’s history, in its birthplace city of Florence, Italy. The exhibition will also mark the debut of the new Panerai Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT, the most complicated Panerai watch ever made.
The Panerai Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT – 49mm (Ref. PAM00600) is distinguished by its rare “double” minute repeater mechanism, which can be set to chime either the local time or that of a second time zone.
The chiming mechanism is activated by a push-piece at 8 o’clock (above) and carried out by three hammers striking three gongs that are fixed to the movement and the case. Panerai chose three hammers, rather than the traditional two, to allow a combination of three different sounds, producing a more melodious, bell-likecarillon. As in a more traditional repeater, the first gong, identifying the hour, is the lowest, while the last, indicating the individual minutes, is highest. However, this watch adds a second, intermediate-note gong sounding triple chimes that correspond to ten-minute intervals instead of the traditional fifteen.
The cushion-shaped, rose-gold Radiomir 1940 case, measuring 49 mm in diameter, is formed from two separate pieces soldered together in a structure that optimizes the empty spaces inside the case to enhance the sound propagation of the repeater chimes.
As a designated Special Edition, the Panerai Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT is specifically made to order for clients. The brand has stated that it will also offer options for personalisation, which would includes not only the choice of strap, hands and other special features, but also possibly a choice of case materials other than rose gold. The price will be $400,000, depending on alterations.
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