PAM1661 Luminor Marina Carbotech, Sandwich of the year

I admit it – I’m a fanboy.  I also admit to having big old bear paws, which on the positive side means I can totally pull off a Luminor.  Nonetheless, the not inconsiderable heft of the steel giants has so far effectively dissuaded me from even considering an acquisition.  The PAM1661, then, comes just in time.

To be sure, many watch buyers associate weight with luxury, quality and reliability, and to them even the finest watches, when crafted of modern materials, may feel cheap compared to steel, gold and platinum. Consider the titanium of the Grand Seiko and Bulgari, this Luminor’s carbon or Breitling’s Breitlight® polymer –all of these watches may have some trouble being taken seriously, and the flyweight Breitlings have surely at some point, somewhere, by someone, been referred to as the Trabis of luxury watches. Personally, I’ve never really understood this sentiment.  When I spend this much money on a watch I want one that’s light and comfortable, not a shackle.  Road cyclists are, I’m sure, nodding in agreement.

The Church of the Holy Sandwich

The Luminor Marina Carbotech is the perfect Panerai for me: A P.9010 caliber nestled inside an ultra-light carbon housing, waterproof to 300 meters, all attached to a relatively nice Kevlar band with titanium clasp – a veritable feast for fans of modern materials.  But even the die-hard Panerai traditionalist will find something here to love: the holy grail of the Orthodox – the “Sandwich Dial” – has made an illustrious comeback!  Veritable battles royale were to be seen all across the internet a few years back, as Panerai began phasing out the layered (Sandwich) dial, with its characteristic punched-out numbers and indices, on several of their classic models.  Its replacement was promptly dubbed the “Sausage Dial,” a flat dial from which the thickly applied luminescent material stood out not unlike a sausage.

While I take no sides in that rather dorky holy war, I am quite pleased that Panerai has integrated its classic design elements into a modern take on watchmaking, and I wish their designers courage moving forward!