The first America’s Cup in Italy is on the horizon, and Panerai has two new watches prepped and ready to take on the race
The watchmaker teamed up with the folks at the Prada Group’s Luna Rossa sailing team on a pair of timepieces that pay homage to the 38th iteration of the international competition heading for Italian shores in 2027. The duo offers up an expansion of Panerai’s pre-existing Luna Rossa lineup, blending both brands’ love for technical innovations and, of course, the sea.
First up is the new Luminor Luna Rossa Chrono, a 44 mm that’s exactly the type of sporty watch you’d expect from this collaboration. The timepiece, also known as PAM01768, offers up a brushed steel case and a silver sun-brushed dial with red accents abound; it’s also the first watch in the Luna Rossa family to have a Velcro strap. Inside, you’ll find the automatic P.9210 caliber beating away, with a 42-hour power reserve. That movement powers the hours, minutes, small seconds (at 9 o’clock), and chronograph functions. And, most importantly for those jaunts on the water, the new model has a speed tachometer function that lets sailors calculate the average speed of their boat over a fixed distance; the result will be shown in either kilometres or miles per hour on the flange.
The second model also marks new territory for Panerai. The Luminor Luna Rossa GMT is the first Luna Rossa model to be equipped with an integrated metal bracelet. Ref. PAM0179 sits at 40 mm, slightly smaller than its sibling but still home to that brushed steel case and a silver sun-brushed dial with white Super-LumiNova, making for a rather monochromatic look. At the heart of the watch here is the automatic P.900/GMT movement, which you can sneak a peek of through the open caseback. The calibre offers up three days of power reserve and measures at a slim 28.2 mm by 5.20 mm. In addition to a stop-second function, the timepiece is also focused on dual-time, with a GMT function with a 12-hour display that’s a nod to Panerai models from the early 2000s. Both models as you may expect, are water resistant to around 328 feet, or 100 metres.
“The new Panerai Luna Rossa Collection embodies the essence of Panerai’s pioneering spirit, blending our rich marine heritage and unparalleled precision with the cutting-edge innovation and relentless pursuit of excellence that defines the Luna Rossa Team,” Panerai CEO Emmanuel Perrin said in a press statement. “This partnership is more than just a collaboration; it’s a shared journey started 8 years ago into the future of high-performance watchmaking, celebrating courage, technology, and the thrill of the open sea, serving as a real-world test laboratory for our timepieces.
As for pricing, the PAM01768 will fetch you a cool US$11,500 and is limited to just 500 pieces. The GMT, meanwhile, is priced at US$11,400 and will be part of the regular collection. If you’re looking to snag your own timepiece ahead of the big race next year, both watches are available on Panerai’s website now.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA. Featured photo by Panerai
