Panerai is well-known for its early advancements in creating luminescent materials like Radiomir and Luminor. However, they constantly look to their history for inspiration to develop new and innovative watch concepts. Recently, Panerai has focused on Elux technology, originally patented in 1966. Their determination to create the extraordinary is expressed in the all-new fully mechanical Submersible Elux LAB-ID.
Elux, short for electroluminescence, refers to panels that emit light uniformly when an electric current passes through them. Unlike earlier materials, Elux panels are free of radioactive substances, making them durable, resistant to shock and vibration, and suitable for various uses.
The new PAM01800 watch represents a significant achievement in watchmaking, incorporating several patented technologies. It boasts a water resistance of 50 bar (approximately 500 meters) and features a 30-minute power reserve indicator, all within a robust 49mm case. One of its standout innovations, however, is the on-demand lighting system, powered entirely by mechanical energy storage, a breakthrough in the industry.
By activating a patented pusher-protector system, users can illuminate the dial using a mechanism developed by Panerai’s Laboratorio di Idee. This is made possible by a unique arrangement of four dedicated energy-storing barrels out of six available in the movement. These barrels drive an 8 x 2.3 mm microgenerator equipped with custom coils, magnets, and a stator, capable of converting mechanical energy into electricity efficiently.
Panerai’s engineering feat extends to illuminating moving elements like the hands (patented) and the bezel marker (patent pending), achieving this while maintaining exceptional water resistance levels. The technology optimizes the minimal energy produced by a mechanical barrel, directing it specifically to illuminate strategically positioned LEDs below the dial’s markers. This precise illumination method ensures that only 15 LEDs light up at a time, despite there being a total of 60 LEDs in the ring.
Super-LumiNova, which watches usually coat their hands and dial numbers with, glows in the dark only for a limited time. The Elux technology, on the other hand, enables watch users to light up the watch at any time they want.
To complement its intricate internal mechanisms, the PAM01800 resides within a Ti-CeramitechTM case, meticulously crafted from ceramized titanium, an innovative material patented by Panerai.
Developed over seven years of rigorous research and development, Panerai has applied for a patent on a titanium ceramization process using Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation. This method transforms the surface of the titanium alloy into a dense ceramic layer, achieving a distinctive blue hue inspired by the ocean. The process involves specific elements and electrolyte composition, resulting in a case that is not only 44% lighter than steel but also possesses ten times the fracture toughness of traditional ceramic materials.
This advanced material can withstand high pressure and extreme thermal stress, reflecting Panerai’s commitment to creating durable and innovative timepieces.
The Elux LAB-ID PAM01800 is limited to 150 pieces, with 50 pieces becoming available each year for three years.
