Dedicated to the Year of the Horse, the PAM 00847 Luminor Sealand has a 3-dimensional black and gold engraving of a gambolling horse on its hinged cover protector, hand engraved by Italian master craftsmen.

There are only 100 Panerai Luminor Sealand Special Edition watches in the world. Of which, one has come to India.

Dedicated to the Year of the Horse, the PAM 00847 Luminor Sealand is part of the Chinese Zodiac sign series by Officine Panerai. In what can be considered a grandstand play by the brand, it has a three-dimensional black and gold engraving of a gambolling horse on the Luminors hinged cover protector, hand engraved by Italian master craftsmen.

Historically, hand engraving was used in printmaking, for book illustrations, newspaper prints, banknotes, and map-making. But the advent of modern technology has transformed it into an incredible art that can be done even on metal objects.

A painstaking technique of engraving has been used by Panerais master craftsmenthe grooves are made in steel by a tool called a Sparsello, before being inlaid with threads of gold inserted in repeated parallel layers and hammered until they fill the engraved outlines.

The process of inlaying the gold is done only after the cover has been engraved and polished, leaving it open to damage by even the smallest of errors, necessitating remarkable skills from craftsmen.

The art of hand graving is emblematic of the Italian Renaissance era and a generation of artisans from Florence. Panerai Bottega in Florence, the first watch shop in the city, has nourished this artisanal culture.

The protective layer conceals a minimalist grey dial which, in classic Panerai style, features only a small seconds dial and date.

The case and the winding crown are made entirely of brushed AISI 316L stainless steel. The movement is the OP III calibre, hand-wound with a power reserve of 42 hours.

The Luminor SealandPAM00847is water-resistant to a depth of 50 meters.

Rounding off this incredible watch is a soft brown leather strap.

The movement is the OP III calibre, hand-wound with a power reserve of 42 hours.

This isnt the only watch brought to India by Officine Panerai, which has upped its 2022 game in the countrys US$633m luxury watch market.Among the launches are three new Luminor watches.

Play in contrast: The first Panerai model for women

Luminor Due is the Italian-meets-Swiss brands (it was established in Italy, and now has a manufacturing base in Switzerland) first model created for women. The newest renditions of the Luminor Due, PAM01247 and PAM01248, have starkly opposing colour palettes, a play of dark and light.

The watch nestles in the signature 38mm Luminor Due case, including the patented crown safety lock device. A monochromatic, rich, lush anthracite colour tinges the sandwich dial (sun-brushed finishing reveals unexpected gradations as light moves across its surface) and the date window at 3 oclock of the PAM01247. The numerals, indices and hands are in white Super-LumiNova (non-radioactive and non-toxic photoluminescent or afterglow pigments illuminate markings on watch dials, hands, and bezels). Interestingly, it glows green in darkness in sharp contrast to the warm golden finish of the hands.

PAM01248 has a lovely ivory sun-brushed dial, in complete contrast. The sumptuous timepiece sports beige Super-LumiNova, gold hands, and a polished red strap.

The tech specs:Both models have a P.900 calibre, an in-house automatic movement with a three-day power reserve conceived by the Panerai manufacture in Neuchtel. They are water-resistant to 300 metres.

One of two new renditions of the Luminor Due, the PAM01247 has lush anthracite tinges on the sandwich dial and date window at 3 o'clock.

Circular watchmaking: Luminor Panerai

Sustainability has been the cornerstone of Panerais watchmaking for a few years now and the brand has innovated with the concept of circular economy and fashion, with its Luminor Marina.

It features a patented crown-protecting device, eSteelTM, a sustainably manufactured steel composed of recycled-based material alloy. Almost 89 g of the watch and its components, such as the crown-locking mechanism, has been fabricated using recycled steel. It meets the rigorous standards of the steel cases that preceded it; eSteelTM exhibits identical chemical behaviour, physical structure, and resistance to corrosion as a non-recycled alloy.

Luminor Marina eSteelTM features a brushed case with a polished bezel and rubberised crown. There are three iterations with different polished dials in gradient colour, from dark to light: Blu Profondo (deep blue), Grigio Roccia (black) and Verde Smeraldo (green).

The tech specs:The movement isan automaticCalibre P.9010 with a three-day power reserve. It is marked by a rapid adjustment system that can move the hour-hand forward or backwards in increments of one hour, independent of the minute hand. The watch is water-resistant to more than 300 meters deep. Taking the recycled theme forward is a textile strap that complements with its dial colour, an eSteelTM trapezoidal pin buckle and a storage box composed of recycled material.

The Panerai Luminor Marina. Almost 89 g of the watch and its components, such as the crown-locking mechanism, has been fabricated using recycled steel.

Disrupting the model: Panerai Piccolo Due Madreperla

Panerai Piccolo Due MadreperlaPAM01280is characterised by an overt departure in its aesthetic dimension. The watch dial is crafted from lustrous mother-of-pearl that enhances the pink gold colour hands, applied numerals and date window. The numerals and indices are filled by white SuperLumiNovaTM with green luminescence.

Panerai Piccolo Due Madreperla has the smallest case, at 38mm diameter, made from GoldtechTM, an 18-carat gold alloywith a significant percentage of copper (24%) and platinum (4%).

The tech specs:The watch is water-resistant up to about 30 meters, features an interchangeable strap fitted with the Quick Release system in shiny red with tone-on-tone stitching, and a trapezoidal pin buckle in polished GoldtechTM. The timepiece comes packed in an intricate pearwood box.

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Review: A Panerai limited-edition luxury watch, of which there is only one in India - Moneycontrol.com