This week, the Palexpo facility in Geneva, Switzerland, will become the center of the watch world for the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, or SIHH, a luxury watch show rivaled only by BaselWorld in relevance and prestige. We’ve got a team on the ground, there to bring you the most exciting releases. Follow our coverage here, and also be sure to check out Instagram. We’ll be posting to our feed throughout the week.
Upshot: The Luminor Logo collection is Panerai’s new series of entry-level watches, with prices starting at $4,750. All the watches in the Logo collection feature a new in-house movement wrapped up in the iconic Panerai Luminor case. The logo at six o’clock is a nod to the first Luminor to go on sale to the public in 1993.
Who It’s For: Would-be Paneristi who don’t want to spend too much money on one of the brand’s loftier pieces. It might also tempt individuals who are looking at pre-owned luxury dive watches, such as Seamasters and Submariners, and want a top-tier diver at a lower price than usual.
First Impressions: Well, it’s classic Panerai, which means you’ll pretty much either love it or hate it (we love it). It’s 44mm, so it’s big, but standard for the brand. All the iconic design elements are present here: crown protector, cushion case, big luminous Arabic numerals. The numerals here aren’t actually sandwiched like most Panerais — rather they’re printed on, mirroring the printed numerals on the 1993 Luminor. There’s not much more to the watch than that, aside from the “OP” logo at six o’clock. It’s simple, and simple is good.
The most notable improvement is the addition of the new P.6000 caliber. While the old Logo Panerais featured an ETA-based movement, this new engine is, according to Panerai, produced by completely by the brand at its Neuchâtel manufactury. It’s a hand-winder and has a three-day power reserve — not bad given its price point.
Insight: Two iterations of the Logo are available: the Base ($4,750), which just has an hour and second hand, and the Marina ($5,000) which has a small seconds subdial at nine o’clock. They’re both great, but there’s something loveable and pure about a Panerai with just two hands.
More from SIHH 2018
See more of our favorite new releases from Geneva. Read the Story
