Panerai LA LUMINOR 1950 TITANIUM TOURBILLON GMT Mode D'emploi page 12

T
HE HISTORY OF TOURBILLON
The Tourbillon is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating inventions in
mechanics applied to watchmaking. Its birth is to be attributed to Abraham-
Louis Breguet, who designed it in 1795 and patented it in 1801.
This device was invented with the purpose of eliminating errors in rate (that is,
faster or slower deviations in the indication of time) caused by changes in the
effect of gravity on the balance, imperfections of workmanship, thickening of
lubricating oil and the consequent varying friction in the different positions of
the watch. To make it, Breguet constructed a cage containing the balance,
escapement and relative pivots which itself rotates continuously. In this way
any variation in rate which may occur when the balance is located in a
particular position will be cancelled out when the balance is in the opposite
position. For over two centuries the tourbillon has been synonymous with
extreme constructional difficulty, demanding the greatest precision in
manufacture, and for only a few years has it been used in wristwatches which
are inevitably of the highest quality. The tourbillon escapement has fascinated
generations of enthusiasts and it has always been recognised as a substantial
technical challenge. Officine Panerai has taken up this challenge and it has
even managed to make innovations in a horological speciality which has been
substantially unchanged since it was first invented.
T
HE CASE
The case of the Panerai Luminor 1950 Titanium Tourbillon GMT has a diameter
of 47 mm and is formed from brushed titanium. The bezel is of polished titanium.
In the construction of the case, Panerai has made use of techniques involving
many complex working operations, which ensure an exceptional aesthetic finish
and the best resistance in terms of absorbing shocks. To optimise the reliability
of the watch over a long period, the winding crown incorporates a special
element with a threaded ring whose function is to control the degree of force with
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which the winding crown is locked by the device protecting the winding crown,
which protects it from shocks and accidental breakage and helps to ensure the
water-resistance of the case. The moving lever is mounted in the bridge fixed to
the case which is engraved with the letters REG. and T.M. (Registered
Trademark). The lever is terminated by a small rotating cushion-like component,
which avoids wear at the end of the lever in contact with the crown, allowing the
most effective setting of the axial pressure between the two parts.
The crystal is of synthetic sapphire, obtained from corundum, a very hard
material (second only to diamond), free of impurities, transparent, resistant to
abrasion, and with anti-reflective treatment.
The screw-in back has a sapphire crystal window, enabling the mechanism to be
admired as well as the haute horlogerie finish of the bridges and plate. On the
back are engraved the identification numbers of the case and the individual
sequential identification number, the number of the annual production and the
maximum depth of use. The water-resistance of your watch is guaranteed to a
pressure of 10 bar which correspond to the hydrostatic pressure exerted by a
column of water on 1 square centimetre at a depth of 100 metres under normal
conditions. In these circumstances your watch is therefore water-resistant to a
depth of 100 metres.
T
HE DIAL
The dial is the characteristic Panerai "sandwich" type consisting of two
superimposed plates, the upper with perforated numerals and hour markers,
while the lower one is covered with a layer of luminous material. The small
seconds and tourbillon indicator are at 9 o'clock, the second time zone is
indicated by the central hand and by the small 24-hour dial at 3 o'clock.
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