FANCY

The Angelus “8 Days” movement was adopted by Panerai in the 1940s in order to supply the Italian Navy with a time-measuring instrument which was as reliable and accurate as possible. The “8 Days” movement enabled times to be synchronised in all the various units engaged in a mission, which avoided errors during reconnaissance missions. 

Officine Panerai’s Luminor 8 Days further strengthens its reputation through its fascination and pure watchmaking philology. After the platinum Radiomir of 1997 with a period Rolex movement, it returns again to the past with another emblematic mechanism of the history of Panerai, the Angelus SF 240 calibre with a power reserve of eight days, used for various models since the 1940s.

A solid movement of outstanding reliability, it is large in size (it is in fact 16 lignes, equivalent to about 36 mm in diameter) and has a feature which has become a distinctive “trade mark” of Panerai: the small seconds dial at 9 o’clock, in a position directly opposite the winding crown. Now the Angelus calibre lives again in a strictly limited series of 150 units recovered from the pas. The movements have been completely restored to new condition, with all parts being overhauled or renewed. The particular design of the bridges and the plate, as well as its operating frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour (now hardly ever encountered in wristwatch movements of recent production), serve to confirm the movement’s unique period character.

The “8 Days” fitted with an Angelus movement was created to obviate the necessity of daily operation of the lever protecting the winding crown – an action which must inevitably be carried out every day with a watch with traditional power reserve, thus putting at risk the perfect water-resistance of the winding crown over a long period. This choice enabled Panerai significantly to improve the quality of the instruments developed for the Italian Navy. The Luminor 8 Days is fitted with the Angelus SF 240 calibre inside its Luminor “1950” style of case in steel, the technical material par excellence. The dial is particularly stylish, being matt dark brown with luminous markers, Arabic numerals and baton hands. The inscription “8 GIORNI BREVETTATO” (“8 DAYS PATENTED”), which appeared on the original models, is arranged in a circle at 3 o’clock. The back with a sapphire crystal window enables the movement to be admired, in all its symbolic value and constructional simplicity.

These 150 units restored by Panerai are uniquely rare, and at the same time they revive the glorious past of this movement.

The style of the leather strap also recalls the Panerai’s position as a supplier to the military, with the highly visible sewing enhancing the sports character of the Luminor 8 Days; the whole is fastened by the large tongue buckle, with the characteristic trapezoidal form which is a further reminder of the first watches of Officine Panerai.

Case: In three parts, diameter 47 mm, in brushed finish, device protecting the winding crown (Trade Mark), sapphire crystal 2 mm thick with anti-reflective treatment

Bezel: Steel with polished finish

Back: Steel, screw-in, with sapphire crystal window

Water-resistance: To 100 metres

Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, Angelus SF 240 calibre, 16 lignes, 15 jewels, power reserve of 8 days, 18,000 vibrations/hour, Incabloc® anti-shock device®

Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds

Dial: Matt brown, with luminous markers and Arabic numerals, luminous baton hands, small seconds at 9 o’clock, inscription “8 GIORNI BREVETTATO” (“8 DAYS PATENTED”) taken from the historic Panerai models with Angelus movement

Strap: Hand-sewn leather, inner part made of hypo-allergenic material, personalised large-size buckle

Please allow three weeks to one month for delivery.