The Laings Journal
Laings of Glasgow welcomes the arrival of an exclusive, coveted collection of timepieces from Panerai, the iconic brand will be available to view online and buy in Store from Saturday 1st November.
Panerai has a rich history - conceived in Florence in 1860, Panerai combine a passion for the sea with Italian design and Swiss Technology. In the 1900’s Panerai became the supplier of precision instruments to the Royal Italian Navy resulting in the creation of the now iconic Radiomir and Luminor Collections. These deep-rooted links with the world of the sea are the true heritage of the Panerai brand which bestows an authentic and unique sporting character to each individual watch. Panerai pride themselves on continuing a tradition of exceptional quality, an ethos they share with Laings of Glasgow.
Panerai offer a range of timepieces, many of which are considered iconic. Watches from the Radiomir and the Luminor collections are often deemed highly collectible and extremely sought-after.
Radiomir - The name Radiomir was inspired by the element “Radium” which was the radioactive material originally used to make the dial visible at night. The Radiomir model was originally a commission from the Italian Navy in 1938. Panerai were challenged to create a watch that would be waterproof while maintaining excellent readability – hence the invention of the Radiomir with its substantial 47mm case, extra large hands and prominent Arabic numerals.
The case style of the Radiomir is sleek and uncomplicated with an unprotected crown and cushion-style case. The way the straps connect to the case pays homage to early pocket watches which were modified by attaching wire to the case so they could be worn on a wrist. This detail is not only attractive to look at but of important historical significance and allows the watch the look and feel of a slimmer, sophisticated dress watch.
Luminor - This range takes its name from a tritium-based luminous substance, which was subsequently used in place of Radium as it was considered a safer and better material to work with. Panerai was awarded its patent for the Luminor material in 1949, which went on to replace the original Radiomir compound.
The first Luminor was launched in the early 1950's, and the design featured a highly distinctive and functional crown guard which increased the effectiveness of the water resistance. This is often considered the most iconic Panerai case style and all variations of the Luminor feature the unforgettable crown-guard which separates it entirely from any other luxury watch brand available today. The components of the case mean the straps are easily changeable and allow ultimate versatility - this is perhaps a contributing factor to why Panerai is a chosen brand for many high profile stars such as Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone.
Thank you for reading this blog post, please feel free to like, share or comment - if you would like more information about the Panerai collection please contact [email protected] or call our flagship store on 0141 221 7199.