Panerai Luminor Marina Luna Rossa GMT – 44mm
Panerai Scores As The Official Timekeeper For The PRADA Cup
In keeping with its legendary nautical watches, Panerai ventures above the sea as the “Official Timekeeper” of the PRADA Cup. The race concluded today with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team winning the 2021 edition.
By Hyla Bauer
Contributor
Since its founding in the 1860s as a boutique, workshop, and watchmaking school, Panerai has always strived to create timepieces connected to the sea.
The Italian Navy commissioned Panerai to make precision instrumentation for its ships, and later in the 1930s, the Italian Navy ordered diving watches from Panerai, and with good reason. Panerai watches provided life-saving timing and, just as importantly, strong water resistance for underwater diving. The exceptionally sturdy water-resistant watches met the needs of naval divers, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Panerai has entered a new stage in its history with a partnership with the America’s Cup, the world’s most renowned and prestigious sailing race. And now, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team has won the PRADA Cup!
Sail On, Panerai
Last year, Panerai was named the Official Timekeeper of the PRADA Cup, currently being held in Auckland, New Zealand, and ending tomorrow. The race is the final run-up to the America’s Cup finals, with one team advancing to the finals against the defending cup team, Emirates New Zealand. At the PRADA Cup, teams from all over the world compete for the chance to challenge the previous winner.
“We are extremely proud to have been appointed as Official Timekeeper of the PRADA Cup,” Panerai Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Marc Pontroué, said in a statement. “The challenge ahead is a great one for us all, and Panerai is fully committed to experiencing this new chapter. From exchanges on technology and precision to outfitting the exceptional high-tech foiling monohulls, every part of the partnership truly reflects our innovative soul as a pioneering brand.”
“Panerai’s research and development and passion for the sea never stopped,” PRADA Head of Marketing and Communication, Lorenzo Bertelli, said in a statement. “It is therefore with great satisfaction that we welcome Panerai as Official Timekeeper of the PRADA Cup and of the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA preliminary regattas.”
Panerai’s Seabound Soul
Sailing requires a timepiece that is meant to be worn above the water, mostly. So, its water resistance and durability are paramount concerns for the physical demands of racing. Panerai watches certainly fit this bill.
Panerai has a sterling reputation for rugged timepieces that are also exceptionally accurate timekeepers for water sports. The definition of a tool watch is one that has a function that directly aids the wearer in their activity. Examples of tool watches range from chronographs to GMTs to yachting timers.
And this year, Panerai has added four new models to its robust stable: the Submersible Luna Rossa 47mm, the Luminor Luna Rossa GMT 44mm, the Luminor Chrono Flyback 44mm, and the Luminor Luna Rossa Regatta 47mm. Together, this quartet of new timepieces commemorates sailing and Panerai’s role as Official Timekeeper for the PRADA Cup.
Timing is Everything
For those who follow or participate in the rarified world of AC75 sailboat racing, you know that precision timing is everything. In the 15 minutes leading up to the starting gun, yacht captains and crews maneuver their ships to be as close as possible to the starting line. Of course, all of this is done on wind power alone, which requires skills honed over decades of training. The wind speed and direction inform the captain’s precise calculations as the boat jockeys for position.
Thus, any yachting watch worth its sea salt has a 15-minute countdown indicator. As sailors know, the result of a race can be greatly influenced by the boat’s starting position, so the countdown timer is an essential tool.
Engineered for the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, for which Panerai is the official sponsor, the new Luna Rossa models are the perfect instruments for life at sea. All the models use cutting-edge materials such as titanium, which is light and corrosion-resistant, and Carbotech, which is based on carbon fiber and is also used to build the AC75's monohull. In fact, engraved on the casebacks of the new models is an image of the AC75 monohull along with the Luna Rossa logo and the America's Cup profile.
All the models reaffirm and emphasize the mutual respect for the sea shared by Panerai and Luna Rossa. From the Regatta's 15-minute countdown to the Flyback chronograph to the GMT that can easily be set to the Auckland time zone for the PRADA Cup, each model is specially equipped with functions designed for use in yacht races.
Finally, all the models feature automatic-winding movements with a power reserve of three days.
Join us in congratulating the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team for winning the PRADA Cup!
(Images © Panerai)
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