Panerai has always named its watch models after the Radiomir and Luminor series, showcasing the brand’s emphasis on luminescent technology. In the 1960s, as a supplier of diving instruments to the Italian Navy, Panerai developed a luminescent plate called Elux. Today, this technology has been innovated once again, with the new Submersible Elux LAB-ID™ PAM01800 watch being introduced, featuring a fully mechanical luminescent system that can glow continuously for 30 minutes. It also allows for the luminescent position of the bezel to be adjusted freely, a first in the watch industry.
In 1966, Elux technology created a luminous milestone. On the same day in 2024, Panerai once again broke through, launching the Submersible Elux LAB-ID™ PAM01800 watch, sparking a new revolution of light.
Why is this watch so unique? First, it is its long-lasting luminescence ability. Using mechanical components to drive luminescent devices in the watch industry is not new, such as Van Cleef & Arpels’ Midnight Nuit Lumineuse and HYT’s Flow, but the brightness of these watches lasts for a short time and fades after a few seconds. The Panerai Submersible Elux LAB-ID, on the other hand, can continue to glow for 30 minutes, setting a new standard for long-lasting luminescence.
Next is its adjustable lighting position. The bezel of the PAM01800 is equipped with 60 LED lights, but for energy conservation, only 15 LEDs in front and behind the dot marker will light up, and as the bezel rotates, the LED lights will move accordingly. This design not only needs to ensure the waterproof performance of the rotating bezel and the power generation device during movement, but also to ensure the stability of the lighting effect.
PAM01800 belongs to the Panerai LAB-ID series, which is the fourth masterpiece of the series. Previously, PAM700 guaranteed 50 years without oiling, PAM1700 used a nano-carbon tube-coated dial and offered a 70-year warranty, and PAM1225 was made with up to 98.6% recycled environmentally friendly materials. This time, Panerai Laboratorio di Idee creative laboratory once again challenges innovation and achieves a revolution of light.
Elux, short for Electroluminescence, represents a uniform light-emitting panel with stable brightness and low power consumption. This technology was widely used in navigation and military applications in the early years, such as signal boards on ships and helicopter guidance markers on warships. On June 15, 1966, Panerai obtained the Elux technology patent, and 58 years later, this technology was first applied in watches.
The Panerai Elux is not self-winding. The Panerai Creative Lab spent eight years integrating Elux technology into watches to achieve an instant lighting effect. The entire lighting system is completely mechanically driven, without any electronic components. The P.9010/EL movement contains six spring barrels, two of which are used for traditional timekeeping, so even if the lighting system loses power, it does not affect timekeeping accuracy; the remaining four spring barrels are specifically for powering the Elux lighting system. When the spring barrels release energy to the custom-made micro-generator, the energy is converted into electricity, driving the LED lights to illuminate. This micro-generator is only 8 x 2.3 millimeters, equipped with custom coils, magnets, and stators, capable of generating high-frequency electricity at 240Hz with a speed of 80 revolutions per second, far exceeding the standard 50Hz of household appliances, demonstrating its powerful power generation capabilities.
The case of the PAM01800 watch is made of Panerai’s original Ti-Ceramitech™ ceramicized titanium metal, which transforms titanium into ceramic through plasma electrolytic oxidation technology, presenting a unique blue color. This material is 44% lighter than stainless steel, but ten times tougher than traditional ceramics, showcasing Panerai’s innovative spirit.
The watch dial is equipped with a horizontal kinetic energy luminous power reserve indicator and a small seconds dial, and the bezel luminous system is used to illuminate the dots on the counterclockwise rotating bezel. This watch is equipped with Panerai’s iconic crown bridge and SuperLuminova® X2 luminous coating, which is 10% brighter than SuperLuminova® X1 after 180 minutes in the dark. The PAM01800 watch is limited to 150 pieces worldwide, with only 50 pieces released each year, making it a rare masterpiece in the high-end watch market.
