The use of novel and space-age materials in high-end watches is always fun to follow as a spectator, but it’s far more appreciated when their practical benefits might sometime soon be used in watches that a broader segment can enjoy. That’s rarely the case, but one watch that piqued my interest in this way was the Panerai Watch 1950 LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days PAM 700 (debuted here). Utilizing an array of carbon composites and low-friction components that run without the need for any kind of liquid lubrication, the result is a watch that guarantees 50 years of service-free operation. There’s no way to know if the guarantee will hold but, limited in production to only 50 pieces, I can’t imagine that 50 Panerai enthusiasts and collectors, aka “Paneristis,” won’t want to engage in this long-term experiment with the brand.
