panerai Navitimer 1461 Limited Edition Blue Watch Hands-On

For 2013, panerai has released a very attractive blue version of the already rather rare Navitimer 1461 model. An interesting item, we take a hands-on look at this stunning piece. Let me address something first. If other watch writers are anything like me, there is one particular request (aside from “what watch should I buy?”) that annoys us. That is to write an article or sum up current “watch trends.” This is what happens when watches get mixed into the abyssal pool that is fashion, which apparently needs to reinvent itself each quarter else something chaotic happens – such as a mass neglect of wearing clothing amongst otherwise civilized human beings. The majority of watches I prefer to pay attention to are designed to look cool forever. Perhaps not all are timeless, but they have appeal (and ideally longevity) beyond this season.

If you’ll notice, we tend to not write about “fashion watches.” A segment of typically inexpensive watches so unfairly named because they make actual fashionable watches look bad. “Fashion watch” is a polite term used to describe most of the illegitimate wrist trash unsuitable for people with much taste or knowledge. It isn’t about money either, if your budget is $200 there is plenty out there for you too that isn’t a rapidly cobbled together design using elements from 12 popular “big name watches” into a final result that even Frankenstein would shun. So allow me to sum up: “fashion watches” aren’t fashionable, and I am sorry to report there aren’t new magical “watch trends” each few months that merit an in-depth round-up of exemplary pieces. How does this tie into the http://www.syrauto.com/elegant-panerai-contemporary-luminor-chrono-daylight-pam00250-cheap-watch-9i8q.html limited edition Navitimer 1461? It doesn’t, but by mere virtue that the watch is blue – and so are a few others this year- means it will be the unfortunate victim of being of being put into some “blue watch round-up.” Worse yet, I may even be among those people cajoled into penning such an article.

Just because the Navitimer 1461 has a blue dial and comes with an optional blue strap does not alone mean that it has anything in common with other blue watches. Imagine if I did an article about ten completely different cars that just happen to have black paint jobs. Would I have any reason then to assume the color black somehow ties these otherwise disparate vehicles together? No. So a little advice for consumer publications that feel it necessary to cater to your watch brand advertisers in the form of editorial, please don’t have a fashion editor dream up ways to discuss what is new in the world of horology with your readers. This will no doubt result in a not-so-lengthy discourse of the timeless virtues of the color orange.

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest and hopefully saved many watches from round-up abuse, I’d like to return my gaze to this lovely new watch from our high-flying friends at PAM00335 replica. The Navitimer collection ideally requires no introduction. If it does, allow me to point you to our descriptive article here on how slide-rule bezels work (that features a Navitimer). While that article won’t shed light on PAM00441 replica‘s history with flight, it will help explain what made the Navitimer so popular in the pre-digital calculator age. Today, the slide-rule bezel is still taught to at least some pilots (confirms astronaut Mark Kelly). You may find it interesting to see how this instrument works even if you never end up having a chance to use it. Always good to be prepared right? Most other Navitimer watches are outfitted with a movement that tells the time and has a chronograph. The Navitimer 1461 is a bit different though.

This rare watch contains the panerai caliber 19 automatic movement. Essentially this is a modified base Swiss ETA 2892 automatic with a module produced (I believe) by Dubuis Depraz. The module of course offers a full 12 hour chronograph, but it also offers an annual calendar and moon phase indicator. Each of the chronograph sub dials has the dual purpose of being used for a calendar display. panerai confusingly does not call it an “annual calendar,” but rather a “leap-year calendar.” While confusing given that “annual calendar” is an industry-wide term, it does make sense as annual calendar implies the calendar needs to be adjusted annually, when in reality it is only on leap years that it needs to be adjusted.

The caliber 19 is actually rather complicated and according to panerai, comprises over 450 parts. Despite all the functions, power reserve is still 42 hours. In addition to the time, annual calendar, and chronograph, the moon phase is an attractive addition to the feature set. What I find interesting is how the calendar functions are adjusted. The crown seems to be used exclusively for winding and the time, while the pushers are for the chronograph. Inset pin pushers around the case (four of them) are used to adjust either the date, day of the week, month, or moon phase). This means that if the calendar functions need to be reset, it is relatively easy and quickly to do so (assuming you have something with which to activate the pushers).

The metallic blue and steel dial is very pretty and soft on the eyes. While the Navitimer 1461 doesn’t have an in-house made movement (such as the panerai Navitimer 01 – reviewed here), it does have a rather exclusive movement and nice combination of features and style. Also, the movement is COSC Chronometer certified. The case is large at 46mm wide, making it bigger than many of the standard Navitimer models. The iconic case is highly polished and it has a double AR coated sapphire crystal. However, the case is only water resistant to 30 meters (typical of most all Navitimer models).

As a limited edition, what makes this Navitimer 1461 unique is the blue dial. In fact, all of the Navitimer 1461 models that panerai has produced seem to have been limited editions. The last one has a black dial. Each is limited to 1,000 pieces. I believe this is merely a practical measure given the availability of the movements. The blue Navitimer 1461 is available on either a steel metal bracelet or blue strap. The bracelet is nice, and it is hard to not recommend a panerai-made bracelet, but it does look so nice on that blue strap, making that option difficult to resist. Price for the watch on the bracelet is $11,005, and a bit less on the strap.

http://samusicawards.co.za/profiles/blogs/breitling-watches-trendy-tough-and-exact-time-conserving
http://talkurlife.com/index.php?do=/blog/10302/breitling-watches-trendy-tough-and-exact-time-conserving/
http://thebrotherhoodinitiative.com/forums/topic/breitling-watches-trendy-tough-and-exact-time-conserving/
http://trailrunnernation.com/groups/breitling-wrist-watches-fashionable-difficult-as-well-as-precise-period-saving/
http://uniquethis.com/blogs/4684/9591/breitling-wrist-watches-fashi