Both versions have the P.9010 automatic calibre with a power reserve of three days, the time remaining being clearly visible through the sapphire crystal back. They follow the classic Panerai Submersible design, with the Luminor 1950 case fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel for calculating the time of immersion and the lever device protecting the winding crown. The black dial has applied index markers, the date at 3 o’clock and the small seconds counter at 9 o’clock. All the elements on the dial are clear, perfectly legible against the black background and, in the steel model only, the seconds hand is Panerai blue. The legibility is extremely high under normal lighting conditions as well as in the dark, thanks to the Super- LumiNova used on the hands and graduated scale. At night – or in the darkness underwater – the minute hand and the stud on the bezel at 12 o’clock glow with a bright blue color rather than the traditional fluorescent green of all the other markers, so that there is always a clear, unmistakable point of reference for calculating the times of immersion.
The red gold model, more sophisticated but with the same sports functionality, has a distinctive element which increases its strong character: the rotating bezel has a matt black ceramic disc with stud markers which, in conjunction with the graduated scale, enable the time of immersion to be calculated. The red gold used by Panerai is an alloy which has a slightly higher percentage of copper than usual, giving the colour a particular intensity, and a small amount of platinum which helps to prevent oxidation of the precious metal.
The P.9010 automatic movement, with a power reserve of three days, has two other very useful functions: the mechanism for stopping the balance wheel when synchronising the watch, and the device for changing the time quickly: the hour hand can be moved forwards or backwards in jumps of one hour, without interfering with the running of the watch.
The black rubber strap, closed by a trapezoid buckle made of the same material as the case, is both sporty and functional, and it co-ordinates perfectly with the appearance of the new Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic watches.
