Like many other hobbies, shooting requires tools and accessories, primarily there’s the gun, however, you’ll also need your shooting hat, appropriate shooting boots, a smart shooting jacket, a Range Rover and all the other accessories, the list can be endless.
We’re familiar with luxury watch manufacturers having commercial partnerships with car manufacturers, suchas Hublot and Ferrari, IWC and Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin and Jaeger Lecoutre however for those of you who are into both shooting and watches then this is for you.
Panerai have been producing excellent timepieces since 1860 and in 2002 Officine Panerai partnered up with luxury gun maker Purdey to produce 100, one-off, limited edition timepieces.
Typically known simply as Purdey, the London-based company has been making the finest hunting shotguns and rifles since 1814, currently holding three royal warrants for supplying the British royal family.
Both Panerai and Purdey share the same focus on excellence and innovation and this has been reflected in each of these special timepieces. What makes this watch special for shooting is the metal case protecting the face of the watch, the protective cover flips up to reveal the dial.
The Luminor 1950 Sealand
The Luminor 1950 Sealand watches combine high technical skill with a long tradition of knowledge and experience. Each individual case is engraved by hand by skilled craftsmen, as with Purdey’s guns and rifles, and requires more than a week of work on the particularly demanding and robust AISI 316L stainless steel. The steel has corrosion resistant, anti-magnetic and hypoallergenic qualities.
This unique collection is made up of 100 numbered pieces that are engraved with the Big Five game animals: lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. The motifs are first drawn as a temporary outline, using powdered chalk or magnesium powder, and then engraved with a burin. The engraved surfaces are formed of very thin parallel lines which give depth to the design, accentuating the contrasts between light and dark. The outer edges of the watch feature gold inlay and a pattern inspired from African art. The Panerai Luminor 1950 Sealand 3 Days Automatic Acciaio watch is equipped with a P.9000 calibre.
The water-resistant calf straps of the watches are made from a particularly smooth, flexible leather with a remarkably beautiful finish. Each piece is presented in a stunning pear tree wood box with accompanying tools and an additional black rubber strap.
Here at Edinburgh Watch Company we have just taken in a barely worn and mint example of this very rare and collectable timepiece, with the majestic lion engraving. If this is the watch for you or one of your shooting buddies, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We expect it to be gone in a shot.
MOVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Functions: Hours; Minutes; Small Seconds; Date
Features
Automatic Mechanical
Dimensions: 13 ¾ Lignes
Thickness: 7.9mm
3 Days Power Reserve
Frequency: 28.800 A/H
Incabloc Anti-Shock Device
197 Components
28 Jewels
THE CASE CONSTRUCTION
Each Panerai case is different and specifically designed to fit perfectly the movement features. This technical solution allows to have:
– optimisation of the case compared to the movement dimensions;
– the best proportion of the different case elements;
– optimised water resistance.
The geometry of the cases is quite complex due to the multiple surfaces and angles of the cases.
These aesthetical features imply complex production operations, some of which are completed entirely by hand.
Moreover the, the case undergoes the water resistance test:
– the thermal shock test to verify the resistance of the parts to sudden temperature variations;
– the damp heat test to determine the reliability of the watch under dampness and heat conditions;
– the salt spray test to check the corrosion resistance;
– the synthetic sweat test to verify possible alterations by artificially simulating the conditions of use.
THE CASE TEST
The case of the watch is subjected to a long series of tests, carried out at various temperatures and according to procedures which ensure its complete water resistance (iso 22810 standard).
Panerai watches are tested for a water resistance that is 25% more than what indicated.
Every watch is water resistant to a minimum of 30m.
