Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic watch (photo: R. Naas)
Last week, we brought you a behind-the-scenes look at sailing with Officine Panerai in the Opera House Cut Regatta, part of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge. There, we mentioned that in honor of its long-standing involvement with the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, Panerai has unveiled a new collection of three PCYC timepieces. Here we bring you a hands-on review of the Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio 44mm watch, and a closer look at the Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio 47mm.
Essentially, the collection consists of three watches: two Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio 44mm — one with a black dial and one with an ivory dial; and one Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio 47mm.
Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic watch with ivory dial is super stunning on the wrist and is rugged enough to take to the water. (Photo: R. Naas)
These super flyback chronographs (Pam 00653 and 00654) have a vintage appeal, as they are inspired by the superb classic yachts of the races. On the reverse side of the watch is a relief engraving of an elegant vintage yacht, with the words Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge beneath it. Each watch is powered by the 302-part Manufacture P. 9100 automatic caliber. With the press of the push piece at 8:00, the watch instantly zeroes the chronograph hands and immediate restarts them, without the need for stopping to return them to zero.
The Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Acciaio 44mm watch with black dial features beige markers and a brown leather strap with contrasting stitching. The ivory dial version also has beige markers, with blue detailing and is offered with the same brown leather strap. Each is equipped with a tachymeter scale in knots on the flange to enable calculation of speed. The 44mm case is crafted of AISA 316L stainless steel and is water resistant to 100 meters.
The casebacks of the new Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic watches are engraved with a classic yacht and the words: Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge.
I wore the version with the ivory dial, which i found incredibly bright and easy to read. While it is 44mm in diameter, I did not feel it was too big at all — but then i do enjoy a large sized watch. The flyback chronograph was a delight to use — super easy and incredibly accurate. I am sure, too, that the nautical tachymeter comes in handy for those who understand knot speeds. It was lost on me, but then, I am not a sailor. At the $12,300 retail price point of this watch, I think those who really love classic yachts and sailing, would find it a great deal.
Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio 47mm
Panerai Luminor 1950 PCYC 3 Days Regatta Chrono Flyback watch in titanium 47mm case.
Also part of the PCYC collection is a Luminor 1950 equipped with a regatta countdown function. The Luminor 1950 PCYC Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanic 47mm watch truly celebrates the world of classic yachting. Powered by the P.9100/R movement, with regatta function module, this watch watch provides racing enthusiasts with a way to measure the countdown marking the start of a race. A push-piece at 4:00 moves the gilded central chronograph minute hand back one minute each time it is pressed, to the position required for the countdown. Pressing the push-piece at 10:00 starts the chronograph: the relative hands begin moving, first indicating the minutes and seconds remaining until the start and, once the countdown is finished, recording the time elapsed from the start of the race. The push-piece at 8:00 stops the measurement and returns all the chronograph hands to zero or, if operated when the hands are still moving, it activates the return to zero (flyback) function, immediately starting the measurement of a new time interval without needing to activate the stop and reset mechanism.
The Luminor 1950 titanium watch offers hours, minutes, small seconds, seconds reset, flyback chronograph, regatta countdown, and knots scale for calculation of average boat speed. The elegant black dial features luminous Arabic numerals. The case is equipped with the Panerai lever device winding crown protector, ensuring 100 meters of water resistance. It retails for $17,200.
