The Panerai P.4000 Caliber
The Panerai Luminor Due 3 Days Automatic PAM674 is powered by the in-house designed and -made Panerai P.4000 caliber, a “3 days” movement rewound either via the smooth and clicky crown or the micro-rotor neatly integrated into the movement. The P.4000 caliber runs at a modern 4Hz and still offers 3 days of power reserve – impressive specs from a movement that is only 3.95mm thick. It comprises 203 components and 31 jewels, but most of these are hidden by the large plate that covers so much of the movement. The balance wheel and escapement are held securely by their bridge and cock, and the micro-rotor has the Officine Panerai text and logo on it – but this is about all the eye-candy you’ll get from the P.4000. The red gold variant has a gold micro-rotor and text – as it should, considering the hefty price premium.
Accuracy has been good, just a few seconds too fast and the micro-rotor did an okay job at keeping the movement wound. However, if you wear the watch only a few hours a day, sooner or later, it will run out of juice and you’re better off rewinding it via the crown every day. This is easy to do, as the crown is not a screw-down type, you can wind it at any moment.
One aspect of the micro-rotor – and this is something that has applied to every micro-rotor watch I have handled to date, regardless of manufacturer or price point – is the noticeable noise it makes. To Panerai’s credit, it has to be said that I have heard much louder full-rotor automatics, so the P.4000 really isn’t that loud, but it is audible in a quieter room or in a quiet car stopped at a set of lights. The ticking of the movement can also be heard if your hearing is really good – but then again, the PAM674 is far from being the loudest mechanical luxury watch I have heard. It is on the more audible side; though it is true that unnecessary and repeating noises do make me mad really fast (confession time).
All in all, the P.4000 is impressively thin while it still packs commendable specs – 4Hz and 3 days is a combination much thicker but similarly recently introduced movements from big “maisons” (ugh!) fail to achieve. Launched in 2014, the P.4000 was Panerai’s first micro-rotor affair and they did a good job at tackling what is actually a challenging movement to design and produce in volume.
Summary
The Panerai Luminor Due is the mature Panerai, if there ever was one. It is for those helplessly in love with the Luminor look, but who have matured from the admittedly and enjoyably immature aesthetics of most Luminors. You don’t have to say goodbye to those iconic (darn it, I just said it right there!) design elements like the sandwich dial, the round bezel, the cushion case, or the crown guard, but you do get a watch that won’t push your sleeves back up to your elbow or ask for too much attention. You won’t be that guy wearing a flashy Panerai at this week’s corporate-wide layoff meeting, but the one who can glance down at his wrist and still flash a subtle smile as you see everything you liked in a PAM while keeping the affection to yourself.
Is the Luminor Due a one-up from the regular Luminor (Luminor Uno? No, that just sounds wrong)? It clearly isn’t, and the 30-meter water resistance verges on being insulting. But its stunning proportions, neat details, great wearing comfort, and unusual movement make it a recommended consideration for those who have been looking for a more mature Panerai. Maybe it should have been called the Luminor Ultra-Thin (or Sottile – help me out here if this isn’t right and you know the correct term in Italian) or perhaps Luminor Eleganza.
Price for the Panerai Luminor Due 3 Days Automatic PAM674 is $10,500 in this 45mm format with the micro-rotor movement, while the hand-wound, 3 days, 42mm wide PAM676 retails for $7,900. panerai.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Panerai
>Model: Luminor Due 3 Days Automatic PAM674
>Price: $10,500
>Size: 45mm wide
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes, but prefer the 42mm.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone who loves Panerai and especially the Luminor but wants something more discreet and comfortable.
>Best characteristic of watch: Beautiful in the metal, versatile, comfortable, new-ish sense is appreciated. Good movement.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Price is still up there (though not outrageous). The reflective crystal has to go. Wish the movement was perfectly silent.
