Paneristi SIHH 2007 Report - The Depth Gauge
So there's more to Panerai's offerings than a tourbillon and a gaggle of in-house movement pieces.
We're all used to the monster submersibles that have graced the range over the years, but extending the Professional Instruments range in 2007 comes something really quite different: asubmersible that could almost be a real diver's watch.
The PAM 193 depth gauge watch comes in a massive (and I mean massive) titanium case. It owes its size to the fact that it effectively contains two movements. On the one face there is a very handsome submersible, and on the back there are all the working of a professional depth gauge, electronics and all.
The back of the case has inlets for water (and hence water pressure).
As the watch comes under pressure, a membrane in the back collapses and sends signals to the on-board electronics, which neatly works out the current depth. This is conveyed through into the main movement so that it may be displayed with a bold hand on the main dial.
You'll notice that in the above shot I've stuck the monster on my distinctly unpleasant-looking wrist. My immediate thought that this beast would be very awkward to wear. I had memories of the old PAM 64, and presumably every 1000m submersible that followed it. To my mind, they all rode too high on the wrist, giving the distinct feeling that every arm movement was going to send the entire watch off into orbit, powered by the Valjoux 7750 rotor boosters. The 193 significantly allayed these fears - it seemed very comfortable to wear, and not in a hurry to leave the room, unlike its older brothers.
There is a control for the depth gauge at 10, which if depressed for 6 seconds sends the indicator hand to display the last dive depth. I believe that the pusher can also be used to reset the last dive depth etc.
The onboard lithium battery is good for 500 hours (of use of the gauge), and interestingly the quoted water resistance is 120 metres - significantly less than any other Panerai. I presume that this is because the whole piece is actually designed to allow the ingress of water, rather than fighting it off with helium values and sharp sticks.
I like Panerai's attempts to produce real-life products, or at least reproductions of real-life products. Of couse all these items have the distinct spin of a luxury goods manfacturer, but while one could never claim that some diamond-encrusted monstrosity might ever serve a useful purpose (except perhaps temporarily blinding would-be muggers with reflected bling), you might just about get away with claiming that the 193 is a professional instrument.
The quoted price on this piece is US $13,800.
Watch another video of those pudgy hands in action!