Panerai Luminor GMT Arktos Watch

Panerai's Success

With Panerai watches you get distinctive Italian design, prestigious name, supreme reliability and become a real time-owner.

Panerai is universally famous for its large-sized sports timepieces - you will discover Panerai watches with 46 millimeters in diameter, yet they are really elegant. Panerai has been closely related to the Royal Italian navy, having produced timepieces exclusively for them. Present-day Panerai watches are still developed according to the highest military-quality standards and are equally suitable for any solemn occasion or just everyday activities.

Panerai watches' huge success is also explained by the priority to keep the direct contact with the customers - the brand's watchmakers develop special edition timepieces. You will easily tell Panerai watches apart from other timepieces by their luminescent big numbers, the detail that has been vital for commando divers who always require extreme visibility.

Panerai Luminor GMT Arktos Watch in the Arktos Expedition

Panerai presented its Luminor GMT Arktos Watch, equipped with an automatic mechanical Panerai OP VIII caliber movement, at the prestigious 2005 SIHH Geneva watch fair. The innovative timepiece received the COSC Chronometer Certificate.

How did the idea of the Luminor GMT Arktos watch appear? The watch's story is amazing. It is related to the name of Mike Horn, a prominent explorer who has completed several expeditions around the world and the noteworthy Arktos Expedition (2002-2004), sponsored by Panerai. The goal of the expedition was to cross the Arctic Polar Circle, chiefly on foot, the only sledge and some other equipment, including a Panerai watch.

What role did the Panerai watch play in the story? Initially Mike Horn made use of a stainless steel Panerai Luminor Amagnetic. The timepiece had a movement in a soft iron case that guaranteed anti-magnetic protection, and that was specially oiled to shield it from the extreme Arctic temperatures in the range of -70 to +15. During the rest of the expedition Mike Horn relied upon the Luminor GMT Arktos watch which was used by the traveler for the north-determination. Mike tested the Luminor watch's ability to stand extreme weather conditions and magnetic fields. If the temperature went down to - 70 C, the frozen electronic equipment did not function and the only well-working item was the Panerai watch.

How did the Luminor GMT Arktos watch help Mike Horn to determine the north? If the hour hand pointed at the sun, north was in the middle part between the hour hand and 12 o'clock mark. Applied with the 24-hour dial, the Luminor GMT watch turned the north-determination into a really easy task. The 24-hour scale marked on the outer edge of the dial meant that there was no necessity to estimate the midway point - the additional 24-hour hand pointed to the sun and north was at 24.00.

Watch's Specifications

The Luminor GMT Arktos with 44 mm in diameter in stainless steel case is provided by a 42-hour power reserve. There is a date window at 3 o'clock position. The timepiece's water-resistance is up to 300 meters. On the case-back you will notice the engraving of the Arktos expedition's logo - the globe with the marked route passed by Mike Horn. The Luminor GMT Arktos features black dial with luminescent markers and Arabic numerals, small seconds positioned at 9 o'clock, and there is also the indication of the second time zone on the outer edge.