In keeping with their yearly tradition, Officine Panerai has recently released the Panerai PAM852 Year of the Rooster Sealand Edition watch. This piece continues the Sealand line inspired by ancient Chinese astrological zodiac. This year, 2017 marks the year of the Rooster.
As with the previous models such as the PAM850 and PAM840, the PAM852 features a preciously engraved lid created by a master Italian craftsman. This Sealand model is the 9th creation in a series that was launched in 2009. Each of the 99 pieces that will be produced are hand engraved featuring a rooster in a style that is inspired by traditional oriental iconography.
The engravers create the masterpiece by using the ancient technique of “sparsell0”, named after the special tool used to decorate the lid. First grooves are created in the steel before they are inlaid with gold threads in multiple parallel layers; these are then beaten until they completely fill the grooves which will form the outlines of the rooster and decorations. The inlaying of the threads is a very delicate process because the lid has already been engraved and polished so any mistake will ruin any of the work that was done earlier.
The engraved lid on the PAM852 Sealand covers the simple silver Luminor Marina Dial with Arabic Numerals, Batons, Date, and sub seconds. The back of the lid also features a small signaling mirror. All of this hand created beauty is housed in a 44mm steel case and powered by the in-house P.9000 movement.
The watch is available at all the boutiques worldwide and comes with a spare rubber strap, special tool to change the strap as well as a screwdriver.
Panerai PAM852 – Year of the Rooster Luminor Marina Sealand
Movement: Automatic mechanical, Panerai P.9000 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 7.9 mm thick, 28 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device.
Power reserve: 3 days, two barrels. 197 components.
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date.
Case: Diameter 44 mm, brushed steel AISI 316L.
Cover: Polished steel, cover engraved by hand.
Back: See-through sapphire crystal.
Device protecting the crown: (protected as a trademark) Brushed steel.
Dial: Grey with Arabic numerals and hour markers. Date at 3 o’clock, seconds at 9 o’clock.
Crystal: Sapphire, formed of corundum, 1.6 mm thick. Antireflective coating.
Water-resistance: 10 bar (~ 100 metres).
Strap: PANERAI personalized leather strap and brushed steel buckle. Supplied with a second interchangeable strap, a tool for changing the strap and a steel screwdriver.