now at Panerai BT. Luminor 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge, Officine Panerai is marking its historic continuity and reaffirming its great traditions in the field of professional precision and measuring instruments. The first professional divers’ watches in history supplied to the commandos of the Italian Navy in the first half of the last century were made by Panerai, as were the depth gauges which the pioneers wore on their wrists. Today these two indispensable measuring and checking devices are combined in a single instrument: the Luminor 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge. the Officine Panerai manufacture is a divers’ watch with automatic winding and a chronometer certificate (C.O.S.C.), fitted with a depth gauge, the calibration of which is individually tested and certified by an officially qualified establishment, the Swiss Federal Office for Metrology (METAS). Officine Panerai required this certification for this watch, being well aware that any malfunctioning of the depth gauge or its incorrect calibration could cause a situation of grave risk for divers. The result is that the Luminor 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge is officially recognised as a professional instrument.

With the instantly recognizable case of the Luminor models, machined from the solid and distinguished by the bridge with the lever device protecting the winding crown, the Depth Gauge is water resistant to 120 metres, 47 mm in diameter like the historic models and executed in titanium, the hypoallergenic metal which is very tough and at the same time very light; contrasting brushed steel is used for the push-piece of the depth gauge and the bridge protecting the winding crown. The latter, an unmistakable sign of identification for the Luminor models, is a device which ensures the perfect water-resistance of the crown by pressing it coaxially against the case, at the same time preventing accidental movement of the hands, thus making the watch capable of facing great depths and extreme situations. The wide unidirectional rotating bezel, also of brushed steel, carries the references for calculating the times of immersion with oval markers in relief every 5 minutes and studs every 15. It is operated by rotating it in an anti- clockwise direction and makes little clicks at one-minute intervals. Also made of titanium is the screw back, cambered and incised with six deep grooves through which the pressure of the water is sensed by a silicone membrane.