Story | Connie Li Photography | Chris Figenshau
Italian luxury watchmaker Panerai has released a new collection that takes its inspiration from the life journey of brand ambassador Jimmy Chin.
The Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback J. Chin Edition and the Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback J. Chin Xperience Edition pay homage to the renowned photographer, mountain climber, filmmaker and environmentalist. His intelligence, determination and creativity have guided him to historic accomplishments, including becoming one of
the only people to ski off the summit of Mount Everest. He also won an Academy Award for co-directing the documentary Free Solo.
“So much of my work has to do with storytelling that will broaden the understanding of the world around us,” says Chin. “I was attracted to collaborating with Panerai because of the brand’s unique story and long heritage of creating tools that enable exploration.”
The Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback J. Chin Xperience Edition features a lightweight and remarkably strong 47mm titanium case with matte black DLC coating, while the crown, the lever and the bezel are in brushed titanium. Dots, indicies and hands filled with white Super-LumiNova™, a shaded grey dial and blue accents, like the central chronograph seconds hand, compose a high-contrast palette drawn from icy mountain landscapes. The watch will be available in a limited edition of only 14 pieces.
Aptly named, the Xperience Edition includes an opportunity to join an excursion to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Chin resides for much of the year. There, participants will be his guests for several days, getting an intimate view of his life through outdoor adventures, including climbing and wakeboarding, his leisure pastimes and favourite dining destinations.
Engineered with the precision required by elite adventurers, these watches are powered by the P.9100 movement. It features the flyback function, which allows the chronograph to reset and restart with one press of the pusher at eight o’clock, and a power reserve of three days.
The caseback is engraved with imagery that evokes Chin’s diverse and celebrated achievements: a dramatic mountain range, intersecting skis and a United States flag, along with a “Jimmy Chin Edition” inscription. Each watch features a trapezoidal pin buckle and two straps: a dual-material strap composed of rubber and grey technical fabric and another one made mainly of recycled plastic, in grey with light blue stitching.
Also included is a tool to allow interchangeability of the straps and a screwdriver for removing the buckle. The watches and their accessories are housed in boxes made from recycled plastic.
PANERAI SUBMERSIBLE CHRONO FLYBACK JIMMY CHIN EDITION (PAM01208)
MOVEMENT: Automatic mechanical, P.9100 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 8.15mm thick, 37 jewels, Glucydur™ balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. Incabloc™ anti-shock device. Two barrels. 302 components.
FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph flyback, seconds reset.
POWER RESERVE: Three days.
WATER RESISTENCE: 300 metres.
CASE: Diameter 47mm. Brushed titanium DLC. Titanium ceramic anticlockwise rotating bezel with graduated scale. Safety Lock crown protection device in brushed titanium. Screw and engraved caseback in brushed titanium. Sapphire crystal formed of corondum.
DIAL: Shaded grey with luminous hour markers and dots. Chronograph hour counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock and central chronograph seconds and minute hands.
US$43,200
