An Overview of the Panerai Luminor Due Watch Collection

Marking the arrival of Italian watch manufacturer, Panerai into our collections here at Jura Watches, we’re showcasing the esteemed Luminor Due watch collection. Join us as we look at how the Luminor Due design came to garner its own unique following of Panerai enthusiasts, thanks to its resolutely elegant take on the famed military tool watch. 

Panerai watches have a very strong identity that distinguishes them from the rest of the industry. When exploring the Panerai watch collections here at Jura Watches, it is important to understand that the brand’s catalogue is simplified by four key categories. The Luminor, the Luminor Due, the Submersible and the Radiomir. Here is a quick overview of those four categories and where the Panerai Luminor Due fits in.

The Predecessor to The Predecessor

When Panerai first created a modern batch of prototypes for the Italian Frogmen in 1936, they were named the Radiomir watches. They took their name from the type of material used for the luminous elements of their dials. The radium-based powder, which was patented in 1916, would eventually be replaced by the Luminor material that gave the namesake collection its identity. What defined the Radiomir from other watches on the market during its time, however, was a cushion-shaped case measuring 47mm in diameter. The watch, with wire lugs that welded to the case, also featured a legible dial and a set of luminous-coated hands powered by a manual winding movement. Modifications to the case came during the 1940s when Panerai added broader lugs crafted from a single block of steel that prevented them from coming loose. The corners of the case also became sharper and the winding crown took on a cylindrical appearance. A flatter, wider bezel also differentiated the newer models from the older ones.

The Inspiration Behind the Luminor Due

The Panerai Luminor watch became accessible to the public in the 1990s and was designed by Panerai’s chief of mechanical engineering. The design was inspired by the watch produced by the brand for the military during the 1950s. The crown protector bridge that distinguished those earlier models was brought into this modern design, along with several of Panerai’s patented features. The Luminor is such a significant design because it later came to be the brand’s flagship model. Today, several complications, sizes and materials are now available, each one retaining the iconic crown protector bridge, luminous dial and cushion-shaped case. Back in the 1950s, Panerai had produced the Luminor material. It replaced the toxic radioactive substance that the brand was using before then, named radium. Rather than being radium-based, the newer material was tritium-based and much safer to use on the dial of the brand’s watches. A year later, Panerai created the iconic case design, which defined the Luminor, complete with a lever-operated, crown-protecting bridge that ensured optimum water resistance. Like the modern Radiomir watches, these early Luminor watches featured the case and lugs, fashioned from a single piece of steel, but featured a fatter, wider bezel.

The Luminor Due – The Dressy Option

The Luminor Due was released in 2016 with a name that stood for “two”. These designs are characterised by smaller and slimmer case. They were considered a more elegant option to the standard Luminor watch and appealed to those wanting a dressier aesthetic. The water-resistant rating of a Luminor Due watch is considerably lower – an indicator that this watch is to be used for less adventurous pursuits. The restrained proportions of the design have opened up the Due version to a much larger audience, especially those with smaller wrist sizes. The watches do, however, feature the cushion-shaped case, oversized lever-activated crown guard and integrated lugs that we have all come to know and love about the Luminor design.

What Followed the Luminor Due

The Luminor Marina came along three years later. It originally belonged to the Luminor collection but later gained independence and a collection category of its own. The Submersible is actually a professional dive watch rather than a luxury dive-inspired watch. The models from this collection promise a water-resistant rating of 300 meters and are equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel for measuring elapsed time underwater. The basic design of the Luminor, however, is still present. It features an oversized crown protection guard and a cushion-shaped case. It differs from other Luminor watch designs, however, in the fact that the dial features dots for the hour markers as opposed to Arabic numerals and stick indexes, along with skeletonised central hands.

Why Buy the Panerai Luminor Due Watch?

The Luminor Due watch by Panerai is the more elegant variation of the Luminor legacy. It puts a contemporary spin on the design that once represented the design focus adopted by Panerai during the 1950s. Some models from the line are available in exclusive materials like rose gold or Goldtech. Compared to the broader series, the Luminor Due features a flatter, more elegant construction. The refined timepiece is great for all occasions, making it one of the more versatile versions of the Luminor family. With cases ranging from 38mm to 45mm, the design appeals to all wearers, including female and unisex audiences. Top models from the line include GMT versions and models that feature a power reserve indicator for a more technical take on the classic Luminor DNA. Other models are also available in titanium for a more lightweight finish on the wrist.

Browsing our Jura Watches collection of Luminor Due delights, you will find models like the Luminor Due Luna with an exquisite moonphase complication and a feminine pink leather strap, along with the Goldtech Madreperia model, featuring the brand’s proprietary gold material and a stunning mother of pearl dial.

If you’d like to learn more about the Panerai Luminor Due collection, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453 or email us a question about our new Panerai range at help@jurawatches.co.uk