Panerai knows a thing or two about inventing high-tech timepieces. After all, the brand got its start supplying watches to the Royal Italian Navy, a commission that earned them a reputation as makers of durable and water-resistant watches. Later, their innovations in luminescent technology kept their pieces legible when competitors were staying dark. And now, their latest watch places Panerai’s research-and-development prowess front and center. The Lab-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech is a 49 mm rugged tool watch crafted from a composite material based on forged carbon that results in a lightweight yet ultradurable piece. Where typical mechanical watches need servicing every three to five years, Lab-ID’s resistant material and lubricant-free combination allows it an unprecedented 50 years of play before it needs to see a watchmaker.
Panerai Lab-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days – 49 mm, $51,300; panerai.com
