Credits: Article and images by Zen Love @ Revolution Watch Magazine. See the original article here - https://revolutionwatch.com/panerai-submersible-elux-lab-id/
Legibility is fundamental to watchmaking and especially important in dive watches, so the utility of bright, long-lasting lighting available on demand is obvious. The Elux, however, is justified in other ways too. Yes, there’s a “heritage” element to the watch. The Elux name itself was taken from a technology Panerai patented in 1966 and designed for the Italian navy’s instrument panels and signage. Elux is an abbreviation of elettroluminescenza, Italian for “electroluminescence.” The current watch’s tech took eight years to develop and is, of course, different from that used in the naval instruments.
The Elux is remarkable firstly for integrating electroluminescence into a mechanical watch movement, and the clever ways in which it’s integrated. But would Panerai put this tech in a run-of-the-mill steel case? Of course not. The brand is known for its experimentation with alternative materials, and the Elux features one of the latest. Introduced in two Submersible collection models at Watches & Wonders 2024, the patent-pending material Ti-Ceramitech is titanium which has been treated to achieve a certain texture and deep blue-gray hue.
The titanium has been “ceramized,” meaning the surface of the metal has been chemically turned into ceramic via a process called Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation. It’s light and hard, like regular titanium, but the coolest thing about it is its smooth matte texture. We can only describe it as akin to stone, and it feels appropriately “special” for such an unusual watch. Even on a wrist that typically prefers around 9mm smaller we found its 49mm diameter to be highly comfortable and wearable.
Credits: Article and images by Zen Love @ Revolution Watch Magazine. See the original article here - https://revolutionwatch.com/panerai-submersible-elux-lab-id/