Panerai CarboTech Timepieces

[mjolnir2thor]

Greetings fellow Panerai fans!

I have a PAM 111 (E Series) in my collection and have been contemplating the purchase of a Carbotech timepiece. Would those who own an example, please be so kind as to share your experiences with a Carbotech timepiece.

I would suspect the Carbotech is light and has a distinctive look, but how is it to own the long term? Does it chip if you hit a sharp edge? Is the bezel loose or doesn't rotate easily? From what I understand, the case does not make use of the pin locking design used by the other siblings for the straps... will the steel pins oblong the holes over time?

Thanks in advance for your insight.

[Mystro]

Well, I am a hardcore and long time fan/owner of a Carbotech and it is outstanding. One of the forums biggest advocate of the material.
Stronger than titanium and doesn’t chip or crack like ceramic and extremely hard to scratch like ceramic.
Mine still looks brand new and I even have a well documented bash against a bridge pier on a dive. No damage.
Its biggest advantage is its ultra light weight. It will spoil you. My Pam 661 is my goto watch because it’s so comfortable and tough. I wear it when I don’t want to damage my “metal watches” which means it sees a lot of action.


Here is a pic just taken.

[mjolnir2thor]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Well, I am a hardcore and long time fan/owner of a Carbotech and it is outstanding. One of the forums biggest advocate of the material.
Stronger than titanium and doesn’t chip or crack like ceramic and extremely hard to scratch like ceramic.
Mine still looks brand new and I even have a well documented bash against a bridge pier on a dive. No damage.
Its biggest advantage is its ultra light weight. It will spoil you. My Pam 661 is my goto watch because it’s so comfortable and tough. I wear it when I don’t want to damage my “metal watches” which means it sees a lot of action.

Gorgeous Panerai! Thank you for the valuable feedback. What do you think about the spring bars versus the other means Panerai uses with their watch heads?

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by mjolnir2thor

Gorgeous Panerai! Thank you for the valuable feedback. What do you think about the spring bars versus the other means Panerai uses with their watch heads?

With Carbotech a spring bar is better as it doesn’t add any lug torque. The spring bars Panerai uses is ultra fat and beefy so you don’t use strap tubes. That should give you an idea how fat they are. Obviously the push button lug system is easier to change straps as I have that system as well but since the lugs are drilled all the way through, it’s easy to change a Carbotech strap.

[mjolnir2thor]

Originally Posted by Mystro

With Carbotech a spring bar is better as it doesn’t add any lug torque. The spring bars Panerai uses is ultra fat and beefy so you don’t use strap tubes. That should give you an idea how fat they are. Obviously the push button lug system is easier to change straps as I have that system as well but since the lugs are drilled all the way through, it’s easy to change a Carbotech strap.

Interesting, I just assumed they used strap tubes. I would suspect since the lugs are cross drilled it should be easy to swap straps.

Thanks!

[Mystro]

[56Diver]

Not trying to argue but stronger than titanium? It would depend on how you measure. I’ve seen and heard of carbotech denting, chipping, or breaking. I’m sure it’s rare but I haven’t heard of titanium doing the same.

[waterman1]

I have owned the carbotech 979 for 5 years and has been worn nearly every day. By far my most comfortable watch. I have not babied it and I would say it looks brand new today. I cannot find even a small scratch, dent, or blemish. As for spring bars they are uniquely thick and tough. If you are familiar with fat bars Seiko uses on its divers, these are similar but but tougher. No tubes needed. Changing straps is easy.
I have also heard of a couple of isolated cases of the lug area cracking on the carbotechs. This was several years ago. I could not pin down any cause. So few cases I have heard of - maybe 2 and I believe one of those seemed suspect. Seems there would be more cases being mentioned now if it were really a thing. I recommend for pure wearing enjoyment. Not for investment. As is the case with most Panerai I guess.

[56Diver]

Good info. I love the 979 and strongly considered getting one recently. Carbotech breaking stories are kind of like the BMG, we all saw a couple
Examples on forums of bmg Panerai’s cracking.

[Mystro]

There is lots of reports on the Carbotech manufacturing but here is a few:


From Panerai:
Lighter than steel and titanium, highly resistant to external shocks and corrosion: carbotech is a material based on carbon fibre, introduced into the world of high quality watchmaking by Panerai. It combines exceptional performance with a varied, matt black appearance that gives each watch a unique character. The two new Panerai Submersible CarbotechTM watches have the case, the rotating bezel and the device for protecting the winding crown made of this remarkable material: two professional diving watches of excellent technical performance with the powerful Panerai character, the result of the continuous research and development carried out by the Laboratorio di Idee of the Manufacture in Neuchâtel.
To form the slabs of carbotech, very thin sheets of carbon fibre are compressed together at a controlled temperature and under high pressure with a polymer, PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), which bonds the composite material together, making it even tougher and more dependable. The carbon fibres used are very long, in order to ensure a very even appearance, and the leaves are superimposed and pressed together in such a way that the orientation of the fibres of each layer are out of phase compared to the ones below or above. Thanks to this structure, the mechanical properties of carbotech are very much higher than to those of similar materials, and of other materials often used in the world of high quality watchmaking, such as ceramic and titanium. Compared to these, carbotech is lighter and even more resistant to external stresses, as well as being not subject to corrosion.

https://robbreport.com.au/watches/pa...than-titanium/


Personally, I have ceramic, titanium, stainless steel watches and will put Carbotech at another level simply because it has the scratch resistance of ceramic yet strength and lighter weight of titanium. If you want a black luxury watch material, it doesn’t get any better. Then there is the bespoke layers in the machining that are individual to each watch like a piece of damascus steel. So get the high tech material with an artistic vibe. It suits the Panerai brand and image.

[Andy0331]

I had a 1664 that I liked a lot, but got a bit bored with it and traded out a few months ago.

Pros:

• Excellent, lightweight material. I had zero concerns with it's durability compared to a metal watch unless you literally tried to destroy it with pliers in a vice. Definitely felt more solid/durable than my old AP forged carbon.
• Unique appearance, especially when it catches the light

Cons:

• Also appearance. It is a relatively flat black/charcoal color at arms length. It does not "pop" under normal circumstances. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I prefer the look of AP forged carbon (as far as carbon goes)
• Lightness. I love lightweight watches (titanium, carbon, ceramic), but if you are looking for "heft", this is not the material for you.

[mspeed76]

I love carbotech, the look and weight..

However scratch resistance worse than steel or titanium grade 2, and you can’t refinish the material

AP forged carbon is soft. The only carbon that is durable is RM ntpt. Panerai in the middle

Look at some used carbotechs and you will have your answer

[waterman1]

Andy0331 - it’s funny your cons are my pros. All about individual perspective - no right or wrong

Mspeed76 - I don’t know….I’ve worn in gym a lot where all my other watches pick up scratches and not a blemish on the 979 after 5 yrs.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by mspeed76

I love carbotech, the look and weight..

However scratch resistance worse than steel or titanium grade 2, and you can’t refinish the material

AP forged carbon is soft. The only carbon that is durable is RM ntpt. Panerai in the middle

Look at some used carbotechs and you will have your answer

Why would you make that statement? Have you owned one and damaged it??
I have yet to scratch mine after years of hard use and even after hitting on a bridge pier underwater on a dive. A SS watch would have been gouged and dented.
A SS watch would be scratched in the first week of hard use in my experience.

[hojlund]

the pam 1616 has been my regular daily beater for years, zero scratches so far let alone dent or crack. its invincible compare with the steel rolexes in my collection. the only down side is you cannot control yourself to buy lots of different colour, material straps for varieties, but its fun!

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by hojlund

the pam 1616 has been my regular daily beater for years, zero scratches so far let alone dent or crack. its invincible compare with the steel rolexes in my collection. the only down side is you cannot control yourself to buy lots of different colour, material straps for varieties, but its fun!

Ha…..I have a 24mm orange oem rubber strap in-bound for my 661.