Panerai LUMINOR 1950 8 DAYS GMT, Instructions For Use Manual, Page: 18 / 95

33
imitate the conditions of use over a period of several years. Tests include
resistance to traction, twisting (to check the relationship between stiffness and
flexibility), abrasion (friction against rough surfaces measures the resistance of
the strap and its colour), sweat (seven-day test carried out by rubbing the
sample with a felt tip soaked in a strongly acid chemical solution), humidity
and UV rays.
F
UNCTIONAL TESTING OF THE PINS FOR QUICK CHANGING
(
FOR SOME MODELS ONLY
)
The functional efficiency of the strap attachment pins is tested by more than
1,000 operations of fitting and removing the strap, to ensure that the strap can
be changed with absolute security.
A
GEING TEST OF THE CHRONO PUSH
-
PIECE
This test is performed by carrying out a series of 3,000 cycles on the push-
piece for the chronograph function, which correspond to 1 year of intensive
use.
T
HE PANERAI CERAMIC BRACELET
The links of the ceramic bracelet are made out of injection moulding. After
undergoing a series of manufacturing processes at high temperature, these
links are assembled to create the bracelet. Samples of the bracelets are
subjected to different tests of overall ageing: alternating movements on the
artificial wrists, traction and torsion, salt spray (according to standard ISO
9227), and synthetic sweat (according to standard NIHS 96-50).
T
HE PANERAI METAL BRACELET
All the parts of the bracelet are formed from a solid block of metal by
operations carried out by numerically controlled milling machines. After the
quality of every single component has been checked, the non-removable part
is assembled and laser-welded, then polishing is carried out by hand. Samples
32
T
HE WINDING CROWN
.
SHOCK RESISTANCE TEST
The test carried out on the winding crown consists of subjecting the crown
itself to the shock of falling from a height of 50 cm, with the watch inclined at
an angle of 45°, thus unequivocally exposing this component to shocks. The
crown must maintain its water-resistance in spite of the repeated shocks it
undergoes.
R
ESISTANCE TEST OF THE DEVICE PROTECTING THE WINDING CROWN
(
FOR SOME MODELS
ONLY
)
This test is performed by carrying out a series of 5,000 opening and closing
cycles of the lever of the device protecting the winding crown. The test
enables the amount of wear of the pivot of the lever and of the surface of the
winding crown in contact with the lever to be checked, ensuring maximum
reliability when the device protecting the winding crown is operated.
W
EAR RESISTANCE TEST
This test is carried out by a series of cycles in which the crown is rotated in
both directions (3,000 cycles) with a perpendicular force of 5N. The test is
equivalent to the wear which a hand-wound watch undergoes in the course of
3 years of continuous use.
F
UNCTIONAL TESTING OF THE TONGUE BUCKLE
The components of the buckle are subjected to tests against corrosion in
various climatic situations to avoid the risk of the buckle failing to operate
under any conditions of use, as well as traction tests to check the strength of
the bar connecting the buckle to the strap.
T
HE PANERAI STRAP
The strap is hypo-allergenic. Before going into production, samples of the
straps are subjected to a series of extreme actions, by simulators which