Panerai Celebrates Jimmy Chin With Two Watch Releases And Exclusive U.S. Experience

By Gabriel Pessoa July 7, 2021

Photo Credit: Panerai

With his manifold list of audacious pursuits—photographer, alpinist, filmmaker and environmentalist—Jimmy Chin is the model of the modern hero Panerai creates instruments to serve.

His intelligence, determination and creativity have guided him to historic accomplishments, including becoming one of the only people to ski off the summit of Mount Everest and receiving an Academy Award for co-directing documentary feature Free Solo. Two watches inspired by his singular story, the Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback – J. Chin Edition and the Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback – J. Chin Xperience Edition, are tributes to his indomitable spirit.

Photo Credit: Panerai

“An intense drive to transcend limitations is at the foundation of everything Panerai stands for. Jimmy Chin is an ideal partner because he shares that same ambition,” says CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué. “He brings a sense of limitless possibilities to everything he does, from scaling the world’s tallest mountains to capturing remarkable athletic feats on film. And his devotion to environmental activism is totally compatible with our commitment to building a more sustainable future for the watchmaking world.”

The Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback – J. Chin Xperience Edition features a lightweight and remarkably strong 47mm titanium case with matte black DLC coating while the crown, the lever and the bezel are in titanium. Dots, indicies and hands filled with white Super-LumiNovaTM, a shaded gray dial and blue accents, like the central chronograph seconds hand, compose a high-contrast palette drawn from icy mountain landscapes. The watch will be available in a limited edition of only 14 pieces.

Photo Credit: Panerai

Aptly named, the Xperience Edition will include an opportunity to join an excursion to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Chin resides for much of each year. There, participants will be his guests for several days, getting an intimate view of his life through outdoor adventures, including climbing and wakeboarding, his leisure pastimes and favorite dining destinations. It will be the very first time Panerai has offered a US-based experience with Chin.

Photography, an artistic and technical practice that is inseparable from Chin’s sporting life, will be the subject of a hands-on seminar. The trip will be a rare opportunity to forge a personal connection with one of the world’s great adventure athletes in settings both exhilarating and contemplative.

Photo Credit: Panerai

“So much of my work has to do with storytelling that will broaden the understanding of the world around us. I was attracted to collaborating with Panerai because of the brand’s unique story and long heritage of creating tools that enable exploration and I’m honored that Panerai created two watches that take inspiration from my journey.”, states Jimmy Chin.

The Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback – J. Chin Edition bears a close resemblance to the Xperience model but has an aesthetic character of its own thanks to a 47mm brushed titanium case that fuses rugged wearability and a refined appearance. Exclusively available in the United States, it will be available in a limited edition of 100 pieces.

There are many features the watches share. Engineered with the precision required by elite adventurers, both are powered by the P.9100 movement. The movement features the flyback function, which allows the chronograph to reset and restart with one press of the pusher at eight o’clock, and a power reserve of three days. The case-back is engraved with imagery that evokes Chin’s diverse and celebrated achievements: a dramatic mountain range, intersecting skis and a United States flag, along with a “Jimmy Chin Edition” inscription.

Photo Credit: Panerai

Water-resistant up to 30 bar (about 300 meters), each watch features a trapezoidal pin buckle and two straps: a dual-material strap composed of rubber and gray technical fabric and another one made mainly of recycled plastic, in gray with light blue stitching. Also included is a tool to allow interchangeability of the straps and a screwdriver for removing the buckle. The watches and their accessories are housed in boxes made from recycled plastic, part of an ongoing commitment by Panerai to be a leader in promoting environmentally responsible watch manufacture.

The Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback Jimmy Chin Edition includes the following features:

SKU: PAM01207

Movement: Automatic mechanical, P.9100 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 133⁄4 lignes, 8.15mm thick,

37 jewels, GlucydurTM balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. IncablocTM anti-shock device. Two barrels. 302 components.

Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph flyback, seconds reset.

Power Reserve: Three days.

Case: Diameter 47mm. Brushed titanium case. Brushed titanium bezel. Anti-clockwise rotating bezel with graduated scale. Safety Lock crown protection device inbrushed titanium. Screw and engraved titanium caseback. Sapphire crystal formed of corondum.

Dial: Grey with luminous hour markers and dots. Chronograph hour counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock and central chronograph seconds and minute hands.

Strap: Bi-material with gray fabric, T/T stitching, STD, 26/22, BA. Trapezoidal brushed titanium buckle.

Water-resistance: 30 bar (~300 meters).

In order to learn even more about The Panerai Submersible Chrono Flyback Jimmy Chin Edition, CLICK HERE.

Photo Credit: Panerai