The superb engravings carried out by hand by Italian master craftsmen make the new Luminor Sealand – 44mm (PAM00859), the new Special Edition dedicated by Panerai to the Year of the Pig, unique. The new timepiece is the eleventh model created since 2009 by Panerai in honour of the fascinating tradition of the Chinese Zodiac, which dates back to the 14th century B.C. After the watches dedicated to the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster and the Dog, the new Luminor Sealand welcomes and celebrates the Year of the Pig, which will begin on 5 February 2019.
 

Those born under the sign of the Pig have an unassuming, transparent character and they always see the positive side of things. Consistent, proud and with great will-power, they avoid becoming involved in narrow-minded things, preferring above all to enjoy the pleasures of life. At work, they reach the top through loyalty and intelligence, avoiding the temptation of easy money and the appeal of power. The cover of the new special edition is engraved with the image of the Pig, executed with the greatest skill in a style inspired by traditional Chinese iconography, surrounded by typical floral decoration chosen for its auspicious significance.
 

Each of the 88 watches produced for this special edition has been adorned by hand by the best Italian master engravers using the ancient technique of “sparsello”, so named after the special tool used to decorate the cover. First grooves are made in the steel before they are inlaid with gold threads in multiple parallel layers; these are then beaten until they completely fill the grooves which together form the outlines of the Pig and the sophisticated decoration. The work requires extraordinary skill on the part of the craftsmen because the process of inlaying the threads of gold is carried out after the lid has already been engraved, so the slightest error could damage all the work done previously.