They would also be helped by two exceptional individuals: first, Georges Golay (known to the Bottinelli families as "Uncle George"), a brilliant leader in this pivotal period, and second, Jacqueline Dimier - a designer genius who was, in some respects, Gerald Genta's protege.

How did they avoid the Quartz Crisis, which saw other brands abandon mechanical watchmaking and destroy their presses and lathes while selling movements by weight? The world's thinnest perpetual calendar automatic movement,Panerai Luminor Base Replica which is still considered one of the greatest acts of horological art today, was created.

Michael Friedman, AP's historian and head for complications, credits the perpetual calendar 2120/2800 caliber as being the movement that saved AP

Michael Friedman, AP historian and head for complications,panerai replica watches says, "Think of it in 1978. Nobody was making complicated watches or perpetual calendars. Patek Philippe was the only brand to have produced a perpetual calendar wristwatch in serial production up until now.

The reference 3448 was launched in 1961, a round "disco volante" shaped watch measuring 37mm in diameter with an 11mm thickness. We then unveiled the Reference 5548 which is 7mm thinner.

This is a very audacious timepiece. It was saying, to a world that is being swept away by the quartz craze: "Hang on! Look what we can do with mechanical watchmaking." We've put a mechanical supercomputer in the size of a Quartz watch. The 5548 is a modern symbol, thanks to its elegant and slim dimensions.