So being a little restless from a recent graveyard shift, I started pondering the reason behind the inherent beauty of Panerai timepieces. What is that intangible characteristic of this timepiece which captivates its owner? Being of an architectural background, I stumbled upon the realization that perfect beauty always follows the
Golden Section rule. By applying this rule, I started noticing that Panerai like all beautiful objects is no different. Simply put Panerai is beautiful because of simple mathematics and the ration/number 1.618.
You may be asking “1.618? How on earth can this relate to the beauty of a watch? “
Well let me first give you some background on what the
Golden Section is, and how it relates to everything beautiful in the little world around us.
What is the Golden Section?? :
The
Golden Section is an ancient Greek concept. It is a formula developed in 600 B.C. by the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras to define the concept of natural harmony. The work began after Pythagoras decided random chance alone was not enough to account for the blending of strength and beauty found in plants, animals, and minerals. Pythagoras proved that the balance between form and function which is the basis of nature's designs is the result of precise mathematical relationships.
In architecture, art, and the natural sciences, the concept has since become the foundation for achieving classic, pleasing proportions. The Greeks and Romans used the Golden Section to create architectural masterpieces, with the Parthenon as a classic example.
Nearly 2,000 years later, the concept took hold in Europe where Chartres and other Gothic cathedrals are highly ornate expressions of the Golden Section. During the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci brought the same formula to sculpture and painting. Many of his works, including the Mona Lisa, were composed with the aid of an invisible matrix set down according to the mathematical rules of the Golden Section.
Definition of the Golden Section:
The golden section (the golden proportion) is a law of the proportional connection of the whole and the parts that constitute the whole.
The classical example of the golden section is the problem of the division of a line segment in the extreme and the average relation when the whole correlates to the greater part, as the greater part correlates to the smaller part
The problem’s solution is reduced to the equation X2+X-1=0, one of which decisions equals to
= 0.6180339..,
or where the inverse value is á = =1.6180339... and is generally designated as á and defined as the foundation of the golden proportion.
The number á has unique mathematical characteristics. It is a unique number, and is the only number except for zero that satisfies thoroughly a recurrent relation:
an+2 = an+1 + an
The most common representation of the Golden Ratio in Renaissance art is through the
Golden Section. The
Golden Section is constructed with sides in the ratio 1:1.618. These shapes are said to be the most pleasing rectangles, and can be seen everywhere in Renaissance art and architecture. Leonardo, believing that the human form followed these proportions, designed the Vitruvian Man to reflect this. Divide the rectangle that inscribes the man at his navel, and you have a
Golden Section.
Examples of the Golden Section in classical art, architecture and nature:
The Parthenon
The ancient Greek contemporaries Ictinus, Callicrates, and Phidias, are jointly credited in the creation of the Parthenon, in Athens, during the rule of Pericles, circa 440 BCE. It is the single most perfect example of this proportional rule, applied to not only elevation, but plan and sculpture as well.
The Vitruvian Man and related Art
The Vitruvian Man is the work that Leonardo Da Vinci used to explore several mathematic concepts, including Divine Proportion, and a concept known as the Quadrature of the Circle. Many analyses have been made applying different geometric representations of the Golden Ratio, and you can clearly see the relationship. This also applies to many great works of art during the classical and renaissance periods, as detailed below.
Golden Section applied to Panerai
I will not go into a detailed explanation, but I think from the diagrams below, it is pretty obvious that the Golden Section is observed numerous times, and across many different models. Even if this was unintentional, you cannot deny the beauty of Panerai.
By the way, I think the last pic proves that 47mm on a 6.5” wrist works like a golden charm. Justification to buy one…
Hope you enjoyed my theory,
Kanellos
P.S. i borrowed a few pics from various sources. Hope i didnt offend anyone.
"Veritatem dies aperit."
