Panerai puts its signature on two new and sophisticated Radiomir interpretations. These are based on the first model, with its historic roots accompanied by a dominant presence and personality. Its project was developed in 1936 at the specific request of the Command of the Submarine Group of the Italian Royal Navy for the commandos of the Assault Vehicle Flotilla, making it one among the first specialized diver’s watches in history.
Today it returns to the fray, in the form of the Radiomir California – 47 mm (PAM00931) and the Radiomir 8 Days – 45mm (PAM00992)
Radiomir California – 47 mm(PAM00931) Radiomir California – 47 mm(PAM00931)
Now Panerai is capitalizing on its past by paying tribute to an exciting, fully historically documented, dimension. This is the role of the Radiomir California – 47 mm (PAM00931), an emotionally charged design of the first Panerai model to be used during the Second World War.
It is highly distinctive, having a gold dial tinged with tones of shaded brown, but with the original visual design consisting of a minutes track and a combination of Roman numerals, Arabic figures and hour markers. Also there is no reference to the maker on the dial, a fundamental condition for an instrument which at the time was covered by military secrecy. The new model is consistent historically, as like the original watch it has in it a Plexiglas® crystal. Besides the hands in steel, flame-blued at a controlled temperature of between 290°C and 300°C, its case is made of AISI 316L stainless steel, for the first time with a finishing deposited on it which emulates the effects of wear over time.
These details are also used to contribute to the decidedly vintage identity of the Radiomir 8 Days – 45 mm (PAM00992), available exclusively in the Panerai boutiques.
Radiomir 8 Days – 45 mm (PAM00992)
Radiomir 8 Days – 45 mm (PAM00992)
This has the sandwich structure dial bearing the words “8 giorni brevettato”. Clearly designed to evoke the most heroic activities of the brand, the two new Radiomir have in-house mechanical movements of the latest generation, handwound and entirely developed in the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel.
These are reliable calibres, robust, with relevant aesthetic configurations. First there is the P.3000, chosen to fit the dimensions of the Radiomir California – 47 mm (PAM00931); with size of 16½ lignes, it has a power reserve of three days supplied by two spring barrels in series, and it displays hours and minutes. The P.5000 has a size of 15½ lignes with supplementary small seconds indication and two spring barrels. It is used in the Radiomir 8 Days – 45 mm (PAM00992), with a power reserve of eight days.
Water-resistant to 10 bar (a depth of about 100 metres), the new Radiomir watches are aesthetically enhanced by an oiled dark brown calf leather strap with beige sewing. It is made of vintage style “Tuscan Leather” (Italian calfskin tanned in Italy), with a trapezoid buckle and a clasp forged of the same steel as the case.
