42mm

Panerai Radiomir 42mm Watch Hands-On

I got physical with Panerai's new smaller watch collection with their in-house made P.999 manually-would movements and I liked it. With 44mm wide Panerai watches not looking too "large and in-charge" themselves these days, I speculated about the wisdom of them doing an even smaller model - even if it was just for the ladies. Well all that speculation is aside now, as I got a chance to play nice with the watches personally. There are three versions of this new Panerai Radiomir watch, the Ref. PAM336, PAM337, and PAM338. Differences? Pink gold, steel, and titanium - respectively. Oh, and the watches aren't just for the ladies (not that there are any dedicated women's Panerai watches, but lots of women enjoy their 44mm wide and under men's watches).

I first wrote about these new smaller Panerai watches here. Being placed in the Radiomir cases style gives the watches a more classic look than others with some of the other case styles. The thinner (though not thin) bezel helps that watch feel larger than it is. Plus, the watch isn't too thin (but is actually quite thin for Panerai standards). So what you have is a watch that feels more substantial due to its thickness and higher emphasis on the dial size. At the same time, it is important to note that this is a thin watch in Panerai terms. For me, wearing it was really comfortable. The loop style lugs help the watch look more substantial, and the flatter, smaller size of the case felt really nice on the wrist. You can see that this evolution on what it means to be a Panerai still looks good on the wrist without appearing petite. It really is a more formal and classy Panerai, the type of watch that most people aren't going to know even exists.

Gallery: Panerai Radiomir 42mm Watch

Tags: 2010, 42, 42mm, PAM336, PAM337, PAM338, Panerai, Radiomir, SIHH, watch

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Panerai Radiomir Smaller 42mm Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I told you that watch companies were going to trying and see if we will take to timepiece shrinkage. The reasons for this, and my rebuttal are located here. Now, one of the last companies that I would expect to "go little," is going little. Panerai pretty much set the standard for the 44mm wide watch being as popular as it is, and their timepieces range from 44mm to about 47mm wide. Now there is news that next year they will release a 42mm wide Radiomir model which represents their classic shape. I should point out that Panerai has made even smaller movements (such as the 40mm wide Luminor range models). Though I suspect this 42mm is aimed at being something different.

It is true that in the scope of things 42mm wide is still considered big for some people. 42mm wide would even seem totally ordinary on any other watch - but for a Panerai it stands out. I knew Richemont (who owns Panerai) would try to get us into smaller watches, and what a shock it is now coming from Panerai. I've even seen plenty of 44mm wide Panerai watches on women that look great. So why all of a sudden the shrinkage?

To make the watch even more enticing, Panerai is placing in it a new in-house made movement, the quite thin manually wound P'999 caliber. This allows the entire watch to be much thinner than we expect in a Panerai. The case is classic looking and in 18 rose gold - with handsome brown accents.

If you recall, I just mentioned that Panerai has made smaller watches in the past. I don't think that these sold too well, and I have a feeling they were meant for the Asian markets where much of the time a 40mm wide and under watch model is preferred. So while Panerai has made smaller watches in the past, I suspect that instead of doing so to pacify select important markets, it is part of a larger effort to get smaller watches in again. I think that the 42mm wide 2010 Panerai Radiomir looks nice enough that many people will get it, I don't see their standard 44mm watch losing popularity any time soon - and they would be foolish to abandon it.

Via World Tempus.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 42, 42mm, brown, gold, panerai, radomir, small, watch

Dior Christal 42mm Automatic Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Dior has slowly but increasingly been sneaking out watch releases over the past few years. High style, without as many ephemeral qualities as you might think. Meaning the watches could easily be classics decades from now. Love them or leave them you have to admit they are interesting. Here are two new styles for the Christal watch line. Called the Christal 42mm Automatic (not very creative for a name), the watches are designed with what feels like a combo between modern sporty dive style watch and art deco.

The case is 42mm wide in steel. There are black sapphires on the bracelet in pyramid shapes, with two different style bracelets available. The dial is black lacquer with a continuation of the pyramid theme in the center. The version with diamonds has a "weave" patten done in the middle with diamonds. I like the design of the case and bracelet much better than the dial, as the latter feels cluttered. It has all the hours in Arabic numerals, and then markers in between them. It just feels confusing at the very least.

Inside the watch is a Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic movement. It is visible though the sapphire crystal caseback window, with a black lacquer topped rotor. The diamond version has 1.47 carats, and a total of 190 stones tastefully applied. Available soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Dior Christal 42mm Automatic watch