Radiomir

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 Titanium 47mm Limited Edition Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As retro themed timepieces go, this is an interesting one for sure. This Special Edition Panerai Radiomir Titanium PAM00349 is based on a design from the 1930s. It features an interesting design on the dial called a "California dial." This is where the top half of the numerals are Roman, and the lower half are Arabic. The dial is also sterile, which means it has no text or branding. While the timepiece is attractive, its clear homage to an older watch and lack of Panerai branding mean that it is almost exclusively a collector's item. The fact that Panerai is making only 12 of them further makes this point obvious.

The 47mm wide cushion shaped case is in titanium (clearly a modern element). Case is water resistant to 100 meters. The lugs are removable so that you can change the strap. On the dial you have rose gold hands covered with lume and a classic style of Panerai subsidiary seconds dial. Around the dial is a thin toothed chapter ring that has always look nice and adds depth to the look. Some people are going to love the dial, while others find it too bare. I would have preferred the hands be a bit longer. Notice the turnip shaped crown that is easy to operate, and where you can finally see some Panerai branding.

The watch movement is apparently in-house made, based on a Minerva movement. This might sound odd, but Minerva is owned by Montblanc, which is itself owned by Richemont, which is the parent company of Panerai. So there is some connection. The movement is the Panerai caliber OP XXVII that is hand-wound and visible through the caseback of the watch. With a very niche appeal and interesting vintage look, the Radiomir Titanium 47mm watch will only be found at select Panerai boutiques. Price is apparently a whopping $25,000 - $30,000.

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

Tags: 00349, 349, california dial, CaliforniaDial, limited edition, LimitedEdition, pam, pam0349, panerai, radiomir, titanium, watch

The Classicist: Panerai Past & Present

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

Photo by Éric Sauvage and Nils Herrmann

Officine Panerai, founded in Florence in 1860, makes some of the most coveted wristwatches in the world. They only produce a limited number of timepieces every year, and there's usually a long waiting list for new models costing several thousands of dollars. The company is credited with perfecting the world's first underwater watches in the thirties; many have imitated its oversized style and the numerous devoted Panerai collectors around the globe are known as "Paneristi." Since 1996 the company has also produced a line of watches for Ferrari and serves as the marque's official timekeeper. An impressive new slipcased volume, called simply Panerai, about to be published by Flammarion, details the fascinating history of these beautiful watches.

Early on the company became the official supplier to the Marina Militare (the Royal Italian Navy), initially providing optical and mechanical instruments. In 1910 they began experimenting with luminous materials to make the instrument dials visible in the dark. In 1936 the Marina Militare asked Panerai to develop a wristwatch suitable for use by commandos under extreme conditions. Thus was born the oversized, water-resistant, luminous dial Radiomir, production of which began in 1938, cementing a place for Panerai in the pantheon of the world's great watchmakers.

Gallery: Panerai: Past & Present