UNDERWATER

Precision

Panerai Enhances Its Original Radiomir Collection With The New Radiomir Otto Giorni

Panerai was founded in Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region in 1860. Originally both a workshop and a store, it grew into a school of watchmaking. A supplier of high-precision instruments to the Royal Italian Navy, it was Guido Panerai’s Radiomir—a radium-based substance that illuminates for visibility in the dark—that began it all when it was patented in 1916.

The brand developed several designs, most notably the Luminor and Radiomir, which were covered by the Military Secrets Act for many years. The Radiomir prototype was premiered in 1935, and other improvements such as the crown-protecting device, and a new luminous substance called the Luminor, appeared later on.

Officine Panerai entered the commercial watch market in 1992, launching three collections of ten references in limited editions—the 44 mm Luminor and Luminor Marina watches, and the 42 mm Mare Nostrum chronograph in 1993. It was not until the brand was acquired by the Vendome Group—today Richemont Group—in 1997, that Panerai introduced the designs to the international market including Radiomir and the first Vendome special edition in 60 pieces, the PAM 21 model in a platinum version.

By Anastasia Winayanti Wibowo

Today, Panerai develops and crafts its movements and watches at its Neuchâtel manufacture. Neuchâtel is a centre of the Swiss watch industry, the site of micro-technology and high-tech industries, and home to research centres and organisations. This is the perfect location for the brand, which presents a seamless melding of Italian design flair and history with Swiss horological expertise.

Paying homage to the original Radiomir, the new Radiomir Otto Giorni features strong vintage aesthetics and an undeniable retro spirit. Showcasing a characteristic antiquated look, it is inspired by the very first Radiomir prototype in 1935 which measured 47 mm in diameter. The original model's robustness, water resistance, and ease of reading, sealed it as a popular instrument across different military units for various missions. The new and updated version is upgraded to fulfil the ever-demanding military requirements, including excellent readability in murky waters and introducing elements that include the now iconic sandwich dial to make the hour markers and numerals even more legible and luminescent.

Available in two models, PAM01347 has a dark brown dial, while PAM01348 has a blue dial; both are encased in a 45 mm Brunito eSteel™ case, bezel and case back, with transparent sapphire crystal formed of corundum. The material eSteel™ is a next-generation metal obtained from pre-consumer recycled steel scraps (up to 95%) coming from different in- dustries, preferably from the Swiss watchmaking industry, whose production significantly reduces CO2 emissions.

The Super-LumiNova® dial features luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers, as well as a small seconds display at 9 o’clock. The case has an open back, and the sapphire glass crystal is domed, reminiscent of the Plexiglass® crystal of the past. The watch also has a cone-shaped crown, a design that distinguishes the Radiomir collection from other Panerai timepieces.

The watch comes with a matching supple calf leather strap in the same hue of the dial, either in Cuoio Toscano calf leather dark brown or in calf leather dark blue, with beige stitching complete with a Brunito steel buckle.

Powered by the in-house, hand-wound mechanical P.5000 calibre, the movement is equipped with a Glucydur® balance, an Incabloc® anti-shock device, two barrels and 146 components. With a frequency of 21,600 vph, the watch has a remarkably long eight-day power reserve, a distinctive feature that was vital for Panerai pieces which were originally used for underwater missions. In addition, the watch is also waterproof to 10 bar or 100 metres.