For over a century, the Panerai family legacy has been intertwined with precision instruments made to accompany the Italian military in their exploits. Commissioned by the Royal Italian Navy to supply high-precision instruments, 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. Continuing the Radiomir chapter, Panerai is back with new additions that include an Annual Calendar, and the Radiomir California
Radiomir Annual Calendar
Developed specifically for the Radiomir collection, it is the first annual calendar complication of Panerai. Date is displayed at 3 o’clock with the day through two dials openings. The current month is displayed on an external moving disc, indicated by an arow at 3 o’clock. For each month change, a cam in the movement allows the turning disc in one go, making an instantaneous change; 30-day and 31-day month changes are done automatically, with a manual setting needed only once a year, at the end of February. A corrector on the left side of the case allows the change of day click by click. The watch is powered by the automatic P.9010/AC calibre, showcased by a sapphire crystal open-back case. The sandwich dial features Panerai codes – the months, days, and the name of the complication, Calendario Annuale, are in Italian. Emblematic Radiomir details shape its design: its cushion-shaped case, signature gradient sun-brushed sandwich dial filled with Super-Luminova cone-shaped crown, and a 45mm case. The watch is presented in three editions: Goldtech, Platinumtech and the Experience editions.
Radiomir California
The Radiomir California is the first time ever that a California Dial is crafted in 45mm, while its green colour makes it a collector’s piece. Inspired by historic Ref 3646, the dial features alternating Roman and Arabic numerals, bar indexes – with every half distinguished by the two different types of numerals – and a minute track. The case set in Brunito eSteel – a brand-new finishing with a deliberately weathered effect – is paired with a cushion-shaped 45mm case, slim wire lugs, the Radiomir cone-shaped crown, and a hollowed green dial featuring a shaded texturised creativity. The Super-LumiNova highlights the iconic California indexes in beige, illuminating in green when in the dark, while the vintage appeal of the dial is accentuated with metallic blue hands and a domed sapphire crystal. The hand-wound P.5000 calibre powers the Radiomir California and features an eight-day power reserve, visible thanks to the open case-back in sapphire crystal. The timepiece comes with a supple calf leather raw cut strap with 3 points seams in dark brown with contrast stitching.
