By Jovan Krstevski
The 45 mm case in Officine Panerai’s new chronographs the Radiomir 1940, has the simple, elegant lines developed by Panerai back in 1943, the time when the classic cushion case with the wire loop strap attachments of the first Radiomir started to acquire the more massive proportions of the Luminor 1950 case. The entire case has a polished finish, including the two push-buttons for the chronograph, the cylindrical winding crown and the bezel. This bezel holds a crystal made of Plexiglas, a material similar to that used in the original models created by Panerai for the Royal Italian Navy, which had a polymethyl methacrylate crystal.
The dial of the new Radiomir 1943 Chronograph is a new and lends an original design, inspired by the history of the brand but also by the function of the watch, and it has some subtle variations depending on to the metal of the case.
The red gold version has a brown dial with the combination of graphic hour markers, Roman and Arabic numerals that has acquired the name California, adopted by the Radiomir of 1936. The platinum version has the ivory dial, with simple baton or dot hour markers, and the same design distinguishes the black dial of the white gold version. The latter has a dial with the sandwich structure, formed of two plates with the luminous material between them, visible through holes corresponding to the hour markers. All three versions has also the tachymeter scale and the two chronograph counters.
Ticking inside the Radiomir 1940 Chronograph is the OP XXV calibre, which is based on Minerva 13-22 movement. The Minerva manufacture has had historic links with Panerai since the 1920s, when the Swiss manufacturer was a supplier to the Florentine watchmaker. The OP XXV calibre is a hand-wound chronograph with a diameter of 12¾ lignes. Its construction is very sophisticated, with high quality details such as the column wheel, the swan-neck regulator, the polishing and chamfering of the individual components, and the Côtes de Genève finish of the bridges. The high level of craftsmanship can be appreciated through the large sapphire crystal case back, which allows the movement to be admired.
The new Radiomir 1940 Chronograph are produced in a unique edition limited to 100 examples for each of the gold versions and 50 examples for the platinum version. They come with an alligator strap and are water-resistant to a depth of 50 metres. panerai.com
- Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, exclusive Panerai OP XXV calibre, 12¾ lignes, 22 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 18,000 alternations/hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device. Swan’s neck regulator. Power reserve 55 hours. Côtes de Genève decoration on the bridges.
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph with two counters, tachymeter scale.
- Case: Diameter 45 mm, polished platinum. Screw-down winding crown personalised OP. Polished platinum buttons for the chronograph functions at 2 and 4 o’clock.
- Bezel: Polished platinum.
- Back: See-through sapphire crystal.
- Dial: Ivory with luminous dots and hour markers. Minute counter at 3 o’clock, seconds at 9 o’clock, central chronograph hand. Tachymeter scale on the edge of the dial.
- Crystal: Plexiglas®, 2.8 mm thick.
- Water-resistance: 5 bar (~ 50 metres).
- Strap: PANERAI personalised alligator strap and 18 ct. polished white gold adjustable buckle.
- Reference: PAM00518.
Official retail price in Euro, including tax/VAT:
- PAM00518 € 59.900
- PAM00519 € 44.900
- PAM00520 € 46.900
Jovan Krstevski – Founder, Proprietor & Executive Editor
Watch collector, aficionado and a Event profile in the Swedish nightlife. He launched Watchgeek back in 2011, which is now known as WristReview. He quotes ’WristReview is a site to help people find, explore, discover and enjoy wristwatches.’ His passion jump started in his early teens, when he was given his first mid-range wristwatch which was an Omega Seamaster. Since then he has always been in love with wristwatches!
