Published by Pierre-Paul Godts
Radiomir 1940 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT
Dedicated to lovers of haute horlogerie are the two new Special Editions, the Radiomir 1940 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT Oro Rosso and Radiomir 1940 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT Oro Bianco. Officine Panerai has created these models by combining the case design of the Radiomir 1940 with the technology of the P.2004 Manufacture movement, presented for the first time in the P.2004/10 version with skeletonised bridges and barrels.
The names of the two models reveal several of the characteristics which make these Special Editions especially noteworthy. The Radiomir 1940 case evokes a period in Panerai’s history when the Radiomir case, cushion-shaped with wire loop strap attachments, was evolving into the Luminor 1950 case, with its integral lugs and the bridge device with locking lever protecting the winding crown. Relaunched by Officine Panerai in 2012, the Radiomir 1940 case has strap attachments and proportions similar to the Luminor 1950; it also has the cusped case shape, but it does not have the device protecting the crown. The result is a case that is strong and functional, embodying great simplicity and sophisticated elegance. Made in red gold or white gold and 45 mm in diameter, the case has a cylindrical winding crown with the Officine Panerai logo in relief and a single push-piece at eight o’clock which controls all the chronometer functions.
The hand-wound P.2004/10 calibre, entirely developed and created at the Officine Panerai Manufacture at Neuchâtel, has three barrels which give it the unusually long power reserve of eight days, a classic feature of Panerai watches since the 1940s; the running time remaining is displayed by the linear power reserve indicator on the dial. With two counters and a central seconds hand, the chronograph has a single button at eight o’clock which controls the start, stop and reset functions. It has a vertical clutch and column wheel, the latter being fully visible from the back of the movement, through the sapphire window set in the caseback. The sophisticated finish and other technical details of the movement can also be seen through the back of the watch, being exposed to view by the skeletonising of the bridges and the two barrels. The P.2004/10 calibre also has the second time zone function, with the a.m./p.m. indicator on the counter at nine o’clock, and the device that automatically resets the seconds hand to zero when the time is adjusted.
The two new Radiomir 1940 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT models differ from each other not only in the material from which the case is made but also in the colour and design of the dial. In the red gold version (PAM00502), the brown dial with satiné soleil finish has large figures and bar hour markers, classic features of the Panerai design since the first watches produced by the brand. The white gold version (PAM00503) has a black dial, also with satiné soleil finish, but with minimalist graphics, without figures and with bar and dot hour markers. The straps are of brown alligator with an adjustable buckle made of the same material as the case. Both models are waterresistant to five atmospheres (about 50 metres).
Radiomir 1940 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT Oro Rosso
Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, Panerai P.2004/10 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 6.6 mm thick, 31 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. KIF Parechoc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 8 days, 3 barrels. Column wheel, 329 components.
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, linear power reserve indicator, seconds reset device, second time zone, day/night indicator, chronograph with two counters.
Case: Diameter 45 mm, 18 ct. polished red gold. Screw-down winding crown personalised OP. Red gold button for the chronograph functions at 8 o’clock.
Bezel: 18 ct. polished red gold.
Back: See-through sapphire crystal.
Dial: Brown with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. Minute counter at 3 o’clock, linear power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock, seconds and day/night indicator at 9 o’clock, central chronograph hand.
Crystal: Sapphire, formed of corundum, 1.4 mm thick. Anti-reflective coating.
Water-Resistance: 5 bar (~ 50 metres).
Strap: PANERAI personalised alligator strap and 18 ct. polished red gold adjustable buckle.
Reference: PAM00502.
Radiomir 1940 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days GMT Oro Bianco
Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, Panerai P.2004/10 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 13¾ lignes, 6.6 mm thick, 31 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour. KIF Parechoc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 8 days, 3vbarrels. Column wheel, 329 components.
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, linear power reserve indicator, seconds reset device, second time zone, day/night indicator, chronograph with two counters.
Case: Diameter 45 mm, 18 ct. polished white gold. Screw-down winding crown personalised OP. White gold button for the chronograph functions at 8 o’clock.
Bezel: 18 ct. polished white gold.
Back: See-through sapphire crystal.
Dial: Black with luminous dot and hour markers. Minute counter at 3 o’clock, linear power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock, seconds and day/night indicator at 9 o’clock, central chronograph hand.
Crystal: Sapphire, formed of corundum, 1.4 mm thick. Anti-reflective coating.
Water-Resistance: 5 bar (~ 50 metres).
Strap: PANERAI personalised alligator strap and 18 ct. polished white gold adjustable buckle.
Reference: PAM00503.
Pierre-Paul Godts – Contributing Writer
Pierre-Paul has worked for over 20 years as a Creative Director for different Advertising Agencies. Today he workes in his own Graphic design agency. Proprietor and founder of WatchMundi and WatchMundi Magazine. WatchMundi is dedicated to share the latest horological industry news from the captivating realm of wrist watches principaly in the domain of Pilot, Diving, Marine, Nautical, Vintage, GMT, WorldTimer or Motor Racing watches.
