EyeCatching

Panerai

Radiomir California dial watch

From 1916 Panerai were commissioned by the Royal Italian Navy to supply high-precision instruments including the Radiomir – a watch strictly used by the military with its designs protected by military secrets until the 1970s.

Panerai have now introduced the Radiomir California PAM01349 crafted in 45mm, historically always produced in 47mm. The dial is characterised by alternating Roman and Arabic numerals, bar indexes, and a minute track, so a Diver always knows how much oxygen you have left.

Aesthetically, we particularly liked the Brunito eSteel hand finishing giving the watch an antiquated look. The Super-LumiNova® highlights the iconic California indexes in beige, illuminating in green when in the dark, whilst the supple calf leather strap features the inscription ‘G. Panerai e Figlio’, the same phrase found on the signage of the original Panerai workshop in Florence.

The hand-wound P.5000 calibre powers the Radiomir California and the iconic 8 days movement is visible thanks to the open case-back in sapphire crystal. Wow! So you don’t need to be an underwater commando in the Italian Navy to appreciate this unique watch.

We happen to know the affable and knowledgeable Store Director Dario Erriu has a Radiomir California you can try on at Panerai, 30 New Bond Street, W1S 2RW or  Dario.erriu@panerai.com.  A good friend of ours has bought a Radiomir California already.