SIHH 2014: New Panerai Radiomir 1940 Tradition Chronographs


Panerai Radiomir California dialPanerai’s new product releases at SIHH 2014, unveiled to the press yesterday, were heavy on chronographs — and, as always with Panerai, heavy on paying tribute to the brand’s illustrious and now well-known (to Paneristi, anyway) history as a supplier of tough diving watches to Italian naval commandos starting in the 1930s.

Among the most noteworthy of the new releases is the new Chrono Tradition collection, consisting of three new Panerai chronograph watches in the Radiomir 1940 case. (The cushion-shaped Radiomir 1940 case is considered the transition between the original Radiomir and the more modern Luminor case.)

Another historical element on the Chrono Tradition watches is the use of a tough, utilitarian plexiglas crystal, rather than the more modern and genteel sapphire crystal; you’ll feel like a rough-and-tumble military diver even if you’re wearing the watch to the opera.

The watches are offered in three different case materials (rose gold, white gold, and platinum; the platinum version is limited to 50 pieces) and three different dials (ivory white for the platinum, black for the white gold, and a black “California” dial for the rose gold; the vintage Panerai watch that evolved into the original Radiomir had this type of dial, which mixes Roman and Arabic numerals). The dials on the white-gold and platinum models have another nod to Panerai history; they have dot and stroke indices that echo those on a 1947 model. And, of course, all the dials are in Panerai’s signature two-layer “sandwich” style. Below find some on-site photos I snapped at the show.

Panerai Radiomir Chrono Tradition - ivory dial

Panerai Radiomir Chrono Tradition - black dial

You’ll note the presence of another unconventional (for Panerai) element on the dial, a tachymeter bezel. Though this scale is usually associated more with watches inspired by driving rather than diving, it does serve to distinguish the Tradition line from other chronographs in Panerai’s vast portfolio.

The other historical element in the new Panerai Radiomir Collection is on the inside: the movement is Panerai’s manual-wind OP XXV, based on a Minerva 13-22. Minerva, now absorbed into Montblanc, is not only renowned for its chronograph movements; it turns out the company was a Panerai supplier back in its early days.

Below you’ll find a wrist-shot of the rose-gold watch with California dial and a snapshot of the movement as seen through the exhibition caseback.

Panerai Radiomir 1940 California dial - wrist
Panerai Radiomir 1940 California dial - back

For lots more new Panerai watches shown at SIHH 2014, including lots of new original photos, visit Watch-Insider.com for our colleague Alexander Linz’s detailed roundup.

 

 

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  1. I really love Panerais but unfortunately they are not prepared to support the US Market. I have my watch under service for three months and they can’t even get me an estimate time to repair it. Service order 11044899

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