Panerai Radiomir: The Making of a Legend

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.
An archival receipt shows that the Radiomir prototype was presented in 1935, and over the years, the sandwich construction has been progressively adjusted and is currently made of only two superimposed plates. Other improvements include the crown-protecting device, and a new luminous substance, the Luminor. A watch produced strictly for the military, the forces used it until the early 1970s, with its designs protected by military secrets.

A versatile and understated silhouette shines in Panerai’s Goldtech™
The contemporary and most versatile of Radiomir interpretations, Radiomir Quaranta, now comes in Panerai Goldtech™ material, expressing the spirit of its original precision through its continuing innovative pursuits.
Debuting at Watches & Wonders 2023 in Geneva, the Radiomir Quaranta Goldtech™ is set in a polished Goldtech™ case (PAM01026), matched with a white sun-brushed dial and a matt brown alligator strap. Panerai Goldtech™ is a gold material developed for the first
time by Panerai including a combination of platinum and copper donating an intense red appearance.

A faithful homage to where it all began, Radiomir Quaranta, is the contemporary interpretation of the Maison’s first-ever watch bringing the look of the legendary navy divers of the 1940s to discerning watch lovers of the modern century. Pared down yet commanding in
presence, Radiomir Quaranta features elements distinctly linked to its origins, appealing to connoisseurs who identify with the brand’s history and expertise. Iconic details and precision are reinvented in a collection expressing the discreet Italian elegance of the Maison’s roots, where culture meets its esteemed technical instrument-making expertise.
Quaranta, forty in Italian, stands for the 40mm case size that defines the collection’s essence a contemporary adaptation of the 47mm size of the original Radiomir edition made some eight decades ago. Measuring 10.15mm in thickness, the watch’s case is the slimmest in
the entire Panerai’s range, proposing a versatile silhouette for all genders and occasions.
Radiomir Quaranta Goldtech™ features a cone-shaped crown – a distinguishing element of the Radiomir collection – and paired with its matte alligator strap, exudes understated and relaxed luxury to match modern lifestyles.

Every detail embodies the contemporary spirit of the watch; the iconic cushion-shaped case, the white sun-brushed sandwich dial features indexes and numerals only at twelve and six o’clock and reflects light rays with the movement of the wearer, while the beige SuperLuminova® illuminates in green in the dark. The strap is interchangeable from Panerai’s extensive range of colors, and finishes, including calf for a casual look and shiny alligator versions in a multitude of bright shades for women. Available for purchase separately, the wide selections allow wearers to style the Radiomir Quaranta Goldtech™ for every mood and occasion.
Technical details include the P.900 calibre, a 4.2mm thick next-generation automatic movement, the first of its size from Panerai to combine the date and three days of power reserve, water-resistance to 3 bar (~30 metres), which will soon also be available up to 5 bar
(~50 metres), and a Panerai Goldtech™ buckle.