Fresh from introducing a pair of manually wound Radiomir Logo 3 Days Acciaio models barely a couple of months ago, Officine Panerai continues to go deep into its affinity with matters nautical as it releases the new Radiomir 1940 3 Days collection. Composed of five new pieces—PAM 932, PAM 933, PAM 934, PAM 945, PAM 946; all spun by in-house movements—the collection is sold exclusively in Panerai boutiques worldwide.
All, too, are identified by dials that have shimmering deep blue hues at the center, but which turn completely dark at the edges. This gradation evokes the hues of the sea corresponding to depth as sunlight fades. But before one screams “fumé” at this treatment, consider that which lavishes the new Panerais’ dials with this haunting visual cue was actually achieved by a different manufacturing process. So while the effect seems similar at a cursory glance, the décor on the latest Radiomir pieces is actually satiné soleil, or sunray, which has a nuance distinct from fumé (literally translating to “smoke”).
Furthering this thalassic theme is the caseback design of the Radiomir 1940 3 Days collection. Though fitted with a sapphire glass, it still manages to evoke the sea via a latticework marked by swirling, wave-like patterns. The touch is as unexpected as it is welcome; it lends the pieces a degree of intricacy, as well as round out the dial’s décor.
Though all five models are adorned with these elements—not to mention sharing the same Panerai-signature cushion case—each is distinguished either by size, case material, function, or calibre. The PAM 933 Radiomir 1940 3 Days Acciaio is the smallest in the range with a 42-millimeter steel case. It is powered by the self-winding calibre P.4000, which incorporates a second subdial at 9 o’clock, and which has seen duty in various Radiomir 1940 models since this line switched from manually wound to automatic movements in 2014. The calibre P.4000 marks itself out by having an off-center bidirectional micro-rotor, allowing it to remain svelte as the oscillating mass sits within the movement rather than on top of it. This micro-rotor can come in either tungsten, when used in steel models, or in 22-karat gold. In the PAM 933, it’s made from tungsten.
Three of the five new Radiomir 1940 3 Days get 45-millimeter cases—the PAM 945, PAM 946 and PAM 934. The PAM 945 is spun by the calibre P.4001, an evolution of the calibre P.4000 in the sense it gets a date window, a GMT function, and a power reserve indicator at the back, all adding to the second subdial at 9 o‘clock.. The identical PAM 946, for its part, relies on the calibre P.4002. Which means a closer look on this piece reveals it gets all the elements found on the PAM 945, only now its power reserve indicator resides on the dial rather than at the back.
Meanwhile, and as its name identifies it, the identically sized PAM 934 Radiomir 1940 3 Days Oro Rosso is housed in a red gold case (the other four new models are all appended with Acciaio, or steel). It’s the most dramatic rendition among the quintet as the gold case sets the stage well for the sunray dial. Ticking beneath this piece is the calibre P.4000, which in this instance is wound by the 22-karat micro-rotor.
The fifth new Radiomir 1940 3 Days is the PAM 932. It’s the biggest among the collection, wearing a 47-millimeter case, and sets itself further apart by being the lone manually wound piece. Powering it is the calibre P.3000, one of the most recognizable movements of such type in the Panerai range as it sees duty, in one form or another, in nearly 30 models.
The Radiomir 1940 3 Days Acciaio pieces are water-resistant to 10 bar while the Oro Rosso model has a limit of 5 bar. All are fitted with a blue alligator strap with contrasting beige stitching to match the dial and the vintage-y hands, numerals and other markings on it. All also come packaged in a blue lacquered cherry wood box, included inside of which is a rubber strap (or fabric, in the case of the PAM 933) that’s colored—you guessed it—blue.
This connection with the sea goes deep.
