Every year, Paneristis wait with bated breath when SIHH appears to see what new special edition watches Panerai will release. Last year's standout special edition pieces were arguably the series of Radiomir 1940 chronographs (hands-on here) rendered in various precious metals, featuring a handwound movement based on the venerable Minerva caliber 13-22; also, the Radiomir 1940 Three days Marina Militare Acciaio, which is a homage towards the vintage Reference 6152 from the 1940s.
This year, the standout pieces so far are the Panerai Radiomir 1940 Equation of Time 8 Days Acciaio and also the Panerai Luminor 1950 Equation of Time 8 Days Acciaio. The equation of time complication is rarely seen on Panerai watches, but the last Panerai watch to feature it was the Panerai L'Astronomo or PAM 365 from 2010. For all those unfamiliar with this complication, it shows the difference between “true” or “apparent” solar some time and “mean” solar time. This is because the size of a day is only exactly 24 hours on four days of the entire year, the rest of the time it varies between plus and minus 16 and 14 minutes, respectively. “Acciaio” is, of course, steel in Italian, and both watches is going to be offered with stainless steel cases. Apart from their case design, both watches are similar in terms of movement and dial layout, why don't we first dive into the movement powering these watches.
The movement beneath the Panerai Radiomir 1940 Equation of Time 8 Days Acciaio and the Panerai Luminor 1950 Equation of Time 8 Days Acciaio may be the new P.2002/E, which in turn is dependant on the P.2002 – Panerai's first in-house manufactured movement. Like all in-house manufactured Panerai movements, the P.2002/E movement is large and measures 13 3/4 lignes (roughly 31mm) wide and eight.3mm thick. It is made up of 328 parts, beats at 28,000bph, and thanks to its three spring barrels, includes a power reserve of 192 hours, or 8 days.
Both watches have Panerai's signature sandwich-style dial, gold hands, and ecru lume, giving it a warm and vintage look, similar to the Luminor 1950 3 Days. At nine o'clock, you will find the running seconds with a reset function, and also at three o'clock, you have the date window and a circular indicator for the months. The equation of your time indicator is displayed utilizing a linear indicator at six o'clock. A power reserve indicator is located around the back of the movement and could be viewed through the watch's sapphire display case back.
Admittedly, it is a little busy looking, but Panerai has done a good job of fitting all of the complications on the dial. The circular indication from the months is particularly clever, but a part of it is cut off because of the date window. Also, since its unusual for months to be displayed in this fashion, reading it will require some getting used to. If you think that regular Panerais have dials that are too plain-looking, this one is for you.
And just as with other brands like Omega, Rolex, TAG Heuer and Patek Philippe, it also has very insightful and dependable aficionados that are, arguably, un-matched by any other. Much of Panerai’s heritage derives in the near and historical role as the official supplier to the Royal Italian Navy (Regina Marina), where its marquee models — the Radiomir and Luminor — were designed especially for the Italian sailors, because of their specific requirements. Panerai began in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai about the famous Ponte alle Grazie, Florence.In the first portion of the 20th century, Panerai started to experiment with luminous materials in an effort to produce pure instrument dials, sights, and telescope apparatus that could be used in the dark. A material was created and awarded the name Radiomir. It was perfected in the 1930s by Giuseppe Panerai, and a prototype Panerai Radiomir wristwatch was filed to the First Submarine Group of the Royal Italian Navy for approval in 1936. This wristwatch obtained the acceptance, and by 1938 the prestigious Radiomir was being employed by elite teams of Italian naval commandos in the field.After World War II, there is a restricted number of Panerai Radiomirs in circulation, and of course this meant that they’d also become highly desired collectors’ items. In the early 1950s, the revered Radiomir that place Panerai into the spotlight was replaced by the Luminor, seen as a the iconic crown-protecting bridge, but the case and dial layout were retained.
Elsewhere, the Panerai Radiomir 1940 Equation of your time 8 Days Acciaio comes in a 48mm polished case with polished bezel. And since it is done in the 1940s style, it does not have the wire lugs of the regular Radiomir models. It has a screw down crown along with a rated water resistance of 100m. It also comes with a black alligator strap with ecru stitching and will also be limited to just 200 pieces.
The Panerai Luminar 1950 Equation of your time 3 Days Acciaio comes in the company's familiar 47mm 1950-style Luminor case having a polished case and bezel. The distinctive “device protecting the crown” is, however, given a brushed finish. Water resistance is rated at 100m, and it will be offered with an antique brown alligator strap with ecru stitching. This model is restricted to just 100 pieces. The new Panerai Equation of Time pieces will be priced in the $20,000 – $23,000 range. panerai.com
