Radiomir California - 47mm: Panerai's Embodiment of History

PANERAI

A New Tribute to Panerai's Pioneering Professional Diver's Watch

Panerai, a brand with a long history of supplying diver's watches and precision instruments to the Italian Navy's special forces, has unveiled the "Radiomir California - 47mm," a recreation of an original Panerai model actually used during World War II.

Text by OZAKI Sayaka

Recreating an Original Model from Panerai's History with an Aged Finish

Panerai's new "Radiomir California - 47mm" is a model that honors the history of the Italian Navy's special forces requesting Panerai to develop a watch for their human torpedo unit, leading to the world's first professional diver's watch.

This piece recreates an original model that was actually used during World War II. The brown-gradient dial features gold Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, hour markers, and a railway track. Due to its nature as a precision instrument containing military secrets at the time of its manufacture, the Panerai name is not inscribed. The crystal also uses Plexiglas®, as found on the original model. In addition to blued steel hands, heat-treated between 290 and 300 degrees Celsius, the AISI 316L stainless steel case material is treated with an aging finish for the first time, mimicking the wear and tear of years of use. The strap further emphasizes its vintage style, made from Italian-tanned, oil-finished calfskin known as "Tuscan leather," in dark brown with beige stitching.

This new creation, designed to evoke the brand's most heroic history, is powered by a hand-wound movement developed and produced at the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel. This reliable caliber boasts a beautifully robust design with twin barrels, offering a power reserve of three days.