ReviewThe White Knight: Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic Acciaio
Panerai's latest SIHH release makes its much awaited debut in India
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SIHH 2016 saw the release of some iconic timepeices by Panerai, the Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic Acciaio 42mm being the highlight. We’ve had a sweet spot for this watch from the day it launched, so when it arrived on our doorstep at The Watch Guide, we couldn’t help but gape in amazement. After all, this watch is the first 1940s model which has a white-painted dial. There have been only 6 watches featuring a white dial in Panerai’s history, and the Radiomir 1940 3 Days is one of them.
The history of Radiomir:
The perfect mix of modern technology and vintage looks, the Radiomir has come a long way. What started as a radium-based powder to give luminosity to the dials of sighting instruments and devices for the Royal Italian Navy in 1916, became a prototype in 1936. And by 1940 when the Royal Navy’s requirement became more specific, the Radiomir 1940 was introduced, wherein the lugs were made from the same block of steel as that of the case because the watches had to stay underwater in extreme conditions for long periods. Prior to this advancement, the lugs were made of wire.
The new Radiomir 1940 has a cushion-shaped case crafted such that the edges are more pronounced, a general reshaping of the individual parts and features a cylindrical, tubular crown rather than a conical, winding one.
The rare white dial:
The Radiomir is one of the most popular Panerai collections, famous typically for dark coloured dials (black, brown and blue). The white dial then, is visibly the most distinguishing feature for this watch. But what’s interesting about the dial is that it’s been made using a single layer with the numerals painted. The dot indexes too, have been painted with faux-patina (painting effect) luminous material to complement the hands. The large Arabic numerals are painted in black, the only exception being at 9 o’clock where the sub-dial for the running seconds is located.
What does ‘Acciaio’ mean? After the initial admiration, my thoughts quickly wandered to the word Acciaio. It stands for steel in Italian.
The P.4000 movement with micro-rotor
Panerai watches are manufactured using in-house movements and movements manufactured by ETA S.A. The movement inside the Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic Acciaio 42mm is the in-house manufactured P.4000 movement that runs at 4 Hertz/28,800 vph. At 3.9mm thick, the P.4000 movement with a micro-rotor is extremely thin. Given the double, series-coupled barrels of the movement, the watch has a power reserve of 3 days or 72 hours (which apparently is also the new standard for all their in-house movements). So the next time you take off your watch for the weekend, you can be assured that you will have the accurate time when you leave for work on Monday!
The sapphire crystal case back reveals the in-house P.4000 movement in full view. The gold balance spring and the 31 jewels add that dash of colour to the movement. Power transfer from the oscillating weight to the dual mainsprings takes place in both directions of rotation, thus adding to the watch’s power reserve.
The ‘sporty-dress’ watch:
As per Panerai, the Panerai Radiomir 1940 is a sports watch. But in my opinion it’s a sporty-dress watch. With a water resistance of 100 meters, a high-contrast white dial encased in a 316L stainless steel cushion case with straight lugs, watch strikes an interesting balance between sporty and sophisticated. The untreated calf assolutamente leather strap with contrasting stitching lends a vintage touch to the watch adding to the dress points. Also when it comes to looks, the Radiomir series is dressier compared to other Panerai collections.
What’s your favourite watch from Panerai? Let us know in the comments section below!
