Hip hip, Panerai! Celebrating the Radiomir with the Perpetual Calendar GMT Goldtech
Borna Bošnjak- Panerai celebrates the inception of the first Radiomir prototype officially sent to Panerai on October 24th 1935.
- It measures in at 45mm, appropriately featuring a solid gold case made of Panerai’s proprietary Goldtech alloy.
- Combining perpetual calendar and GMT complications, the PAM01453 is priced at US$46,200.
There are very few watch brands whose design language is as instantly recognisable as Panerai’s. Whether it’s the signature crown protection device of the Luminor or the cushion-shaped Radiomir, the large Arabic numerals and sandwich dials will always be a dead giveaway regardless of how far the brand pushes the design limits. So, it makes sense that Panerai is looking to celebrate this design heritage – hence the release of the Radiomir Perpetual Calendar GMT Goldtech – aptly unveiled on October 24th, the date on which the first prototype was on its way to Giuseppe Panerai’s Florence workshop.
Considering that this is a perpetual calendar, the dial layout is impressively legible – as you’d expect from a Panerai. The dial gives you only what you need to know on a daily basis, including the day and date, as well as a running seconds and day/night indicator combined into a singular sub-dial at 9 o’clock. In fact, this somewhat resembles the Rolex reference 2533 that formed the basis of that very first Radiomir prototype. Thankfully, instead of radium lume, Panerai is using Super-LumiNova with a sandwich dial construction.
Another touchpoint of the prototype radiomir is the solid gold case. This might be a curious choice given the military intentions of its predecessors, but modern Panerai is all about luxury after all, making the Goldtech case appropriate. It’s Panerai’s proprietary alloy promising better tarnish-resistance, and with a heightened platinum and copper content giving it the reddish tint. The case measures in at a significant 45mm (actually 2mm smaller than the ref. 2533), and has a 100-metre water resistance.
A look at the Radiomir PAM01453’s caseback reveals the secret of its front-facing simplicity. Many of the indications you’d expect a perpetual calendar to show have been moved to the back of the case, which is a clever move by the brand. These include a leap year and power reserve indicator, as well as a four-digit year display. To accomodate for these while still providing automatic winding, the calibre P.4100 is equipped with a micro-rotor. The decoration is consistent with Panerai’s ethos – minimal but aesthetically pleasing, with surfaces that are mostly brushed highlighted by machined bevels.
The P.4100 features in several other Panerai perpetual calendar models, and is based on the brand’s P.4000 architecture. Alongside its three-day power reserve, the most notable feature is the fact that all of the perpetual calendar settings have been pre-programmed, negating the need for calendar correctors and instead allowing you to interact with the movement only through the crown. This feature, as well the four-digit year display, appears in a few Richemont perpetual calendars, no doubt inspired by the legendary Kurt Klaus perpetual calendar first developed for IWC.
Panerai Radiomir Perpetual Calendar GMT Goldtech pricing and availability
The Panerai Radiomir Perpetual Calendar GMT Goldtech is available now. Price: US$46,200
| Brand | Panerai |
| Model | Radiomir Perpetual Calendar GMT Goldtech |
| Reference | PAM01453 |
| Case Dimensions | 45mm (D) |
| Case Material | Goldtech |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | White silver sunburst |
| Strap | Brown alligator, Goldtech clasp |
| Movement | P.4100, micro-rotor automatic |
| Power Reserve | 3 days (72 hours) |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, GMT, perpetual calendar |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$46,200 |