SpotlightPanerai’s First Annual Calendar And The Radiomir California Dial In 45mm—Watches And Wonders, Geneva 2023

Panerai, one of the exhibiting watch brands at the Watches and Wonders 2023 in Geneva, offered an immersive experience at their assigned booth. At the event, the Florentine brand showcased the first ever 45mm size for their California dial, previously limited to a larger 47mm. The PAM01349 Radiomir California as a timepiece will leave watch enthusiasts in awe. The attention then goes straight to the Radiomir Annual Calendar references developed specifically for the Radiomir collection, becoming Panerai’s first annual calendar complication.

Please Welcome, The Radiomir California And Annual Calendar

For the first time ever, Panerai has crafted a California dial in a 45mm size with the Radiomir California PAM01349. Historically, this design feature has been exclusive to 47mm cases, making this watch a truly unique offering from the brand. Adding to its desirability, the watch’s stunning green colour elevates it to a collector’s item.

Take a journey back in time with the Panerai California dial, a remarkable feature inspired by the Ref. 3646 from the archives of the watchmaker. This particular dial design features alternating Roman and Arabic numerals, bar indexes, and a minute track, creating a truly exceptional timepiece.

What truly makes the Panerai California dial stand out is its superlative attention to detail. The dial is split in half, with the hours 10, 11, one and two o ‘clock marked with Roman numerals, while the hours four, five, seven, and eight are marked with Arabic numerals. This careful placement of numerals not only adds to the watch’s aesthetic appeal, but also makes it easier to read the time at a glance.

With a 45mm case set in Brunito eSteel™, the timepiece showcases a characteristic antiquated look

The iconic eight days movement of the Radiomir California PAM01349 is visible, thanks to the open caseback in sapphire crystal

This reference features a cushion-shaped 45mm case with slim wire lugs, paired with a brand-new finish called Brunito eSteel™—the first of its kind in the history of Panerai. This finishing technique creates a unique behind-the-times look that is still contemporary at heart, which pairs perfectly with the watch’s hollowed green dial. This ingenious shading technique gives the dial a textured look that is both eye-catching and elegant.

Water-resistant up to 100 metres, the PAM01349 is driven by the hand-wound P.5000 calibre that achieves an autonomy of eight days, ensuring the watch keeps ticking long after others have stopped. This Radiomir reference is completed with a supple calf leather raw cut strap with three-point seams in dark brown with contrast stitching. This strap provides a comfortable fit for all-day wear, while also adding to the watch’s overall style.

Next in line is Panerai’s latest in-house annual calendar movement. This masterpiece of an engine features time-telling elements for seconds, minutes, hours, days, and now, each month of the year. The date is displayed at three o’clock, while a separate external moving disc displays the current month indicated by a fixed arow at three o’clock.

This extraordinary movement beats inside three new annual calendar references—the PAM01363, PAM01364, and the ‘Experience’ edition PAM01432. These automatic annual calendar watches are powered by the P.9010/AC calibre, showcasing the brand’s DNA that allows it to deliver complications that pursue both precision and function. While the PAM01363 features a sun-brushed blue shaded dial that sits inside a 45mm polished Panerai Goldtech™ case paired with a dark blue alligator strap, the PAM01364 features a sun-brushed green shaded dial, a dark brown hand-dyed matt alligator strap, and has been set in a 45mm Platinumtech™ case.

Founded in Florence in 1860 as a workshop, for many decades Panerai supplied the Italian Navy and its specialist diving corps in particular with precision instruments

The designs developed by Panerai at that time, including the Luminor and Radiomir, were covered by the Military Secrets Act for many years

PAM01432, the third reference of the collection, is what the watchmaker is calling the Experience edition, featuring a sun-brushed burgundy shaded dial, a black hand-dyed matt alligator strap, and a 45mm Platinumtech™ case. All three references feature Panerai’s adjustable BDR buckle—PAM01363 buckle in Panerai Goldtech™, and PAM01364 and PAM01432 in white gold. The enchanting and robust annual calendar references are water-resistant up to 100 metres and offer a three-day power reserve.