CALENDRICAL INSTINCT

The Panerai Radiomir Annual Calendar achieves a groundbreaking first, with intricate time-telling elements from each month of the year, down to the very second

- KC YAP

AT THE START OF THE 20TH CENTURY, Panerai was commissioned by the Royal Italian Navy to supply high-precision instruments, and with the discovery of a radium-based substance that allows for self-luminous sights for launching torpedoes at night and for firing weapons in general, the Radiomir was born, setting the brand on a ground-breaking journey along with the missions of the Italian Navy.

An archival receipt shows that the Radiomir prototype was presented in 1935, as a military underwater watch. Taking its name after the patented luminous material created by Guido, the watch measures 47mm in diameter. The generous dimension, and its cushion shape, with sides shaped to protect the dial, made it very resistant, while the three-part construction with a screw-on back and a screw-down winding crown ensured maximum water resistance.