Panerai Radiomir PAM00184

Panerai Radiomir GMT PAM 184 Stainless Steel Box and Papers

Following the Royal Italian Navy's approach to them and other watch brands in 1935 to build a watch that was highly water-resistant and legible in unfavourable conditions, Panerai began the development of a divers watch. In 1936 Panerai developed 10 prototype watches and submitted them for testing. This prototype was called the Radiomir, after the radioactive substance used to paint its hands and indices. Production of the watch for use by the military began in 1938 with Panerai adhering to strict guidelines from the Italian Navy – a long water-proof strap wearable over a diving suit, a hand-wound mechanical movement, luminescent indices and numerals and a large dial. These guidelines became more stringent in 1940 when the Navy requested that the watch could resist extreme tension and had better water resistance. To meet these needs, Panerai designed a new case for the Radiomir, so the lugs were not just welded onto the case but milled from the same block of steel as the case and a small second's dial was also added to the 9 o'clock position for more accurate time-keeping, which could prove life or death when underwater and when resurfacing. Since its early days, the Radiomir has become an iconic part of Panerai’s offering and today it is one of the best-known models. Offered here we have the Radiomir GMT PAM00184 with a 42mm stainless steel case, a black dial, and an exhibition caseback that reveals its automatic cal. OP XIII movement. Launched in 2004 and produced for only a year, this neo-vintage Radiomir GMT merges the collection’s original aesthetic with Panerai’s modern taste for luxury in a manner that will certainly appeal to the Paneristi amongst us given its unique execution with dual winding crowns and proud wrist presence. Dense with information, the PAM184's black display boasts thoroughly legible luminous indices and Arabic numerals along with a magnified date aperture at 3 o'clock, a running seconds hand at 9 o'clock, and a 4th hand for its second time zone. Marrying luxury with an iconic tool watch design, the PAM00184 is made out of stainless steel and features the Radiomir's iconic cushion-shaped case with its thin welded lugs ensuring the Radiomir's 42mm case wears rather elegantly for its larger size.