SIHH 2010: Panerai Radiomir 42mm in Titanium P.999 (PAM338)
The new Panerai Radiomir PAM338 hand-wound watch offers you a combination of the easily recognizable vintage-styled design of the famous Italian watchmaking brand with the new mechanical movement, which is crafted exclusively at Panerai’s own production facilities in Switzerland: a real treat for those tired of numerous “modified” movements based on dirt-cheap ETA ebauches.
Equipped with the same P.999 manufacture manual-wind movement and packed in the identically-shaped 42mm case, the Panerai Radiomir PAM338 is a sibling of the Radiomir PAM337 timepiece.
The only noticeable difference between the two is that while the PAM337 comes in a polished steel body, the PAM338 has its prominent case made of brushed titanium, which is nicely contrasted by a polished stainless steel bezel.
This combination of materials and types of finish makes the watch not only to feel, but also to look a lot lighter.
However, the timekeeper’s dressy look was somehow sabotaged by the hour, minute and seconds hands that are made of gold and treated with the traditional greenish Superluminova luminous substance.
To my taste, these materials just do not mix together. You either make the watch in gold, or stick to titanium and steel. Of course, you can also use white gold (or even platinum) if you are so eager to make the watch more “precious.”
Just don’t mix them, dammit!
However, if you like “two-tone” watches and the gold elements don’t sting your eye, this member of the Radiomir family may be a nice choice: the traditionally high price of the timekeepers (this one is tagged with $8500 MSRP) is finally justified with a simple and high-quality P.999 caliber.
UPDATE: Don’t forget to take a look at the video below. It depicts the inner workings of the movement, including the high-precision “swan’s neck” regulator. Have fun.
Photos: Officine Panerai
Panerai Radiomir 42mm P.999 PAM338 watch specification
Price range: $8,500
Movement: Panerai P.999 Calibre, hand-wound, 144 parts, 27.06 mm in diameter, 3.40 mm thick, 19 jewels, 21,600 vph, in-house
Complications: N/A
Power reserve: 60 hours
Case material: Brushed titanium
Bezel material: Polished stainless steel
Case shape: Cushion
Transparent case back: Yes, sapphire crystal
Case size: 42.0 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Black
Hands: Stainless steel
Strap: Alligator leather strap
Crystal: Sapphire, corundum, 1.5 mm thick, antireflective coating
Water resistance: 100 meters
Evgueni Matoussevitch in Swiss WatchesTags: 100 m, 42 mm, manual, Officine Panerai, P.999, PAM338, Panerai, Radiomir, Titanium
