Swiss
With the new Panerai Radiomir 10 Days GMT (PAM 323) automatic watch, the Italian brand brings you the familiar (perhaps, even too familiar) design of the signature cushion-shaped steel case and a multilayered dial, but adds into the mix their new P.2003/6 caliber, which is made exclusively at their own manufacturing facilities.
What I really like about Panerai, is their naming convention. Anyone can guess that the new Panerai Radiomir 10 Days GMT 47mm P2003 (PAM 323) model belongs to the Radiomir model range, sports 10 days (whopping 240 hours!) of power reserve, has a second time zone indicator, and is powered by a version of their in-house P.2003 caliber.
The name seems to be a lot more informative than some “Alpina Avalanche Extreme Chrono Double Digit”, a “Luminox BlackOut EVO F-117 Nighthawk Stealth” or some particularly difficult to read, and even more difficult to pronounce sentence in French (no offense intended, of course) that some brands often use to make the models they are especially proud of seem even more unique.
To be more precise, the watch comes equipped with the P.2003/6 automatic movement that features a nice second time zone display (it is indicated with a centrally positioned second arrowhead-shaped hours hand) and a power reserve indicator that looks more like a car’s fuel gauge, as well as a very useful “am/pm” indicator for those frequent travelers among us.
Built of 296 components and using three mainspring barrels to store all the power needed to keep the watch ticking to no less than 10 days, the engine also features a native non-linear power reserve indicator, small seconds display at 9 hours and a small date window at 3 o’clock.
The movement can be seen through a sapphire crystal transparent case back, but, frankly speaking, there is nothing much to look at. Like most Panerai models, the decoration is so Spartan, it is virtually invisible although you can always tell that it is also quite refined in its own discreet kind of way.
As to the timekeeper’s appearance… Well, it is just another Radiomir model with an oversized cushion-shaped 47 mm case made of stainless steel and a traditional sandwiched dial. As usual, the brand is very careful when it comes to even subtle changes in general styling that basically became a sort of trademark during recent decades and prefers to play it as safe as possible.
Officially presented at SIHH 2010, the watch will be produced in a limited lot of only 500 units and will sell at an impressive price of $15,000.
See also: TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Singapore Grand Prix GMT watch
Photos: Officine Panerai
Panerai Radiomir 10 Days GMT 47mm P2003 PAM 323 watch specification
Price range: $15,000 (MSRP)
Movement: Panerai P.2003/6 Calibre, 296 parts, 31 mm in diameter, 8.00 mm thick, 25 jewels, in-house, Swiss Made
Jewels: 25
Parts: 296
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Winding: Automatic
Main functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
Complications: Power reserve indicator, second time zone, day-night indicator, seconds reset
Power reserve: 240 hours (10 days)
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Stainless steel
Case shape: Cushion
Transparent case back: Yes, sapphire crystal
Case size: 47.00 mm
Case height: No data
Dial: Black
Hands: Stainless steel
Strap: Brown alligator strap
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 meters