Panerai Radiomir

Panerai Radiomir Watches

The Panerai Radiomir line was developed in 1936 for the "frogman commandos" of the First Submarine Group Command of the Royal Italian Navy, a design emphasizing legibility and use in extreme conditions underwater. The name of the watch family is derived from the luminescent paint -- a substance derived from the dangerously radioactive element radium -- used to make the numerals and indices visible under any circumstances. While the radioactive paint is gone (replaced with a safe phosphorescent pigment), today's Radiomirs retain several original features: the large, cushion-shaped case; a hand-wound mechanical movement; a simple dial that does away with a second hand; and a water-safe strap long enough to be worn over a diving suit. Today's Radiomirs come in variety of materials: stainless steel, titanium, pink or red gold, ceramic, and a composite case of aluminum and ceramic.