Panerai at SIHH 2014: Pocket Watches and Chronographs

Paneristas have a lot to look forward to when Panerai’s new introductions, launched at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in January, hit the stores. The star of the show this year was the Panerai Radiomir Pocket Watch 3 Days Oro Rosso (there is also an Oro Bianco – so, both red and white gold versions), with a hand-wound caliber P.3001/10, driven by two barrels for a 3-day power reserve. The watch has a hinged cover that can be personalized, and a sandwich dial that features a sun-brushed finish. It was inspired by pocket watches sold by the brand in the 1930s, and comes in a mahogany box that doubles as a stand, transforming the watches to table clocks.

Panerai also offers four new chronograph references this year, one of them a lefty, a specialty of the watchmaker. Among these is the gorgeous red gold Radiomir 1940 Chronograph Oro Rosso PAM 519 was a hit, with a brown California dial – with a combination of Arabic and Roman numerals. The tachymeter scale on the inner bezel is a nice touch to what is normally a very minimalist dial with Panerai. The movement for this watch, the Caliber OP XXV, has a Minerva base – Minerva is the chronograph specialist owned by the Montblanc brand, a sister company that, like Panerai, is part of the Richemont Group. Minerva specializes in chronographs and makes all its movements by hand. There are editions of this Radiomir in white gold and platinum, with different dials.

Panerai introduced two left-handed chronographs this year. One is a Luminor 1950 Chrono Monopulsante 8 Days Titanio. This 47mm special edition is limited to 300 pieces, and is made of lightweight titanium, with pushers and crown on the left side. It is a monopusher, which makes it extremely easy to use. The other is the Luminor 1950 Left-Handed 3 Days, also 47mm, with the hand-wound P.3000 Caliber, with a three-day power reserve.