When it comes to vintage watches, often it’s collectors that not only have the best in-depth knowledge of a brand, but their fingers on the pulse of what connoisseurs are truly looking for in heritage-inspired releases. Over the past couple of decades, the internet has played a crucial role in bringing this strong community together, initially through websites and forums and now with social media.

Panerai has turned to this expertise for its latest take on its iconic Radiomir, made to mark the 20th anniversary of web community paneristi.com. The site has long been an authoritative resource for all things Panerai, and this special timepiece is the result of a close collaboration between this group of enthusiasts and the watchmaker’s technical and creative team, the Laboratorio di Idee.

A classic diving watch, the Radiomir dates back to the 1930s, first created for the frogman commandos of the First Submarine Group Command of the Royal Italian Navy. And this latest iteration retains its signature design, finished with a number of appealing vintage touches that hark back to some of these early models.

This includes beige Super-Luminova, which when combined with the brown dial recreates the look of some of the original pieces that exist today. The handsome sepia tones continue with the sword-shaped gold-coloured hands. The same attention has been paid to the case, made from AISI 316L steel with a matte finish, lending an almost weathered patina effect.

The Radiomir Venti – 45mm continues Panerai’s tradition of precise and technical mechanical timekeeping, powered by the in-house calibre P.6000, entirely designed and developed at the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchatel. As well as offering a handy three-day power reserve, it comes equipped with a device that stops the balance wheel when the crown is pulled out, enabling the watch to be precisely set.

Limited to just 1,020 pieces, the watch celebrates the collaboration with an engraved insignia on both the dial and the caseback. It is finished in style with a beige strap in calfskin suede, featuring a vintage-inspired trapezoidal pin buckle in steel with a patina effect.

panerai.com