Four new models make their entry into the Radiomir 1940 Collection, offering a broader selection of creative dial designs but also and most importantly an ever wider choice of technical features. Two new automatic calibres, completely developed and made in the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel, have added new functions to the Radiomir 1940 3 Days GMT Automatic (PAM00627 and PAM00657) with the P.4001 movement and the Radiomir 1940 3 Days GMT Power Reserve Automatic (PAM00628 and PAM00658) with the P.4002 movement. Today, we take a closer look at the latter.
The P.4002 calibre is developed from the automatic P.4000 movement whose main technical characteristics they share: the off-centre micro rotor which rotates in both directions, the power reserve of three days stored in two spring barrels linked in series, the mechanism for stopping the balance, enabling the time to be set with absolute precision and the full balance bridge with twin supports for greater stability.
The new calibre also has some extremely useful additional functions: the date, the GMT function with a central hand which indicates the time in a second time zone, am/pm indication (relative to home time) in the small seconds dial and, finally, indication of the remaining power reserve.
Finally, two very useful devices make setting the watch extremely simply and precise: the first is the mechanism which stops the balance and zeroes the seconds hand as soon as the winding crown is pulled out; the second enables the local time hand to be adjusted forward and backward in jumps of one hour at a time, without stopping the minute hand or interfering with the running of the watch, but automatically adjusting the date.
The dial of the new Radiomir 1940 3 Days GMT Power Reserve Automatic is notable for its extreme legibility, both under normal lighting conditions and also in the dark. The classic, large baton hour markers and figures are covered with ecru Super-LumiNova® and all the other elements stand out with great clarity against a black dial which is available in two variations for each model: one version has a clou de Paris finish and the other has vertical stripes in relief. Each dial is complemented by a different strap: in the first case the watch has a black leather strap, while the second is fitted with a brown strap of natural untreated leather.
The design of the Radiomir 1940 case is faithful to the historic examples created by Panerai for the commandos of the Italian Navy in around 1940. It is made of AISI 316L stainless steel with a polished finish and it is water-resistant to 10 bar (a depth of about 100 metres).
