Panerai celebrates the 90th Anniversary of Eilean, the Bermudian ketch designed and built in 1936 by the renowned Scottish shipyard Fife of Fairlie, by announcing its highly anticipated return to the classic regatta circuit, after its last appearance in 2018.
This comeback solidifies Panerai’s enduring legacy in the sailing world, a journey that began in 2000 with the sponsorship of the Laureus Regatta Panerai Trophy in Monaco and was further expanded in 2005 with the launch of the prestigious Classic Yachts Challenge – an annual circuit comprising of major classic-yacht regattas that ran for fourteen years, with Eilean’s participation starting from 2010.
Eilean’s 2026 Season is set to commence in Viareggio (Italy) on May 15, with the official ship launch at Cantiere del Carlo, the renowned Italian shipyard specializing in the construction and restoration of classic wooden yachts. From there, Eilean embarks on a series of classic regattas, traveling across the French Riviera, Italy, and Spain, before concluding its journey in Cannes, France.
“We are thrilled to witness Eilean’s return to the classic regatta circuit”, states Alessandro Ficarelli, Chief Marketing Officer at Panerai, “Thank to its timeless elegance and storied past, Eilean perfectly embodies the enduring spirit of adventure and precision that our Brand has championed since its inception. We are very much looking forward to seeing its presence on the water and providing our guests with the opportunity to rediscover Radiomir, Panerai’s most classic line and a faithful homage to our origins. For the debut of the season, we decided to dedicate our iconic Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760.”
The racing calendar begins with the 30th Edition of Les Voiles d’Antibes (Antibes, 27-31 May 2026), marking the opening of the Mediterranean circuit for vintage and classic yachts. The series then continues in Italy with the Argentario Sailing Week (Porto Santo Stefano, 24–28 June 2026), before heading to Spain for the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona (Barcelona, 8–11 July 2026). The XXXI Regata Illes Balears Clàssics (Palma de Mallorca, 11–15 August) then closes the summer season, while the program comes full circle in France with Les Régates Royales de Cannes (Cannes, 20–27 September 2026).
Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760
Panerai commemorates this anniversary on the water with a focus on the Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760, a timepiece intrinsically linked to Eilean and carrying the enduring legacy of the Radiomir, whose case – first developed in 1935 Ref. 2533 as an underwater watch prototype for the Royal Italian Navy – has since embodied the very essence of the “Captain’s watch”, originally conceived for naval operations and forged to sail the open seas aboard the fiercest ships.
The hand-wound Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760 is defined by its distinctive bronze case in 47 mm – reiterating the iconic size of Ref. 2533 – and a shaded green dial with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers, details that deeply resonate with the world of classic sailing and stand as a testament to Panerai’s maritime soul.
Historically valued in the construction of vintage yachts and ship components for its durability and resistance to seawater, bronze was a crucial material before the widespread adoption of stainless steel. Over the decades, Panerai has cultivated a strong association with it, making it a signature material for the brand, and was also among the first luxury watch brands to widely embrace bronze, particularly with models like the Luminor Submersible Bronzo PAM00382 launched in 2011 at SIHH, solidifying its reputation as a pioneer in bringing this robust and characterful material to high-end horology.
Setting apart from typical watchmaking bronze alloys, Panerai’s bronze boasts a special composition, where the use of pure copper and pure tin promotes the creation of a distinctive patina on the surface. Thanks to this special evolution, this alloy has become a true asset for the Maison, solidifying Panerai’s bronze timepieces as some of the most sought-after.
The aging process of bronze is truly fascinating, as every piece evolves with the owner’s life, acquiring a distinctive appearance: when new, it exhibits a warm, gold-like hue, gradually developing a patina that arises from its interaction with external elements such as air, moisture, heat, and friction. While this patina doesn’t alter the material’s inherent properties, this protective layer imbues each piece with a unique character while safeguarding the material itself.
Turning Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760 over reveals a titanium open case back with sapphire glass, offering a view of the hand-wound P. 3000 calibre, developed in Panerai’s Manufacture in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, to embody the structural robustness and dependability characteristic of Panerai’s earliest instruments for the Italian Navy. Its 16½ lignes diameter follows the tradition of the large movements once used in earlier pocket-watch constructions and then in historic Panerai models, chosen to ensure stability and to support the clear, open dials that characterized the original designs.
The layout of the calibre is immediately recognizable: a wide bridge paired with three smaller companion bridges covers most of the mechanism, secured by thick screws that create a particularly rigid assembly. This approach echoes the philosophy of early hand-wound movements made for military use, in which resistance to shocks and long-term reliability were essential. The three-day power reserve is delivered by two spring barrels in series, allowing the use of long, slender springs that provide a consistent release of energy over time. The calibre contains 21 jewels, with finishing choices that recall the aesthetic language of historic Panerai movements. The P.3000 calibre is equipped with the quick change of time function, a useful feature that allows the hour hand to be easily moved forwards and backwards in steps of exactly one hour. This adjustment can be made without disturbing the minute hand, simply by pulling the watch crown out to its first click position.
The watch is water-resistant up to 10 bar (~100 meters), embodying Panerai’s unwavering dedication to vigorous water resistance, a legacy stemming from its origins as a supplier of diving instruments for the Italian Navy, and features a vintage-led Radiomir design language.
A shaded green dial, with a grainy surface and degradé colouring – lighter at the centre, darker at the perimeter – creates a distinctive backdrop for the blue burnished steel hands. Historically, bluing protected components against corrosion and improved legibility; today, the signature hue is achieved through a controlled oxidation process at around 300°C.
Beige Super-LumiNova® ensures visibility in low light, emitting a green glow in the dark. The dial is topped by a domed acrylic glass crystal, recalling early dive watches fitted with a luminous Radiomir dial developed for the Italian Navy; a second crystal is supplied with the watch and will be replaced once free of charge at any Panerai Boutique or Distributor worldwide.
The timepiece is completed with a dark brown rolled leather strap with an understated vintage construction, and a trapezoidal bronze pin buckle recalling historic Panerai watches once covered by military secrecy.
