Although most timepieces from Panerai tend to be of that “any shape as you like as long as it is cushion” style, the new Radiomir 3 Days Platino (PAM 373) stands out from the crowd with its rather unusual dial layout that pays homage to vintage timepieces of the pre-WWII era.
The new member of the Radiomir collection is offered with its usual sandwich-style dial, but has the signature Arabic numerals replaced with baton-shaped hour markers: three singles at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, and a doubled one at 12 o’clock.
As usual, the bars and dots are neither printed nor applied: they are cut through the top layer of the dial to make visible the second layer, which is covered with generous amounts of Superluminova substance. The design not only allows the Swiss-based Italian brand to further differentiate from other watchmakers but also provides the dial with more depth while not ruining its deliberately simplistic beauty.
What is most interesting about this layout is that it mimics a design study that has never been produced by Panerai as a production model: only one watch was ever made (there was a second version that also featured a subsidiary seconds sub-dial and it also never make it the production line.)
Very nice. Also, very fresh and unusual.
Like the Luminor 1950 3 Days (PAM 372) model that was, too, revealed at the SIHH 2011 event, the PAM 373 is powered by the Calibre P.3000 hand-wound movement, which is made solely in-house, equipped with a pair of spring barrels and can run for as long as 72 hours after fully wound.
Although the mechanism still can’t compete with double-barrel movements from such monsters as IWC that can go for a whole week and more, it still makes the hand-wound mechanism a more practical choice for those who prefer to keep their collection of timekeepers in constant rotation: as long as you don’t forget it for more than three days, the watch will still be good the next time you get it out of the safe.
As the name implies, the 3 Days Platino is delivered in a huge cushion-shaped platinum case 47 mm wide. Predictably, on a normal wrist, the extremely oversized case will take all available space (and probably then some.) However, thanks to its moderately short set of wire-style lugs that are welded to the case, the chocolate brown leather strap (it, by the way, features a surprisingly -for its overall brutal style- elegant contrasting stitching of light-brown color) will probably still hug your wrist in a comfortable way. Of course, it is recommended to first try this (or a similar model with the same proportions) PAM 373 Platino model on your wrist before ordering one online (although it may not be the best idea to buy online a watch that has an MSRP of $48,000.)
See also: Panerai Luminor 1950 Chrono Monopulsante Left-Handed 8 Days Titanio (PAM 345)
Photos: Officine Panerai
Panerai Radiomir 3 Days Platino (PAM 373) specification
Price: $48,000 (MSRP)
Movement: Hand-wound, Calibre P.3000, in-house, 160 parts, two spring barrels, 21 jewels, 21,600 vph, 37.22 mm in diameter, 5.30 mm thick, Swiss Made
Functions: Hours, minutes
Power reserve: 72 hours
Case: Platinum
Shape: Cushion
Bezel shape: Round
Size: 47.00 mm
Lug width: 26 mm
Dial: Brown
Hands: Gold, luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Personalized alligator strap and large-size white gold buckle
Crystal: Plexiglas, 2.80 mm thick
Back: Sapphire