Panerai Archives - Archivio Panerai

Short history of “Luminor” and “Radiomir” models

In 1936 the first prototype of Radiomir, was realized. It was characterized by the cushion case, the wire loops and the Rolex movement on Cortebert ebauche. Only in 1938 another prototype was realized. It had a twelve sided bezel with the name of the producer engraved on it. In this model we see for the first time the Panerai dial as it is it appreciated and loved today. Afterwards other modifications were made: the loops were changed, the wires were abandoned, the case was redisegned into its actual aspect, while during the 1940s the special bridge protecting the crown was introduced. It will be patented in 1956 in Bern; thanks to it the waterproof was guaranteed to 200 metres in depth. Another modification concerned the movement. Beside the already mentioned hand wound Rolex movement, also the Angelus hand wound movement was used. It had an 8 days power reserve and it was recognizable thanks to the small seconds dial at nine o’clock. Finally the last modification concerning the dial, which was due to the radioactivity it emitted, abandoned the radium to use the safer tritium for index and hands (Look at the luminescence in the "Glossary" page); just this was the cause of the change of the name from “Radiomir” to “Luminor”.
In 1993/4 was realized in 1,229 units (+ 20 prototypes) the first serial, followed in 1995/6 by the 200 units (+ 12 prototypes) of the "Slytech" S. Stallone ed. and in 1997 by the 14 (12 +2) units of the second serial, the first re-edition of the “Luminor”, with the Unitas-Eta cal. 6497 hand wound movement (21,600 a/h, 16 1/2 lignes, 17 jewels and 41 (now Richemont OP I-II) - 56 (now Richemont OP X-XI) hours power reserve).
(Look at, in the "Certificates and Photos" section, the certificate no. 92/ETA and the movements page) by Officine Panerai of Florence (now Panerai Sistemi), whose watch branch passed in 1997 to the Vendome-Richemont Group (Cartier), who has realized the second re-edition, that is at present on the market, which their waterproof is now guaranteed until 300 metres even if it is tested until 400 metres in depth, even with the AISI 316L steel case.
In 1998 a platinum special edition of the first Radiomir “Radiomir-Replica”(Pam 21) was realized in a numbered production of 60 units, with the wire loops, the 45 (47) mm cushion case and the original Rolex hand wound movement on Cortebert ebauche of that time (ref. 3646).
In 1999 a 44 mm titanium special edition of the Luminor “Marina Militare” was realized in a numbered production of 200 units, continued in the 2000 by another special edition, always of 44mm and in titanium, called “A. Vespucci” produced in a numbered production of 300 units.
From 2002 to 2004, a special edition of the Luminor of the 1950's (ref. 6152/1), called "Luminor 1950", has been realized in a numbered production of 1,950 units with the 47 mm "genuine" steel case, the transparent case-back and the "genuine" ardillon buckle.
From 2003 to 2005, a special edition of the Luminor, called "Luminor Tantalium", has been realized in a numbered production of 300 units with the 44 mm tantalum case, the transparent case-back and the tantalum buckle. (See also the "Curiosity" page).
We must remember that during and after the second world war, Officine Panerai (now Panerai Sistemi of the Bologna's Calzoni family of the Kollmorgen Group (Usa)) produced also the compasses, the depth gauges and the torches (also these passed in 1997 to the Vendome-Richemont Group (Cartier)), for the scuba divers and the assault section of the (Royal) Italian Navy, today called -Com. Sub. In.- "Teseo Tesei" , while today continue to produce various technical instruments for the same Navy and also other instruments for civilian use.
(Look at, in the "Certificates and Photos" section, the certificates no. 59/, 96/ and 102/M.Equip.)
Finally, in the two world wars the (Royal) Italian Navy used, the "Slow Speed Torpedo", then nicknamed "Maiale"/Pig and the "Radiomir Autobright Path".
(Look at, in the "Certificates and Photos" section, the certificates no. 000/S.L.C. and /M.A.S.)
In 2001 the Richemont group (the owner of the O. Panerai) has bought in Neuchatel (Switzerland) a building, in Rue de la Balance no. 4, in the past office of the local cantonal police headquarters, then utilized, from September 2002, like exclusive factory (O. Panerai Manufacture) of the movements for all the O. Panerai production (See the photos in the "Sihh 2003" page in the "Events and Meetings" section).
In Italy, instead, in Florence, from October 2001, has been reopened the "Bottega d'Arte", the first of the monobrand shops (Boutique Panerai) in the world, already existing in 1900, with at the first floor the Historic Archives of the Officine Panerai, in which we can admire all the actual and the period production like, i. e., watches, compasses, depth gauges and torches. The office of the first Boutique Panerai in the world, the "Bottega d'Arte", is located in Piazza S. Giovanni no. 16/r, Tel. 0039-055/215795 and Fax 0039-055/210868 (working hours, Gmt +1), 50129 Florence, Italy, in the rooms of the ex "Orologeria Svizzera", Palazzo Arcivescovile, just in front of the Baptistery.