Manufacturer: Panerai Year: 2010 Reference No: PAM00339 Case No: DT1852017 Model Name: Radiomir Composite Marina Militare 8 Giorni Material: Composite Calibre: Mechanical, P.2002/7, 21 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Brown Panerai calf leather strap Clasp/Buckle: Composite Panerai buckle Dimensions: 47 mm. width Signed:Case, dial and movement signed, case further engraved M0017/1500 Accessories: With Panerai Certificate confirming the present watch is numbered 17 of a limited edition of 1,500 pieces, International Guarantee Certificate dated 22 October 2010, instruction manual, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
First introduced at the SIHH in 2010, Panerai Composite is a synthetic ceramic that is the result of an electrochemical ceramisation process of aluminum. This special material is harder than metals like steel and titanium and is exceptional for its lightness, strength and durability. The watch is fitted with a sandwich dial that is also dark brown, perfectly matching the case with matte brown appearance of great evenness. Offered in excellent overall condition, the present watch is numbered 17 of a limited edition of 1500 pieces only.
Known for its robust designs and large case sizes, Officine Panerai was established in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai in Florence, Italy. Around 1900, Giovanni's grandson Guido Panerai took over, and Panerai became the supplier to the Regia Marina — the Royal Italian Navy. After supplying the navy with high-precision instruments for a number of years, Officine Panerai created Radiomir, a radium-based powder that gives luminosity to the dials of sighting instruments and devices. By 1936, the Royal Italian Navy approached Panerai again with the request to design a watch resistant to extreme underwater conditions. The watch they created became known as the "Radiomir".
Panerai's watches made during the early twentieth century era were comprised of cases designed and manufactured by Rolex SA, with Cortébert, a Swiss manufacturer, supplying the majority of their movements. The most recognizable designs from the firm are the Radiomir and Luminor. To date, vintage models from the first half of the 1900s, such as the reference 3646 and 6152 models, remain the most desirable among collectors.