With the release of the Panerai Radiomir Eilean, the Italian watchmaker manages to marry two historic events in the brand’s history. This new limited-edition timepiece honors the Radiomir series, dating from 1936 with Panerai’s iconic yacht, Eilean, which hit the water in 1936, as well. The Panerai Radiomir Eilean is a striking tribute to the original Radiomir, created as a diving watch for members of the Italian Royal Navy. (The reference takes its name from a patented radium paste the company developed to help make its military-grade tools more legible.) Panerai acquired the 70-foot Eilean in 2006 when it was completely restored by former Panerai CEO Angelo Bonati. The yacht now travels the world as something of a silent ambassador for the brand.
Panerai’s Radiomir Eilean is housed in a 45mm cushion-shaped case that features the brand’s special “patina steel” treatment, designed to make the case look like it has been gently worn for decades right out of the box. This latest Panerai Radiomir is powered by a hand-wound mechanical P.6000 caliber movement that offers 72-hours of power reserve. Water-resistant to 100 meters, the Radiomir Eilean is equipped with Incabloc anti-shock protection to support the balance wheel—just in case the watch is dropped or suffers other impacts. SuperLuminova applied to the hands and indexes glows a bright green in the dark, mimicking the functionality of the original watch.
Tying the two symbols together, the Radiomir Eilean’s dial features striations and a variegated brown finish that evokes the yacht’s teak deck, while the caseback bears an inscription that reads “Eilean 1936” and is identical to one located on the ship’s boom. The limited-edition timepiece will be available in 449 examples each year, reflecting the boat’s sailing number.
For another of Panerai’s latest releases, check out Panerai’s Submersible Chrono flyback Jimmy Chin Edition.
