Ivory dial chronographs are a rarity for Panerai, making the Radiomir 1940 PAM00518 especially striking at first glance. Crafted in platinum and limited to only 50 pieces, it represents the pinnacle of the Radiomir 1940 Chronograph collection.
The dial design traces its lineage back to the 1936 Radiomir, featuring a classic railway-style minute track paired with a tachymeter scale. At 3 o’clock sits the minute counter, and at 9 o’clock, the small seconds. The ivory-colored dial combines baton hour markers at 12 and 6 o’clock with dot-shaped luminous markers for the other hours — a detail we especially admire for balancing legibility and elegance.
With a 45mm polished platinum case, the watch occupies the perfect midpoint in the Radiomir lineup. Its cushion-shaped case and wire lugs reflect the transitional design language between the 1940s and 1950s. The chronograph pushers and case are both finished to a mirror polish, enhancing its refined vintage appeal.
Inside ticks the OP XXV hand-wound movement, based on the legendary Minerva 13-22 caliber, renowned for its column-wheel chronograph architecture and gooseneck fine regulator. Beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour, it offers a 55-hour power reserve. The sapphire caseback reveals beautifully executed Geneva stripes and meticulous hand-finishing.
Among all the chronographs unveiled at SIHH that year, this is one of our favorites — a model that masterfully bridges military heritage and haute horlogerie craftsmanship, and one well worth considering for collectors.
RADIOMIR 1940 CHRONOGRAPH PLATINO – 45mm Panerai Chronograph Watch
Polished platinum case, 45mm diameter, sapphire crystal and caseback, OP XXV manual-wind movement, 18,000 vph, 55-hour power reserve, alligator leather strap, white gold buckle, water resistant to 50m.
Complication: Chronograph
