The translucent blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea often conjure images of beach towels draped over deckchairs, shade umbrellas and Aperol Spritz, offering sunbakers relief from a cloudless sky, and small fishing boats rocking back and forth not far from shore. It is this idyllic scene that Panerai has embraced with their latest collection of limited edition Radiomir Mediterraneo pieces (reminiscent of their 2018 collection). The PAM01144 Radiomir 42mm Mediterraneo Edition and the PAM01078 Radiomir 45mm Mediterraneo Edition are both replete with rich blue fumé dials that seek to offer a moment of tranquility when you aren’t on the Amalfi Coast enjoying an afternoon apéritif.
PAM01144
Looking at the larger of the two watches, the PAM01078 Radiomir 45mm Mediterraneo Edition has its size considerably offset by the use of brushed titanium to case the watch. This makes it substantially lighter on the wrist than steel. In comparison, the PAM01144 Radiomir 42mm Mediterraneo Edition has 3mm shaved from its diameter and is cased in polished 316L steel, which has the effect of altering the proportions slightly from its larger sibling, and a case that will actually gleam in the sunlight. Both watches feature the sunburst brushed blue fumé dials, khaki-tone lume for the hour markers and a seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock. Thanks to its larger 45mm case and, by extension, a larger dial, the PAM01078 has a 9 Arabic numeral just outside the seconds sub-dial, while the smaller PAM01144 does not.
The cushion case itself is classic Panerai, a shape that has captured the imaginations of many as a robust tool watch. The titanium case is much more subdued thanks to the darker metal and the brushed finishing, while the smaller steel case certainly offers more glint to your wrist. Powering the 45mm PAM01078 is the automatic P.4000 mechanical calibre, complete with micro-rotor and 3 days of power reserve. The 42mm PAM01144 houses the hand-wound P.1000 mechanical calibre, which also delivers the full 3 days of power reserve. Both are rated to 100m of water resistance, and feature a sapphire caseback with a wave motif.
Panerai Radiomir Mediterraneo collection price
The PAM01078 Radiomir 45mm Mediterraneo Edition is AUD $16,200
The PAM01144 Radiomir 42mm Mediterraneo Edition is AUD $11,600
