Panerai has just released a timepiece that is quite stunning, and if you’re a fan of yacht’s this is sure to peak your interest. This latest timepiece not only makes a reference back to Panerai’s 1936 model the Radiomir but also the 1936 yacht Eilean designed by William Fife III of Scotland’s Fife boatyard. Panerai brings together these two iconic designs to create the Radiomir Eilean, a beautiful modern timepiece with a slight vintage appeal.
Eilean 1956 
Eilean 1970
The 1936 Radiomir was an instrument designed to be used in marine missions. The timepiece got the name “Radiomir” thanks to the material patented by Guido Panerai, which illuminates dials and sights. The design of the original Radiomir has passed on from generation to generation relatively unchanged, which is why we see the modern version looking very similar to the original. Like the old saying goes, “if it’s not broken, why change it?”.
So how exactly does the 1936 sailing yacht Eilean fit into Panerai’s story? The Eilean is famous for having sailed the seas of Europe and the Caribbean for decades before essentially going out of commission in the 21st century. This is where Panerai stepped in and acquired the Eilean in 2006. Soon after, the Italian watchmaker then restored the sailing yacht to its former glory.
Design:
The Panerai Radiomir Eilean features a 45mm case that is made of patina steel with a matte finish that gives off a softer shine when compared to normal steel. Original Radiomir 1936 vintage-style design cues are shown on this piece with the golden finish hands on the sandwich dial. The large numerals and indices are done in beige and coated with superluminova to give off a green glow, which is a reference to the original Radiomir model.
The dial surface has striations and a variegated brown finish which resembles the teak deck of the Eilean yacht. Another reference’s to the yacht includes the inscription “Eilean 1936” on the caseback along with the dragon emblem which decorates the boat’s hull shown on the left-hand side of the case.
For the watch strap, Panerai kept to its Italian roots by having the strap made from leather produced in Tuscany, which also was where the brand was born. Panerai states that the strap features painstaking stitching as it’s inspired by the lacing found on the sails of the Eilean. The stitching can only be applied by hand, with a particular technique that will have the watch strap withstand the rigours of harsh conditions while still keeping its beauty intact.
Movement:
The movement used inside this new Panerai Radiomir Eilean is the hand-wound mechanical P.6000 calibre. Designed and developed in Panerai’s manufacture in Neuchatel, the P.6000 calibre movement has a frequency of 21,600 VpH and a power reserve of approximately 3 days.
As part of the celebration of Italianità, which is a concept describing Italian culture, style and identity, the Panerai Radiomir Eilean will be released in July 2021 and will be limited to only 449 pieces each year.
Reference: PAM01243
Specification:
- Case: 45mm
- Case Material: Engraved patina steel case, patina steel bezel and engraved patina steel caseback
- Dial: Brown with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers
- Crystal: Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Movement: Hand-wound Mechanica P.6000 Calibre
- Power reserve: minimum of 3 days (72 Hours)
- Strap: Cuoio Toscano calf leather dark brown with lateral stitching and “Eilean” logo embossed and with a Trapozodial patina steel buckle
