Panerai has never been a brand that does things quietly. But the Radiomir Viaggio Nel Tempo—Travel in Time in English language—Experience Set manages to be both the loudest and most intimate gesture Panerai has made in recent memory. Marking one hundred years since the Panerai family first opened their Piazza San Giovanni boutique in Florence—a shop that would go on to supply the Royal Italian Navy and launch one of the most recognizable watch designs in the world—the brand is offering thirty collectors a two-watch set and an immersive four-day journey through its Italian heartland.
This is the first time Panerai has paired two watches as a dedicated set within its eXperiences Program. The PAM01729 and PAM01730 cannot be purchased individually. The set arrives in a mahogany presentation case, available from June 2026, with the accompanying experience running from September 15 to 18.
Both references share the imposing 47 mm Radiomir cushion case with slim wire lugs, cone-shaped crowns, and domed plexiglas crystals evoking the original mid-1930s and 1940s prototypes. But beyond silhouette, these are fundamentally different watches—one raw and evolving, the other polished and permanent—that together trace the full arc of Panerai's identity from rugged naval tool-maker to contemporary haute horlogerie house.
Radiomir California Bronzo PAM01729
The PAM01729 marks a Panerai first as it combines the California dial with a bronze case. Both elements carry deep historical resonance, and their convergence on a single reference will be immediately apparent to seasoned collectors. The California dial—Roman numerals on the upper half, Arabic numerals on the bottom half— was originally conceived for functional clarity. In dark underwater conditions, the two distinct halves provided immediate orientation, a design born from military necessity that has since become collector scripture. Legend traces the name to a dial restoration company in the Golden State of California, though whatever its etymology, the configuration remains one of the most visually arresting in horology.
Here, the California layout is rendered on a single-layer black grainy dial with bar markers, minute track, and blue burnished luminescent steel hands set against beige Super-LumiNova that glows green in the dark. The dial is stripped of any logo—bar the discreet "L Swiss L" at six o'clock—evoking the unadorned tool watches Panerai produced under military secrecy for decades.
The 47 mm brushed bronze case, an alloy of pure copper and pure tin, develops a unique patina shaped by each owner's environment. Fresh from the box, it carries a warm red-gold tone; over time, exposure to air, moisture, salt, and skin oils transforms it into something entirely personal. A titanium caseback ring prevents skin contact with the oxidizing bronze, while a sapphire crystal window reveals the movement.
Inside beats the manual-wound P.3000 calibre, manufactured entirely in Neuchâtel. Its three-quarter plate architecture features twin spring barrels in series, delivering a three-day power reserve. The movement comprises 161 components, 21 jewels, a Glucydur variable-inertia balance, Incabloc anti-shock device, and a 12-point star wheel enabling rapid hour adjustment independent of the minute hand. A dark brown rolled leather strap with a trapezoidal bronze buckle completes the military narrative.
Radiomir Platinumtech PAM01730
If the PAM01729 channels Panerai's rugged naval past, the PAM01730 represents its refined present. The 47 mm case is rendered in Platinumtech—a proprietary alloy containing 95% pure platinum, 85% harder than conventional platinum, with superior scratch resistance and approximately 33% more heft than 18K gold.
The dial introduces another first: a black circular-brushed sandwich construction with hand-executed concentric polishing. This rotational brushing technique creates micro-circles that catch and manipulate light, lending the surface a dynamic, almost liquid quality. The tone-on-tone "Radiomir Panerai" engraving is applied directly into the dial—intentionally subtle, nodding to the era when these instruments were classified military equipment. Blue burnished hands and beige Super-LumiNova maintain visual continuity with the bronze sibling.
The manual-wound P.3001/10 calibre, also manufactured in Neuchâtel, features a skeletonized construction across its bridges finished with intricate perlage, revealing the wheelwork and gilded engraving in exquisite detail. A power reserve indicator is positioned on the case back rather than the dial, preserving the front's austere elegance. The calibre delivers three-day autonomy, and a dark brown alligator strap with a polished white gold trapezoidal buckle elevates the presentation.
The Experience
The four-day journey begins in Florence with a centenary exhibition at the Piazza San Giovanni boutique. Participants then retrace the footsteps of Italy's legendary frogmen—the naval commandos whose underwater missions are inextricably linked to the Panerai name—visiting original meeting grounds and diving sites along the Serchio River. A vintage car ride through the Tuscan countryside bridges the historical segments before the expedition culminates at the COMSUBIN base in Porto Venere for an authentic diving experience, followed by a yacht tour along the Ligurian coastline.
Final Thoughts
Pairing these two references, one raw and evolving, the other polished and contemporary, creates a compelling narrative contrast that mirrors Panerai's own journey from Florentine instrument maker to Swiss watch manufacture. The California Bronzo will appeal to purists who want a watch that feels like it was pulled from a 1940s frogman's kit bag. The Platinumtech, on the other hand, will satisfy those who appreciate the same DNA expressed through haute horlogerie finishing. Together, they form a remarkably complete portrait of what Panerai is and where it came from.
At thirty limited sets worldwide, with allocation determined by Panerai, these will land with committed collectors rather than speculators. For the right buyer, the opportunity to walk the ground where Panerai's legend was forged while wearing two of its most historically charged modern references is something no amount of money can typically buy, but here, regardless, the price is quite steep.
Sticker Price €145,000—approx USD 171,000. More info on Panerai here.
