Heritage frequently dictates design. In the watch world, brands do their best to both recall history as well as keep up with horology. Old designs with new movements have been the theme of the past few years and Panerai is no exception. Known for their Italian Navy heritage, Panerai brings back the 1940s and 1950s with their cases, crystals, and dials, but there is no doubt their movements are circa 2014. The latest example of this is the Radiomir 1940 three day automatic PAM 572.
At 45mm in diameter, the PAM 572 is a tribute to the cases of the 1940s. This mono-block stainless steel case is finished in satin with a high polish bezel. Inside lies another attribute known by all Paneristi (Panerai enthusiasts), a sandwich dial. This layered dial consists of a layer of SuperLuminova covered by a cutout dial displaying the numbers and markers for extreme legibility when the lights go out. The light cream complexion of the SuperLuminova layer as well as hands make for a refined vintage look.
Under the dial is where Panerai has taken this piece to the next level. Introduced here is their in house caliber P.4000. This three day power reserve automatic is wound by a micro-rotor made of Tungsten allowing for a considerable thinner movement, and much better view from the back. Micro-rotors are used by the likes of Patek Philippe and Parmigiani among others. The P.4000 is also fitted to stop the balance wheels upon pulling out the crown for increased accuracy when setting the timepiece.
Panerai continues to exemplify classic styling with modern day movement technology and the PAM 572 is a tribute to that. In-house movements are becoming more common, increasing competition among brands. Introducing a caliber such as the P.4000 with a micro-rotor shows that Panerai is very much in the game.
