This year, has been a special year for Panerai with the release of four new watches fitted with strikingly beautiful blue sun-brushed dials. These four new watches are only available through the Panerai Boutique network and worthy of checking out. The new models sporting this gorgeous blue dials are the Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM 690 —one of our favorites, and with hands-on review coming up soon—, the Radiomir 1940 10 Days GMT Automatic 'Oro Rosso' PAM 659 we are now reviewing, the Luminor 1950 GMT 3 Days Automatic PAM 688 and lastly the Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic PAM 689 we reviewed here.
The new Panerai Radiomir 1940 10 Days GMT Automatic 'Oro Rosso' —red gold in Italian— PAM 659 is pretty much the Radiomir 1940 red gold version of the PAM 689, but with a slightly different movement inside.
The Dial
Just like the new Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic PAM 689, the new Radiomir 1940 10 Days GMT Automatic 'Oro Rosso' PAM 659, features the GMT complication along with a 10-day linear power reserve indicator. This sunburst/sun-brushed blue dial is simply out of this world and like we said it before on our review of the PAM 689, the dial is a true chameleon depending on lighting conditions.
The dial on the PAM 659, features the traditional sandwich dial construction with a seconds subdial with superimposed am/pm apertures at 9 o'clock, 10-day linear power reserve indicator at 6 and a date aperture at 3 o'clock. Just as with other GMT Panerais, the date can be advanced or reversed as necessary when traveling across the day changing line.
The Case
The new Panerai Radiomir 1940 10 Days GMT Automatic 'Oro Rosso' PAM 659 features a fully polished cushion-shaped 45 mm Radiomir 1940 case. As you guys know, the Radiomir 1940 case is now available in four different case sizes: 42 mm, 45 mm, 47 mm and 48 mm —only for the black ceramic PAM 577.
For those of you concerned with the case size, the new Radiomir 1940 PAM 659 is actually one of the most wearable Panerai cases, even for those with smaller wrists. The 18K red gold case —75% gold and 25% copper— is fully polished throughout and it features the iconic OP engraved screw-down crown as well as the soldered lugs instead of detachable wire lugs as seen on the Radiomir collection. The watch is water resistant to a 50 meters and fitted with a slightly domed sapphire crystal without anti-reflective treatment.
The Movement
The beating heart inside the new Officine Panerai Radiomir 1940 10 Days GMT Automatic 'Oro Rosso' PAM 659 with sun-brushed blue dial is the in-house automatic calibre P.2003/10 fully developed and executed by Panerai in Neuchâtel. This automatic movement is slightly different to the Panerai automatic calibre P. 2003 —powering the PAM 689— as it offers a remarkable level of skeletonization on its bridges, barrels and its oscillating weight.
This movement, is composed of 293 parts, three barrels and 25 jewels and beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph to provide a power reserve of at least 10 days. The movement also features the seconds-reset mechanism for exact time setting. The movement is fully visible via the display case back and is much nicer looking than the P.2003 thanks to the skeletonization work on it. As far as it goes to the skeletonization, we can tell you that the work is simply up to par with the finishing and detail on Audemars Piguet or Vacheron Constantin.
The Strap
The Panerai PAM 659 is equipped with an elegant dark blue alligator leather strap with beige contrast stitching and fitted with a deployant double folding clasp. The strap matches the dial perfectly and it is very comfortable on the wrist.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, Panerai Radiomir 1940 10 Days GMT Automatic 'Oro Rosso' PAM 659 the watch wears slightly smaller than its actual size and more like a 44 mm watch on a 7.25-7.5" wrist. The wrist presence is simply out of this world thanks to the combination of its 18K red gold case and its strikingly beautiful sunburst blue dial. For those of you concerned about the weight, there's nothing to worry about as this watch has a total weight of only 190 grams —only 40-50 grams heavier than a stainless steel Panerai. This watch is only available at Panerai boutiques and in a limited series of only 200 pieces. Perhaps, one of the nicest looking 18K red gold Panerais out there; however, when it comes to other gold Panerai timepieces, the price is a little bit steep in our opinion.
Sticker Price $35,900 USD. For more info on Officine Panerai click here and for the Panerai Blue Dials click here.
