Officine Panerai Radiomir PAM 00210

Marina Militare. In 1936, the Italian Navy asked Panerai to develop a watch that could withstand extreme conditions and could be easy to read underwater and in the dark. In 1938, Panerai developed the first Radiomir with a large 47mm face, large luminous hands and Arabic numerals. The name Radiomir came from the self-luminescent material used to paint the hands and numerals on the dial of the watch.

PAM 21 dial.

By 1993 Panerai stopped providing watches to the Italian Navy, as they were no longer cost-effective. Panerai instead offered its product to the civilian market. In 1997 Panerai recreated the watch it originally designed for the Italian Navy, which was renamed the Officine Panerai Radiomir PAM 00021. Like many of the pre-commercial Panerai watches, the PAM 00021 came with a Rolex movement, in this case a hand wound Calibre 618 movement.

PAM 21 case back. An optional covered platinum case back was also provided.

While maintaining the appearance of the original, the materials used in its construction were upgraded. Instead of the steel and acrylic used in the original Radiomir, the PAM 00021 was constructed of platinum and had a sapphire crystal glass. The hands were also not the same as in the original, the PAM 00021's hand being made in gold.

It is very difficult to acquire one of these PAM 00021's today. It was only produced in 1997 with a production run limited to 60 pieces.


Officine Panerai Radiomir PAM 00210. The closest you can get to a historic Radiomir these days is the PAM 210. The PAM 210 falls into what Panerai calls their "Historic" line of watches. The PAM 210 is a also "base" model, Radiomir. "Base" is the term often used by Panerai afficianados to refer to Panerai watches with hour and minute hands only.


The PAM 210 is similar to the PAM 21, but there are several differences. The PAM 210 has a 45mm diameter case, as opposed to the 47mm of the PAM 21. This makes it less of a replica to the original 1938 Radiomir. However, it is constructed out of stainless steel rather than precious metals making it closer to the Marina Malitare issue watch.


It uses a manual winding mechanism, the Panerai OP X Calibre which produces 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 Hz). The Panerai OP X Calibre is a Panerai modified ETA 6497 movement. While this is less than the 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 Hz) produced by Rolex and other high end Swiss watches. The PAM 0210 is water resistant up to 100 meters and is protected by the Incabloc anti shock device. The movement is visible through a clear crystal caseback.


Officine Panerai Radiomir PAM 00231. A 18 ct. Pink Gold version of the PAM 210 is also available. The PAM 231 is identical to the PAM 210, except for the use of gold in building the case and the buckle.

About Panerai. Officine Panerai was founded in 1860 in Florence, Italy by Giovani Panerai. Panerai was acquired by Swiss watchmaker Richemont S. A. in 1997.