Panerai Watches

Another milestone in the story of used Panerai watches came out of a need of the Royal Italian Navy. Panerai had been supplying high precision instruments for the national navy for many years, but the creation of the Radiomir was a pivotal moment. The major development was a powder, radium-based, that gave wonderful luminosity to device and instrument dials. The patent referencing this key invention dates back to 1916. The Radiomir patent, important because of the incredible luminosity and underwater adhesive qualities of the substance, stands as the first of many such patents that are dotted through the history of the brand. It’s a sign of the innovation that has been central to the Panerai story.

The first prototype of what is now known as the Radiomir was supplied to the Italian navy’s commandos from the First Submarine Group Command. If you look at used Panerai watches, you will notice that the more modern versions of the Radiomir retain several of the features that adorned the prototype. The large (47mm) cushion-shaped case in steel, the luminescent numerals and hand-wound mechanical movement all remain, as done the famous strap, which is water-resistant and can be worn over a diving suit.

But we certainly wouldn’t want to suggest that used Panerai watches all about the Radiomir and nothing else. There is a wealth of other fantastic models that might take your fancy from the Panerai roster.