The most complicated watches released by Officine Panerai at SIHH 2015 were the two ‘equation of time’ models in stainless steel – the PAM516 in the Radiomir 1940 case (PAM516) which will be in a limited edition of 200, and the PAM601 in the Luminor 1950 case and have a limitation of 100 pieces.

So what is the ‘equation of time’ complication that is shown via a linear indicator above 6 o’clock? Put simply, it shows the difference between two types of solar time – the ‘mean’ solar time that we are used to using, and the ‘true’ solar time which directly tracks the sun’s motion. This difference is called the ‘equation of time’, and it is automatically set when the date and month are set. What is its everyday use? Perhaps not much, but then again a tourbillon or a minute repeater doesn’t, when it comes down to it, make much practical difference to one’s daily life either, but they are cool things to have.

Specifications for both models are as follows.

Radiomir 1940 Equation of Time 8 Days Acciaio

The PAM516 comes in a 48mm polished stainless steel case and will be produced in a limited edition of 200 units. It contains the manual-wind P.2002/E movement which has a 28,800 VPH and a power reserve of eight days. The functions are – time, small seconds, date, month, equation of time, and a power reserve indicator visible through the open caseback. The dial is black with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers, and it has the classic Panerai ‘sandwich’ design. It comes on a black Alligator strap.

Luminor 1950 Equation of Time 8 Days Acciaio

The PAM601 comes in a 47mm polished stainless steel case and will be produced in a limited edition of 100 units. It contains the manual-wind P.2002/E movement which has a 28,800 VPH and a power reserve of eight days. The functions are – time, small seconds, date, month, equation of time, and a power reserve indicator visible through the open caseback. The dial is black with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers, and it has the classic Panerai ‘sandwich’ design. It comes on a brown Alligator strap.

This year’s two ‘equation of time’ watches are not Panerai’s first forays into ‘EOT’ – in 2010 this complication also appeared in the L’Astronomo Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Titanio, L’Astronomo Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Oro Rosa and the L’Astronomo Luminor 1950 Equation of Time Tourbillon Oro Bianco. These manual-wind pieces containing the Calibre P.2005/G were in a considerably bigger 50mm case as well as having another complication.

Categories: Limited Editions, Panerai, SIHH 2015, Switzerland, Watch Profile, watches

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