Panerai has earned a reputation not only for its immediately recognisable watch cases, but also for its minimalist luminescent dials. Enclosed in magnifying glass spheres, their graphical power is all the more arresting. Two new versions of this table clock have just been released: the PAM00641, with its mysterious S.L.C. dial which dates back to the 1930s, and which was probably one of the designs developed for the Italian Navy, although it was never adopted; and the PAM00651 with its CALIFORNIA dial which (no help from its name) was developed in 1936 and fitted to the first watches supplied to the Italian Navy. Its unique graphic design boldly juxtaposes Roman and Arabic numerals with index markers, along with a jaunty triangle at 12 o’clock. The spheres conceal a manually wound P5000 calibre with 8-day power reserve.

Source: Europa Star December/January 2016 Magazine Issue