Panerai wristwatch photo blog: PAM330 Radiomir Tourbillon GMT

Thursday, June 10, 2010

PAM330 Radiomir Tourbillon GMT

The Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon GMT PAM330 is essentially the same wristwatch as the Radiomir PAM316. The differences between these two Radiomirs are that the 330 has a 18ct pink gold case and a brown dial, as opposed to the 316 which has a platinum case and a black dial. Another small but noticeable difference is that the rotating dot at the 9 o'clock position is blue on the platinum 316. On the 330 it is the same color as the indices, which is yellowish green (Luminova).

Panerai PAM330 Radiomir Tourbillon GMT

Besides the 316 and 330 there's also a titanium Radiomir Tourbillon GMT with a brown dial, the PAM315. All three models have the same movement and functions, a hand-wound mechanical Panerai Calibre P.2005, with a 6 day power reserve using three spring barrels. The watches offer an impressive number of complications (seconds, second time zone, power reserve indicator on the back, 24h indicator) of which the tourbillon is obviously the most impressive. Nonetheless, Panerai have chosen to make the tourbillon visible only from the back.

Panerai PAM330 Radiomir Tourbillon GMT caseback

The tourbillon is visible through the crystal case back only

The rotating dot at the 9 o'clock position is the only indication of the presence of the tourbillon on the dial. For a moment I thought that Panerai had chosen to leave this route when they introduced the PAM348 at the 2010 SIHH. Because that Radiomir (Lo Scienziato Radiomir 48mm GMT Tourbillon) does have a tourbillon that is visible on the dial. However, the PAM365 which was introduced at the same time does not. Both the 348 and the 365 are part of this post: SIHH 2010 Panerai novelties.

The 330 has a brown sandwich dial and the OP logo on the crown

In case you don't know what a tourbillon is, such devices - invented by Breguet in the late 18th century - were used to eliminate errors in rate of pocket watches that were generally worn in an upright position. In a contemporary mechanical wristwatch a tourbillon offers the best possible accuracy, yet only very few watch brands offer this expensive and impressive complication. Another thing that is very impressive about this beautiful PAM330 is its price, it lists at a staggering 98,000 Euro.