Home » Panerai Watches » Panerai Unveils Its First Movement with a Micro-Rotor Featured in New Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic Models
Panerai has created its first ever movement which features a decentralized winding rotor, otherwise known as micro-rotor in its new proprietary P.4000 automatic movement. The trait is important since it allows significant reduction of the movement’s profile, without compromising its performance. New type of caliber is premiered in a new model from the Radiomir 1940 series which features three days of power reserve. Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic will be sold in steel or red gold housing. Apart from the difference in the material of the case, two iterations feature different dial and strap colors, as well as different levels of movement finishing.
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Aitomatic Oro Rosso Watch
Caliber P.4000, the First of its Kind by Panerai
Recently held Watches & Wonders exhibition in Hong Kong was the venue for the premiere of the Panerai’s new type of movement, as well as the new model it is equipped with. The new caliber dubbed P.4000 was made entirely in-house in the brand’s workshops in Neuchatel. It is the first among the company’s calibers to include an off-centered micro-rotor. This sort of feature is significant since this type of rotor is smaller than the diameter of the movement and it is moved to the side. Due to the use of the technical solution, it is possible to fit a small oscillating weight directly in the movement, instead of being placed over it. The end result is an automatic caliber with a thin profile and the thickness of just 3.95 mm. By the way, its diameter is 13 ¾ lignes which is equal to 31 mm.
Caliber P.4000 Movement Side
Caliber P.4000 with 31 jewels possesses a balance-cock secured in place with the means of two supports, which is also a very useful trait, since it offers much more structural integrity than the common single support. The movement with a large bridge has a balance wheel which operates at the frequency of 28,800 and it is a variable inertia type of balance wheel. This means that it is made with screws that allow the fine-tuning of the movement’s rate without the fear of disrupting the relation between balance spring and the bridge. Moreover, Caliber P.4000 is supplied with two barrels in series which are wound by its bi-directional off-centered rotor. When fully charged, twin barrels store enough energy to keep the movement ticking for at least three days. Otherwise, it should be said that the movement which has 203 parts altogether includes KIF Parashock shock protection device for better resistance to physical shocks.
Two Levels of Finishing
As it has been mentioned, there are also two available levels of decoration of the novel movement. The less ornate type that can be found in steel models is made with a winding rotor made of tungsten alloy and additionally decorated with a relief on a matte surface. This version also has its bridges with horizontal brushed finish, as well as with blue engraving. The more lavish version of the caliber that can be found in a red gold variant of the novel watch has its micro-rotor made of 22 K yellow gold and with clue de Paris hobnail motif which is further embellished with polished details in relief that stand on a brushed surface. Its bridges are with circular brushing, as well as with gilded engraving.
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Aitomatic Acciaio Watch Dial
Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic in Orro Rosso & Acciaio Versions
Apart from being the premier movement with a decentralized rotor, Caliber P.4000 is interesting because it is actually the first self-winding movement in any of the models from the relatively newly introduced Radiomir 1940 series which is often described as some sort of cross-over between Radiomir and Luminor collections. The first model to feature the caliber which is the brand’s first in two different categories is, as it is Panerai’s practice, named after its dominant characteristics – Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic. Additionally, the names of the variations add Italian words that designate the case material – Oro Rosso (red gold) and Acciaio (stainless steel) at the end of the watch’s name. Though the new caliber is definitely in the spot-light, let us share a bit more details about the watch which premiers it.
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Aitomatic Oro Rosso Watch Back
Brown or Black-Faced
Regardless of the material of the housing, it features polished finishing and a fixed bezel with the same sort of finishing. The crystal used in the model is 1.7 mm thick sapphire made from corundum and treated with a glare-proof coating. Sapphire is also found on the transparent rear side of the case which offers water resistance to 100 meters. The novel timekeeper offers the distinctive Panerai aesthetics visible on its dial which features a small seconds counter right next to the nine o’clock Arabic numeral, one of four featured ones. The sandwich-type of dial (meaning that there is a lower plain of the dial which is exposed through openings, instead of the indices being applied on a higher plane) also incorporates bar shaped hour markers. The only difference between two versions when it comes to its dial is in the color. The red gold version is paired with a brown face, while the steel one has it in black color.
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Aitomatic Oro Rosso Watch Profile
Additionally, each of the variations has a strap in the color that matches the dial. When it comes to the type of the attachment, it should be said that it is a personalized alligator strap which locks with a polished buckle in the material of the case.
