Part of a recently unveiled quartet of limited editions with metallic blue dials, the Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days (PAM00690) is essentially a more elaborate Radiomir 1940 Marina Militare (PAM587). Instead of the traditional military-style black dial, the new Radiomir 1940 has a bright blue dial with gilded hands.

Distinctly more modern and glossy than the usual Panerai, the Radiomir 1940 PAM690 is not a Panerai for traditionalists. But it is in keeping with the brand’s evolution from remakes of military watches towards timepieces sporting a civilian-friendly look, with the extra-thin Luminor Due being a case in point. Given Panerai’s track record, if the metallic blue shade is a hit, expect many more in the same colour next year.

The dial is rich blue with a sun ray-brushed finish, and typically for a Panerai, features a sandwich construction. That means the upper blue dial plate sits on a lower dial plate painted with Super-Luminova, leaving the luminous paint to glow through cut-outs for the hour markers. And the Super-Luminova is ecru, a beige colour that approximates the look of aged radium found on vintage Panerai (the Radiomir moniker comes from the word “radium”).

The case is stainless steel and 47mm in diameter, fitted with a domed sapphire crystal. The display back reveals the P.3000 movement that is Panerai’s interpretation of the pocket watch movements found in vintage Panerai watches. It’s the same calibre found in most hand-wound, 47mm Panerai watches, including last year’s Luminor 1950 Titanio DLC.

The P.3000 is a big, 16 1/2 ligne (about 37mm) movement with a largish balance wheel that’s hand-wound with a three day power reserve. Notably, it’s the first generation P.3000 with a single bridge for the gear train, and not the second generation with separate bridges that made its debut on the “tropical” dial PAM662 and PAM663.

The Radiomir 1940 PAM690 is fitted to an Assolutamente strap in tan, made of a cowhide treated to quickly develop a patina, meaning it will darken rapidly with use. And like all the other watches in the blue dial series, the PAM690 is presented in a cherry wood box lacquered a dark blue.

Pricing and availability 

The Radiomir 1940 PAM690 is a “Special Edition”, which is Panerai lingo for a limited edition – 500 will be made. It’s available only at Panerai boutiques, the Radiomir 1940 3 Days Acciaio PAM00690 is priced at US$8900 or S$13,100.

At just 56 grammes – that’s just under 2 oz – including the strap, the Rado HyperChrome Ultra Light lives up to its name. A lot more watch than its trifling weight suggests, the HyperChrome Ultra Light is made of novel materials typically found in more expensive watches, including a movement with aluminium bridges.

Best known for its glossy ceramic watches, Rado is one of the two watchmakers in Switzerland that makes its own ceramic cases (the other is Chanel, via its subsidiary G&F Chatelain). The HyperChrome Ultra Light is made of ceramic, but of an exotic sort, with the case is a combination of silicon nitride and titanium.

The exotic case

Silicon nitride is a type of ceramic produced by heating silicon in a nitrogen atmosphere, creating an extremely hard and light material. It’s half the weight of steel, but several times as hard, making it essentially scratch-resistant.

Used for the case middle and back (the bezel and middle are a single, sintered piece), silicon nitride is dark grey with a hint of blue. Titanium inserts, distinguished by their lighter grey tone, are inlaid on the sides of the case. The crown is also titanium.

Though the case is a largish 43mm in diameter, the watch feels significantly smaller and needles to say, exceptionally light on the wrist (save for the strap, more on that later).

Aluminium movement

Even more intriguing is the aluminium movement. It’s an ETA A31.L01, an automatic that’s an upgraded version of the ETA 2892, with the primary improvement being the extended 65 hour power reserve. While the movement is mechanically identical to the A31.L01 found inside other watches, including the recent Longines RailRoad, it is unique – all its bridges are made of black anodised aluminium.

The use of aluminium helps keep the watch light, since aluminium is significantly less dense than brass, the traditional material for bridges. Though not new in watch movements, aluminium is rare and typically found in movements inside extremely pricey watches from the likes of F.P. Journe and Richard Mille.

The least striking bit of the watch is, unfortunately, the dial. It features a concentric motif that sweeps downwards on one side, making it reminiscent of a brushstroke.

But the hands are plain and baton-shaped, making them uninteresting. And the date window afflicts the dial, sitting too close to the centre of the dial, and also looking very out of place.

Another ill-advised detail is the dark grey NATO-style canvas strap. Since a NATO strap is made up of two layers of canvas, one of which loops under the watch, it makes the watch thicker and clunky. A thin rubber strap would be ideal.

The HyperChrome Ultra Light is pricey relative to the average Rado, but a lot of watch for the money – despite being just ten sheets of paper – given the novel materials.

Pricing and availability 

Limited to 500 pieces, the HyperChrome Ultra Light (ref. 766.0069.3.111) is priced at US$2850 or S$4420. It will be available in the last quarter of 2016 at Rado retailers and boutiques.