SIHH 2017 is just two months away and Panerai is offering a taste of what it has in store. The brand is persisting with its strengths, and delving into its archives once again.

The Panerai Radiomir 3 Days Acciaio PAM00685 and PAM00687 are based on the 1930s Radiomir ref. 3646 prototypes produced for trials conducted by the Italian navy, distinguished by 12-sided bezels engraved “Officine Panerai – Brevettato”, which means “Panerai Workshop – Patented”.

On the vintage originals the bezels were essentially a mirror of the screw-down case back, ensuring water tightness on the front and back. Manufactured by Rolex – many early watches are signed by the Swiss watchmaker – the hermetically sealed cases were a key feature of these early Panerai watches.

This is not the first time Panerai has installed a 12-sided bezel on its modern watches – the distinction goes to the precious metal and pricey PAM00521 and PAM00522 launched in 2013 – though the engraved lettering is a new feature.

Two versions are available: the PAM00685 with a black dial, and the PAM00687 with a “tropical” dial that mimics the look of the faded dials on the vintage watches. Notably, Panerai unveiled a pair of limited editions earlier this year with faded grey dials, yet another version of the “tropical” look.

While the dial colours differ, both dials are constructed in the same sandwich style, with engraved logos. The dials are comprised of two plates, an upper plate with cutouts for the numerals and hour markers, and a lower plate covered in luminescent Super-Luminova.

Likewise the pair share the same 47 mm steel case and hand-wound P.3000. That’s Panerai’s replacement for the Unitas in its basic, manually wound watches, featuring a three-day power reserve and an independently adjustable hour hand for setting the time when crossing time zones.

The PAM 685 and PAM 687 are delivered with a spare Plexiglas crystal, a feature common to many vintage-inspired Panerai models, as well as a book detailing the equipment issued to the Italian navy, including Panerai watches and instrument naturally.

The pair are Special Editions, Panerai-speak for limited editions, with 1000 pieces to be made for each. The price tag is US$9800.

Update February 4, 2017: Retail price added.

Having supplied the wristwatches used in Interstellar, the hit 2014 movie starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, Hamilton recruited the film’s production designer, Nathan Crowley, to create a watch inspired by the movie. The result is the ODC X-03, a striking wristwatch inspired by the Endurance, the spacecraft that carries its star studded crew though a wormhole to another galaxy in search of a new home for mankind.

Hamilton’s involvement with science fiction films began with Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, when the watchmaker supplied custom made timepieces to the cast of the 1968 film. The pace picked up in the 20th century, with characters in Independence Day, Men in Black, and most recently, Interstellar.

Hamilton’s second inventive wristwatch of 2016 after the swivelling Jazzmaster Face 2 Face II, the ODC X-03 is the latest in a trio of Hamilton watches inspired by science fiction movies. The first was the X-01 of 2006, a remake of the watch used in 2001: A Space Odyssey, followed by the triple time zone X-02 launched in 2009.

The Hamilton X-01 (left) and X-02

Like it predecessor the ODC X-03 shows three time zones – presumably meant for Earth, Saturn and a third dimension – each with its own movement and independently adjustable. Tab-style crowns sit flush with the case when not in use, and can be pulled out to set each time zone.

The local time display at three o’clock is powered by an automatic ETA 2671, while the two other time zones in smaller sub-dials have ETA quartz movements underneath.

Each sub-dial has a raised minute track that sits on a relief, 3D printed depiction of Jupiter with laser engraved details, being meant to evoke spacecraft orbiting the planet.

The hexagonal case is a huge 49mm by 52mm, appropriately sized for a wristwatch inspired by an interplanetary vessel. It’s titanium, making it lightweight, and finished with a matte black coating. The solid case back is engraved with facts about Jupiter, for instance its diameter and surface temperature.

The ODC X-03 is delivered in a cylindrical box inspired by canister used on the set of Interstellar.

Price and availability 

Limited to 999 piece, the Hamilton ODC X-03 is priced at SFr3500, equivalent to US$3580. It will be available sometime in 2017.

Correction November 9, 2016: Interstellar was about space travel and aliens, and not a stranded astronaut as previously stated.