In 2006, Panerai showed its enduring love of the sea and seamanship when it bought Eilean, a historic yacht designed and built by William Fife III at Scotland’s Fife boatyard in 1936, the same year that the Italian watchmaker launched its very first Radiomir timepiece.
Eilean was a working yacht, sailing the seas of Europe and the Caribbean for decades before falling into disrepair in the early 21st century.
Panerai not only bought the boat, it also paid for her to be fully restored, and is revealing the fruits of its labour today along with a limited edition Radiomir created in her honour.
The Radiomir Eilean, made in a limited run of 449 pieces per year (449 is the sail number of Eilean), is a 45mm piece made from patina steel with a matte finish.
Its connection with the Eilean is made in several ways: the surface of its brown dial is made to look like the teak deck of the yacht.
Its case back and strap bear an inscription that reads “Eilean 1936” and is identical to one located on the ship’s boom.
A dragon emblem that decorates the boat’s hull was reproduced in an engraving on the left-hand side of the case.
The watch, which is priced at £7,000, is powered by a hand-wound P.6000 calibre.
