Panerai presented this new Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760 to the audience in March 2022. That is, exactly one year ago. By the way, Panerai hadn’t really updated the Radiomir collection in the last few years. Moreover, the brand announced this release as being a limited one. In the same context, the new models would be available exclusively at the formal meetings organized by the brand executives.
Meanwhile, the replica manufacturers wasted no time and, getting inspiration from the authentic Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760 model, came up with the first replica version. I don’t know how well or bad these knockoffs are yet. I am very curious to find out how the manufacturers have executed this model.
In this article, I will review the first iteration of the Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760 replica watches. The model per se does not seem to be complicated to reproduce. However, the original watches have some subtle details in their design that may have created headaches for the replica factories. Here I am, holding a Radiomir Bronzo knockoff in my hands, ready to review it from head to toe. Let’s see how close it is to the authentic models.
Brief overview
I want to mention once again that the new Radiomir Bronzo PAM00760 comes to bring a new breath to the entire Radiomir collection, which, by the way, has been ignored lately. The newly refreshed line promises to offer designs with a strong historical connotation, according to Panerai CEO. I am very curious to see how the replica manufacturers will reproduce this new design. A good replica is always one that conveys the same charisma as the authentic watch.
So…
The first thought that comes to my mind looking at this imitation is that it seems to fit any formal and casual occasion. It comes in a rather vigorous body that is visible on the wrist and exudes an old-school air. I think that lovers of watches with a slightly old-time look will be the first to embrace this knockoff.
In order to better explain how successful the Radiomir knockoff is, I will dwell a bit on the authentic model. By comparing them, we will better understand how professionally the manufacturers reproduced this model.
In this context…
The authentic watch is proud of the title “the first Radiomir in bronze”. This feature is the first selling point of the model. In addition, the watch face is different from what we knew about Radiomir until now because it has a textured dial. The brand tried this design approach for the first time, combining this type of dial with traditional elements. When I say “traditional elements”, I’m actually referring to the blued hands and the well-known sandwich architecture that is so representative of Panerai watches. Another element that stands out is the uncommon stitching on the strap. This is impossible to ignore because the seam on it is an ornament in every sense of the word.
The dial of the Bronze Radiomir has a smoked green tone. I love this shade of green. It is neither too vibrant nor too pale. The watch is expected to be very scarce as Panerai will only produce a few hundred models per year. These will be only available to guests attending the special brand’s dinners. Here is one of the reasons why I embrace the replica industry: everything that is limited is, in fact, quite attainable.
Speaking of the replica industry….
The replica version of the new Radiomir seems to have the same proportions as the authentic model. The case has a fairly good execution in which the perfectly round shapes of the bezel were respected as well as the square contour with refined rounded corners of the case.
I like how the dial texture of this knockoff looks. It has the same slightly grainy finish, which makes it look old-school as it should look. On the other hand, the manufacturers didn’t quite match the color of the dial. While the genuine watch has a smoke green dial, the replica watch dial has it too bright. The brightness is predominantly visible in the center of the dial, where the green color becomes slightly lighter. The manufacturers exaggerated the too-light tone when they should have made it darker.
Still…
The advantage of this replica watch is the identical execution of the hour markers and hands. I assume that it was not difficult for the manufacturers to reproduce them because they do not actually have a complicated design. All the proportions are identical, as well as the length and width of the hands.
The finish of the case looks very decent. I like to see the play of finishes between brushed and finished techniques. Thanks to this game of finishes, the imitation really acquires a vintage charisma. The bronze polishing seems to be in a generous layer.
Overall impression
Putting this knockoff on my wrist, it feels ok. However, I can’t say that it would be the most comfortable watch I’ve ever come across. The case with a square outline does not fit exactly hermetically on the wrist. The watch caseback is slightly convex and makes the watch case “float” as if in the air. Instead, I like the texture of the leather bracelet. This has a soft and smooth texture and hugs my wrist in the coziest way possible. I am not a fan of such excessive stitching. But, considering that the dial looks quite clean, the stitching makes some sense.
On the whole…
The look and feel of these Radiomir replica watches are quite nice and acceptable. From what I have analyzed, the replica factories ask a slightly higher price for it than for the pure stainless steel Radiomirs. I don’t really agree with this higher price, because basically, these imitations don’t have a rich set of functions. It’s a knockoff with time-only functions, so I don’t see the price increase being quite reasonable.
But, we all know that replica factories price their accessories according to the scarcity of authentic models. And since it is a somewhat limited model, the high price is justified.
In one respect, either way, I find the price to be fair: this model has a bronze coating, which does not seem cheap. Price aside, this knockoff looks pretty good for the first iteration. The manufacturers will have little to improve in the next iterations, at least from the design perspective.
Comparing the patina of the authentic model with the replica one
When it comes to an old-school watch, its patina is an essential element. The bronze patina is what adds value to a watch and die-hard watch collectors hunt for such models continuously.
As for the patina of the genuine Radiomir Bronzo watches, the brand has applied the same alloy it used in the Submersible Bronzo watches. It is about a mix of copper with a small portion of tin. This mix initially generates a coopery nuance on the watches. But, after some time, the shade becomes darker as a consequence of the oxidation process of the bronze on the surface of the watch. As a result, the timepiece acquires an exclusive and individual patina, never found on any other watch.
Manufacturers need to know the process of obtaining the alloy. A wrong step can lead to excessive oxidation. If the manufacturers do the process correctly, the patina forms gradually and not excessively, adding appeal and aesthetics to the watch case.
Switching to the Replica Radiomir Bronze watch…
All I can say is that the tone of the bronze looks identical. It seems that the manufacturers did not use aluminum in the composition of the alloy, which gives it a reddish hue. I want to mention that for Tudor Bay Heritage bronze imitations, manufacturers add aluminum to obtain a brown-grey shade.
I have to be honest and admit that I don’t know how the surface of the Radiomir Bronze imitation will behave over time. It is possible that it does not form patina to the same extent as the genuine watch does. The explanation is that the original brand has much more advanced tools and techniques to obtain the material that develops a patina over time. However, replica manufacturers have limited tools. Their basic purpose is to make the imitation look identical in its new condition. But how the imitation will look after some time remains to be seen.
The only thing I know for sure is that the brushed finish of the replica watch favors the oxidation process. What I admire about this imitation is that it has a titanium caseback. This means that the wrist will not come into direct contact with the bronze sub-shelf, respectively, the risk of an allergy is minimal. Even if you are not an allergic person, constant contact with bronze surfaces can create skin irritations.
Other particularities of the Radiomir bronze replica watch
I previously mentioned that lovers of old-school accessories might love this knockoff. At the same time, I assume that those who love watches with generous dimensions will also love it. This Radiomir Bronze knockoff measures 47mm. In the same context, the case is not exactly thin. The thickness of the watch is 16mm, which might scare those who love subtle accessories. Well, this Radiomir is not about subtlety at all. On the contrary, it’s about the visible presence on the wrist, and along with a vintage-type jacket, it looks phenomenal.
Lovers of the Panerai brand are already used to voluptuous cases. As a rule, the brand connects bulbous cases with domed PlexyGlas crystals. The replica manufacturers opted for mineral crystal instead of the original PlexyGlas. The decision for mineral crystal is explained by the fact that this material looks much more “vintage” than a sapphire crystal. In general, sapphire crystals are not the number one choice for watches with a vintage feel. Even if the mineral crystals are more prone to scratches, they fit perfectly with the vintage style concept.
What about the sandwich construction of the case?
I must mention that the manufacturers have successfully reproduced the case. and I’m not just referring to the dial with Arabic numbers; that would have been far too simple. I am referring more to the “sandwich” construction that is characteristic of Panerai watches. This type of construction is also an attribute of the vintage style and I am glad that the manufacturers respected it and reproduced it to the letter.
For those who are not familiar with sandwich dials, they refer to a type of multi-layered dial, which offers a subtle 3D look. Manufacturers usually apply lume on the lower surface of the sandwich dial. In contrast, the lume is applied on the upper surface of watches with ordinary dials.
By the way, the imitation benefits from Superluminova coating. The glow in the dark is quite intense and lasts quite a long time, up to a couple of hours.
Dial specifics of the Radiomir Bronze replica watch
As previously mentioned, the dial of the replica watch comes with a textured surface. The color transitions from dark smoked green (almost black) on the outer edges to lighter green towards the center of the dial. The green in the center is lighter than it should be, according to the original model. Even if the green font was not well suited, the granular texture of the dial deserves all the appreciation.
The functions of this replica watch are minimal. It is a watch as simple as possible, limited only to an hour and minutes. Not even the seconds are present. Respectively, this watch could be a loyal friend for when you need a simplistic but “delicious” aesthetic accessory.
Technical details
The beautiful part of this replica watch is that it runs on a P.3000 clone movement. The manufacturers concluded that this mechanism performs quite promisingly, considering the customers’ reviews of previous P.900 clone-driven knockoffs. This movement is simple but promises a stable and long-lasting operation.
The disadvantageous part of this replica watch is the water resistance profile. Conversely to the 100 meters of the authentic model, the Radiomir Bronze knockoff is resistant to 25 meters. In the same context, the manufacturers suggested to me that other factories could make it non-water resistant. For this reason, be careful if you buy this imitation. Check with the dealer if it is water resistant or not.
Final thoughts
Considering that this Radiomir is the first iteration of the PAM00760 model, I want to say that the attempt is quite successful. The knockoff is appealing for several reasons. One of them is that the manufacturers managed to convey vintage charisma through its execution. There is only one aspect I dislike: the stitching on the leather strap. I don’t know if the stitched strap appeals to you, but in my case, it didn’t end up capturing me.
Another reason, and the most likely, is the quality movement that operates inside. A cloned movement with a good reputation is always a strong argument in favor of a replica watch.
The shortcoming with dial color mismatching I think can be forgiven, considering that on the whole, the imitation looks fairly nice. It remains to be seen how the manufacturers will reproduce the following Radiomir models.