Black Seal and its Significance to Panerai?

[infinitesadness]

I can't find info on this... but why does some Radiomir models have the word "Black Seal" on it?

Does it have any historic significance?

[azrielsc]

Got this on Panerai website:

THE CASE OF THE RADIOMIR BLACK SEAL CERAMICA - 45 MM BEARS THE SAME DESIGN AS OFFICINE PANERAI'S ORIGINAL, historic watch, made in 1938 for the italian navy, and is updated with a very innovative material.

The Radiomir Black Seal Ceramica - 45 mm is evocative of the actions of the men of the Gamma group in the Italian Navy, who, during the Second World War used so-called SLCs, slow torpedoes, also known as "pigs" or "black seals" for their manoeuvres. This Panerai watch model stood out for its case's structure, which guaranteed a high degree of impermeability thanks to its winding crown and the screwed-on case-back, while Radiomir, a luminescent paint containing zinc sulphur, mesothorium and radium bromide, gave the dial excellent visibility even in extreme conditions of use. With Officine Panerai's Radiomir Black Seal Ceramica - 45 mm, a new model is added to the collection: Officine Panerai's decision to use this high-tech material reflects the technical experimentation that Panerai has always aspired to, thanks to a solution that is interesting from both an aesthetic and technical viewpoint.

[pegasi]

Got this on Panerai website:

THE CASE OF THE RADIOMIR BLACK SEAL CERAMICA - 45 MM BEARS THE SAME DESIGN AS OFFICINE PANERAI'S ORIGINAL, historic watch, made in 1938 for the italian navy, and is updated with a very innovative material.

The Radiomir Black Seal Ceramica - 45 mm is evocative of the actions of the men of the Gamma group in the Italian Navy, who, during the Second World War used so-called SLCs, slow torpedoes, also known as "pigs" or "black seals" for their manoeuvres. This Panerai watch model stood out for its case's structure, which guaranteed a high degree of impermeability thanks to its winding crown and the screwed-on case-back, while Radiomir, a luminescent paint containing zinc sulphur, mesothorium and radium bromide, gave the dial excellent visibility even in extreme conditions of use. With Officine Panerai's Radiomir Black Seal Ceramica - 45 mm, a new model is added to the collection: Officine Panerai's decision to use this high-tech material reflects the technical experimentation that Panerai has always aspired to, thanks to a solution that is interesting from both an aesthetic and technical viewpoint.

The reason the word black seal is assigned to radiomirs and not luminors, I guess, is due to the fact that radiomirs were the watch used during the WWII period. The luminor compound only came into picture during 1949, and the luminor case was subsequently created during 1950.

[infinitesadness]

ahhh... ok that makes sense now. didn't know the "pigs" were referred to as "black seals" too. thanks guys.