SPACE + TIME
It is not unusual to find Panerai watches worn by extraordinary individuals accomplishing extraordinary things. Now, the brand joins an exclusive club of watches in space
ON 19 JANUARY 2022, cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov departed the relative safety of the International Space Station for a sojourn into the final frontier. While Extravehicular Activities ( EVAs) are part and parcel of the mission parameters of Expedition 66, what was novel that day was that Shkaplerov had a 45mm Panerai Radiomir watch ( PAM210) strapped around the left glove of his Orlan spacesuit.
While it is not unusual for Panerai watches to be seen on accomplished, wellknown individuals at work or play, what was unusual was that the Radiomir was found in an inhospitable environment for which it had never been tested or rated.
Shkaplerov’s personal Radiomir PAM210 was visible on several occasions during the seven hours of footage streamed by NASA TV. The fact that it was worn during the operation is testament to the rigors that 46
Panerai watches can withstand. External temperatures encountered during an EVA vary from +121 degrees when exposed to sunlight, to -157 degrees when an astronaut is in shadow. While Panerai watches have a long legacy connected to the exploits of naval divers and the hostile environment of the underwater world, it is now apparent that their endurance extends beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
Panerai had no prior knowledge of its Radiomir’s extravehicular activities. The maison was alerted by space-loving fans of the brand who recognised the iconic form factor of the signature cushion case after viewing NASA’s EVA footage.
“When I first learnt about the sighting from several journalists, I thought they were joking,” said Panerai CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué. “It took four or five days to verify the story. We’re lucky that we are a highly recognisable brand. Because of the cushion shape and the iconic dial of the watch, people could identify it as being a Panerai. It’s like an occasion when we unexpectedly discover a Panerai watch on a celebrity in a film. We learn about it at the same time as the rest of the public.”
The Panerai Radiomir PAM210 is a reference that is no longer in production. Once the mission concludes on 28 March, the CEO will eagerly await the watch’s performance details. “When the mission is over, we’d love to invite Mr Shkaplerov to bring us his watch so we may see it, repair it, restore it, but we have to figure out who to call.”