In 1935, at the request of the 1st Submariner Group of the Italian Navy, the permanent Commission studied the project of a special model of luminescent diver's wristwatch. The Commission provided a few models alr eady available on the Market, but none were satisfactory as to their luminescence, resistance to the water and pressure. In March 1936, the Commission delivered a "Radiomir" wristwatch, which, after tests in the sea, by night and by day, turned out to be perfect. Ten examples of this model were immediately ordered. According to the Navy, these watches were first matte in 1936 but, to date, experts and collectors believe they first appeared in 1938. Some Panerai designs, dated 30 October 1938, show a waterproof case containing an ordinary watch. That same year, according to a famous collector of military watches, another prototype was produced, but for presentation only; it featured a dodecagonal bezel with the inscription "Officine Panerai Brevettato" and a transparent back revealing the movement. Was it made in 1936 as the Navy says or in 1938 as asserted by numerous experts and the Officine Panerai? Both are probably right, and, considering the political-military situation at that ti me, it may very well be that Panerai, after the first prototype, suspended their research, destroyed or put to one side the designs, before taking up the project again two years later, making new prototypes and launching the production. The first model, we believe produced in 1938, was the large waterproof model we know today, but with anonymous black dial, luminescent Roman and Arabic numerals and indexes. The movement was a Cortebert "ebauche", mechanical with manual winding, with perspex glass; it had a large leather bracelet. Over the years, this first model was subjected to various modifications, making it always more performant. Other models, in limited editions, each of about 30 examples, were also made for the Navy of different countries. But, all in all and until 1992, only 300 Panerai watches were produced and for Navy purposes only. In 1993, Panerai re-issued limited editions of the legendary "Luminor" and the "Mare Nostrum" chronograph, as well tts the "Luminor Daylight- SlyTech, Special Edition Sylvester Stallone". In 1997, Officine Panerai's watch branch was bought by the Vendome Group and continues to produce those 1993 reeditions as well as new models, among which are the "Luminor Marina" and, as a tribute to the past, a re-edition of the very first "Radiomir", in a limited edition of 60 examples and only in platinum. Literature: La I egeude Panerai; by Giampiero Negretti, Officine Panerai Firenze 1860, 1998 (see illustration p. 34 & description p. 72).