Recently a good friend of mine has embarked on a 6-week trip to Italy. Let’s say it’s like a voyage of discovery shaped in the ‘Shirley Valentine’ mould. Every day I am vicariously living her amazing journey through Milan, Verona and the Amalfi Coast via social media. Last year I visited this magnificent country and enjoyed the ambience, culinary delights, architecture etc. When it comes to style and panache no one does it better than the Italians. For that reason, the Italian-made label carries a lot of weight. For many years this region has also become synonymous with innovative watch design as well. The PARADISI RP02 perfectly illustrates this point.
When you talk about Italian watchmaking the name Panerai instantly comes to mind. Certainly this luxury (Richemont owned) brand creates beautiful watches. However, there are also numerous other independents like Anonimo, Ennebi, Giuliano Mazzuoli, and U-Boat who design very distinctive timepieces. Recently I became aware of another small watchmaker with a similar pedigree called PARADISI. This small micro is the brainchild of Riccardo Paradisi whose vision was to design a stylish and durable diver watch. My first impression when I saw the RP02 was that he’d achieved his objective.
What differentiates the RP02 from many other available divers watches is the modest proportions. Personally, I generally favour oversized robust timepieces but realise I’m in the minority. Riccardo Paradisi’s creation displays retro dimensions and is 43mm x 12.5mm. This slimline profile makes it ideal for both formal and casual occasions. Certainly, the RP02 wouldn’t look out of place matched with a dinner suit to a Gala ball. However, due to the minimalistic aesthetic and choice of Grade 23 brushed titanium it would also look great with a polo shirt. All elements of this watch have an artisanal appearance and the uncluttered black dial with bold ( Superluminova BGW9 treated) indexes will appeal to purists. Overall I feel the composition is delightfully understated and the quality first rate.
At the watch’s heart is a sophisticated automatic engine created by exclusive manufacturer La Joux-Perret SA. The Calibre G100 comprises 24 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. With a diameter of 25.60 mm, this refined mechanism is a similar size to the popular ETA 2824-1. Functionally the PARADISI RP02 adopts a classic 3-hand format and features hours, minutes and seconds. The watch also has an incredibly impressive 68-hour power reserve and is water resistant to a depth of 1,000 metres. To complete the picture the timepiece is presented on an Artem sailcloth strap with complimentary titanium buckle.
The PARADISI RP02 is limited to 50 pieces and priced competitively at €2,950 (approximately $3,194). For more information follow this link
