ON THE WATER
in the mid 1930s for the Royal Navy who
Eilean, the stunning classic sailing yacht
Duran Duran which is still where most people
required wrist compasses and depth gauges.
now owned by Panerai, started her life in
After being extremely disappointed by the
1936 in the hands of brothers James and
Then an accident involving a damaged
durability of watches available at the time,
Robert Fulton. Coincidentally this was also
ferry meant that Eilean was unsailable, and
it was Panerai who was asked to develop a
the year that the first prototype of the Panerai
almost beyond repair, despite John Shearer’s
watch able to withstand extreme conditions.
Radiomir was launched, a watch that had
attempts at a restoration. She lay amongst
This ethos still holds deep within Panerai
been specially created for the Royal Italian
the mangroves in a dilapidated state until
Navy.
Angelo Bonati, CEO of Panerai spotted her
and has been proven through watches such
as the Arktos, developed for legendary
After several changes in owner, in 1974
associate her from today.
whilst in Antigua for the 2006 Antigua Classic
explorer Mike horn, and for numerous sailing
she finally came into the custody of French
timepieces over the years. In 1997, Richemont
architect, John Shearer who had sailed
took over Panerai and improved the quality
on her as a child when his uncle was her
have led to Eilean once more becoming one
yet further, creating new timepieces and
skipper. Soon after, she famously featured
of the most glorious ketch classic yachts on
products.
in the legendary music video for “Rio” by
the water.
Yacht Challenge.
More than 40,000 hours of delicate work
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