What Are Panerai Sandwich and Sausage Dials

These are not the most elegant labels when discussing luxury replica watches. But if you hang out with a Paneristi long enough, you’re bound to hear the terms “sausage” and “sandwich” being used when discussing Panerai watches and their dials. So what exactly are Panerai sandwich and sausage dials? These names refer specifically to how luminous material is applied to a Panerai watch dial. Sandwich dials have recessed lume while sausage dials include luminous paint that curves above the dial.

Panerai Luminor Chronograph Sausage Dial

Cheap Panerai Replica watches are some of the most recognizable watches in the market, characterized by distinctive cushion-shaped cases and stark dials. If you look across the entirety of Panerai’s collection, you’ll quickly see that the vast majority of the dials are dark and feature a mix of stick and oversized Arabic numeral hour markers. The dials are often simple in execution with just a pair of hands at the center, sometimes accompanied by a running seconds sub-dial, and occasionally, there’s a date window too.

It’s often said that all Best Replica Panerai Watches look almost identical, and it’s hard to tell the difference between one model and the next. However, upon closer inspection, it’s clear that the variances lie in the small, yet important details — such as sandwich dials versus sausage dials.

Panerai Radiomir GMT Sausage Dial

Panerai Sandwich Dials

As its name suggests, sandwich dials utilize a layering technique. This is by no means exclusive to Most Exquisite Luxury Panerai Replica, but the Florentine watch brand did opt for sandwich dials early on in its history as a way to create highly luminescent watch faces.Panerai sandwich dial includes two separate disks where the bottom layer holds the luminescent material in recessed indexes while the top layer has index cutouts to allow the luminescence to glow through. When looking at a Panerai sandwich dial, you’ll notice the cool stencil effect immediately.

Panerai Sandwich Dial Radiomir

It’s worth noting that the earliest examples of Panerai sandwich dials used three layers: the highest plate had perforations, the middle plate was transparent Perspex, and the bottom plate was solid and coated in luminous paste. However, this was replaced by the two-layer construction we’re familiar with today.Much to the chagrin of Panerai enthusiasts, Swiss Panerai Replica seems to be moving away from sandwich dials on most of their current watches, saving this technique for select releases instead.

Panerai Sausage Dials

In contrast to the sunken indices of Panerai Quality Replica Watches sandwich dials, Panerai sausage dials have painted hour markers that protrude slightly above the dial. In some models, the indexes were first etched into the dial and then filled in with luminescent material. In other versions, the lume was painted directly onto a flat surface.

Panerai Luminor GMT Sandwich Dial

Regardless of technique, the result is curvier numerals and stick markers that swell and curve on the dial, which ultimately made way for the sausage nickname. These are also referred to as Panerai painted dials if you prefer to use that term.

Panerai painted dials are not to be confused with Panerai printed dials, which have flat surfaces. So remember, the next time you’re browsing through different Panerai Replica Watches China, trying to decide which you like best, get a closer look at the dial and see if it’s a sandwich, sausage, or printed one. That seemingly small detail may make all the difference in the overall look of the watch.

Both dial designs offer distinct looks, and both have a place in Panerai’s history. I’ve always liked stencil-style typography so I gravitate towards Panerai sandwich dials. However, I have nothing against Panerai sausage dials since they’re quite good looking too.