Ralf captured the wonderfully aged brown “Radiomir Panerai” dial of this Ref. 6154 “Egiziano Piccolo” (small Egiziano). Faded Colors and cracked luminous markers and numbers are giving this watch a very Special appearance and unique look. In its flat 47 mm stainless steel case, it is today one of the rarest Vintage Panerai watches. The reference 6154 was produced for the Egyptian Navy in 1954 in very small numbers – until today only a few watches surfaced into the Vintage Panerai world.

Compared with the references 6152 and 6152/1, the 6154 is even more elegant and almost “streamlined” which gives it a special nickname in the Vintage Panerai world: “the Maserati amongst Ferraris”.

The german watch portal www.watchtime.net featured the Vintage Panerai Ref. 3646 / Type D – “The Kiefer Radiomir”– with an overview about the details of the watch and the history behind its first owner, german frogmen Karl-Heinz Kiefer.

“The Kiefer Radiomir” is fully described in our book “History1″ in Chapter III on 55 pages with 39 photos and 3 technical illustrations. Thanks to www.watchtime.net for putting a spotlight onto Panerai’s DNA. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Our new book “History2″ is featured in the august issue of the german watch magazine “ArmbandUhren” on page 6 in the column “library”.

Get your copy at the newspaper stores across europe.
Find more info at www.armbanduhren-online.de

Interesting to see the profile of a Ref. 3646 watch in this photo, showing the pillow shaped case with the onion shaped crown (“Brevet +”) and its soldered to the case lugs in the middle of the photo. Bezel and caseback are both screwed down to the brass holding ring inside the watch, using lead seals to make the watch waterproof. The lead seals are sitting on the flat areas of the cushioned shaped case. This watch is using the high version of the bezel made for watches with a sandwich dial from Panerai.

In our new book “History2” we put a spotlight onto the construction of the Ref. 3646 in Chapter VIII.I with a technical illustration (page 771 – 775) and several photos, explaining the waterproof construction of the Reference 3646.

The german watch portal www.watchtime.net featured the Vintage Panerai Ref. 3646 / Type D – “The Pape Radiomir”– with an overview about the details of the watch and the history behind its first owner, german frogman Heinz Pape.

“The Pape Radiomir” is fully described in our book “History1″ in Chapter II on 91 pages with 44 photos and 3 technical illustrations. Thanks to www.watchtime.net for putting a spotlight onto Panerai’s DNA. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Today we send our birthday greetings to the german frogmen veteran Karl-Heinz Kiefer, who can celebrate his 88th birthday in good health. Karl-Heinz Kiefer, born 1925, is featured in our book“History1” in Chapter III. A few weeks ago Volker visited Mr. Kiefer to handover the new book “History2” where he is featured in the preface.

Stay in good shape, Mr. Kiefer – alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Another special moment for Ralf… and another promise kept: recently he visited Walter Lewandowski, the german frogmen veteran, who is featured in our new book “History2″ in Chapter VIII. Ralf delivered, as promised, a personal copy to Mr. Lewandowski (born in 1925) who welcomed him in good health, happy to see the result of our research and editorial work during the last two years.

Walter Lewandowski’s wife captured the moment when Ralf showed the final chapter to him.

Be well and stay in good shape, Mr. Lewandowski!  [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

We are glad to announce that our book “History1” has been recorded in the Library of the Federal Archives of Germany. Visitors of the library in Koblenz can see and read our book (with the signature B I 318 -1-) there.

Aside further international archives (The National Archives of the United Kingdom, The Imperial War Museum in London, The Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare), the Federal Archives have been a helpful source for us during the research, in particular on Chapter II. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Today we send our birthday greetings to the german frogmen veteran Jochen Burnus, who can celebrate his 90th birthday in good health. Jochen Burnus, born 1923, is featured in our book “History2” in Chapter V. A few weeks ago Ralf visited Jochen to handover our new book where “his” personal story is published.

Stay in good shape, Jochen – alles Gute zum Geburtstag, “Heiwidiwu!”
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Almost one year after I visited Karl-Heinz Kiefer for a personal delivery of our book “History1”, it was time to deliver him a copy of our new book“History2″. For me it was all about keeping a promise – again. Both, Karl-Heinz Kiefer and his kind wife Irma, welcomed me at their home in good health. I was able to forwarded greetings from my co-author Ralf Ehlers to both of them.

Veteran Karl-Heinz Kiefer, born in 1925, is featured in chapter III of our book “History1″. A preview of “his” chapter can be found here. The photo of the “handover moment” from last year is published in the preface of our new book “History2” on page 428.

Be well and stay in good shape, Mr. Kiefer!  [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]