Captured the blue color of the steel hands on Ref. 3646 watches. Always an amazing detail on these watches: the matte black sandwich dial, the aged luminous material in a color range from honey-like orange to a deep red.

These watches carry the DNA of Panerai in many details. Each of these rare watches aged individually. It is always interesting to see how different these watches passed nearly 70 years… and they are still keeping great time!

Features of the Ref. 3646 with “Kampfschwimmer” dial:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260554
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Features of the Ref. 3646 with “Radiomir Panerai” dial:
Reference: 3646 / Type C
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai”  (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 1010244
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

You can find more information about Ref. 3646 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter I, pages 31-159.

Recently I had the chance to take some photos of two Ref. 3646 watches. The differences between Type C and Type D cases are always nice to point out, but the steel hands are striking eyecatchers on both of them. The blue color of the temperature-treated hands is coming well in a different ankle towards the light source, not easy to capture.

The Ref. 3646 / Type C appears to be one of the “dark red” dials which changed the color of the luminous “Radiomir” over decades. The Ref. 3646 / Type D marks a typical “Kampfschwimmer” watch with anonymous dial.

The casebacks of these watches bear the roots of their origin – both are individually engraved on the outer caseback. The Ref. 3646 / Type D watch has the personalized initials of the first owner and the unit he belonged to, engraved by hand. The Ref. 3646 / Type C watch bears the machine engraved name of the famous italian unit, which carried out underwater missions in the mediterranean sea – the Decima Flottiglia MAS – including its matriculation number.

For our next book “History2” we continue our research and editorial work in these days.

The traces of a Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” watch, its first owner and his mission targets back in 1945 are in our focus. Historical photos, maps and documents, together with impressive photos of this watch makes it another interesting chapter about Vintage Panerai watches and their history.

We’ve been informed by a fellow collector about an ebay auction of a Ref. 3646 / Type C watch (case number 1010222). The watch is in our database since march 2007.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type C
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai”  (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 1010222
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Be careful in buying such watches at places like ebay (“buy the seller, not the watch!”)!

in the public forum about the use of a SLC symbol on the caseback of today’s Panerai watches. Interesting to follow the replies and comments. It’s all about learning and respecting other people’s opinions.

Sending birthday greetings to Italy: Omeris Arpesella, veteran of the italian “Gruppo Gamma”, celebrates his 97th birthday today.

Omeris has joined several Club Panerai Meetings in the past, where he has been introduced to Panerai collectors from all around the world. In 2005, his Ref. 3646 “California Dial” watch was stolen and still remains missing. After many Panerai collectors took notice at the public forum of www.paneristi.com about this tragedy during the V Meeting Club Panerai in Viareggio/Italy, funds were rised instantly by more than 70 people from all around the world, to buy him a brand new Panerai watch. This watch, a Ref. PAM210, is since then nicknamed as “The Omeris”. Piero Lapiana from www.clubpanerai.com had the honour to handover the new watch soon later to Omeris.

In 2006, exactly one year later, a memorial plate was given to Omeris by a group of Panerai collectors at the Museo Tecnico Navale La Spezia (see photo). The memorial plate bears the names of all people who realized “The Omeris”… This community performance remains as one of the unforgettable moments for many Panerai collectors.

Buon compleanno, Omeris!

Tried to catch the luminous activity of the Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” dial today. After more than 55 years, Luminor it is still reacting strong on direct light impact, creating a wonderful “greenish glow”…!

This Vintage Panerai watch is featured in our new book “History1″. You can read more about its first owner Mario Arillo in chapter IV, page 227-391.

Our new book “History1” is featured in the new “timegeeks” magazine on page 16, introducing new watch book releases (http://timegeeks.dk). Platform owner Kristian Haagen, a passionated watch enthusiast and journalist, has provided us his latest magazine’s edition as pdf-file: August 2012.

Kristian “Bezelator” Haagen has received the 2003 and 2004 “asshat award” and is known in the watch world as a long-term member of the paneristi.com forum since september 2000. His unforgettable “corkscrew treatment” will remain as one of the most attended performances ever.

German auctioneer Dr. Crott features two Vintage Panerai watches in their new invitation leaflet for the upcoming 86th auction on november 10th, 2012.

The Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” (left page / 1st line) was one of the highlights of their 85th auction. In the preview for the 86th auction there is again a Ref. 3646 / Type C “Kampfschwimmer” (right page / 2nd line) in the spotlight.

In the 20th anniversary issue of “Chronos”, a german watch magazine, remarkable auction results are featured in a report on page 122-125. Beside watches from Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, a Vintage Panerai Ref. 3646 / Type D  “Kampfschwimmer” is lined up with its hammer price (incl. buyers premium) sold at the 85th auction of Dr. Crott.

Get your copy at the newspaper stores across europe.
Find more info at www.watchtime.net