A vintage Ref. 6152/1 with Rolex movement and “Luminor Panerai”dial is featured in a test report on PAM 372 (“Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days 47 mm”) in the actual issue 03.2012 of watch magazine “Chronos” (Germany). The report shows the historical roots of the “simple and beautiful” PAM 372, written by Jens Koch with photos by Marcus Krüger.

A very interesting 3646 / Type D watch will be auctioned at Auktionen Dr. H. Crott on their 85th auction on may 12th, 2012. The watch is matching in all details with our database.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer”  (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 260437
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The caseback bears a rare engraving (“Marine Kampf-Schwimmer 1945″) with the initials “BD” of the german frogmen instructor Bernhard Dornsiepen. He has been mentioned by veteran Karl-Heinz Kiefer during an interview, which was held in december 2011, of which extracts will be published in our new book “History1″. He mentioned Dornsiepen as one of the instructors at Lehrkommando 700 (“Weisskoppel”) for indoor training several times and underlined his diving skills.

Similar watches can be found in chapter I.IV of our book “Vintage Panerai – The References”. We hope it will find a good new home!

Still a few days to go, but already “in the mood” for the XII Meeting Club Panerai in Viareggio/Italy, meeting collectors and passionated friends from Italy, Europe and Overseas. Piero Lapiana and his friends will prepare another great event for sure. Radiomirs and Luminors at its best! A presto!

The photo report of last year can be found here. Enjoy!
Wishing all attendees safe travels and a great time – a presto! 
[Volker Wiegmann]

CHAPTER IV
(165 pages, 106 photos, 7 technical illustrations)

The chapter on Mario Arillo begins with an interview conducted with him in 1989. Numerous as yet unpublished pictures and documents from the family possessions of the famous commander from La Spezia augment the personal descriptions of his submarine missions as a means of transport for Italian Gamma swimmers and the SLC units of the Decima MAS.

Preview of page 232 – 233:
The interview section of chapter IV includes many yet unreleased photos of Mario Arillo, the commander of the italian submarine Ambra, which was one of the SLC transport submarines in 1942.

Preview of page 260 – 261:
Mario Arillo’s impressive and moving interview, taken 11 years before he died, holds many interesting details on the missions against the harbours on the north african coast with very rare photos taken aboard the Ambra together with SLC pilots and Gamma frogmen.

Preview of page 380 – 381 (part of chapter IV.I):
Photo of Mario Arillo’s Ref. 6152/1 watch with a current excerpt from our historical Panerai database.

Our book “History1″ is in stock can be ordered in our bookstore.

Took a nice pic of the “Luminor Trittico”. All three pieces are powered by “Luminor Panerai”: the 16 m depth gauge, the Ref. 6152/1 Panerai watch and the compass. Both instruments, the compass and the depth gauge, have a case size of 70 x 90 mm.

You can find more information about Ref. 6152/1 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter IV, pages 202-255.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 124537
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 

Rainy spring day here in Germany today, so I tried to catch the Panerai DNA in shape of the crown protecting device on the Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai”. It is without a doubt “the number 1 identifying feature” of Panerai watches from all production periods: vintage, PreVendome and actual models.

The patent was issued in july 1956 and described as “tight-seal device for the control knob of instruments, particularly for the setting and winding knob of watches”.

A 26 mm wide and 6.2 mm high area is milled out on the right edge of the polished case, to allow a lateral attachment of the protection device, which is fabricated from brushed stainless steel. The protection system, which is extending 8 mm above the right side of the case is fastened to the case with two screws. The L-shaped protective bar is 2.9 mm wide and pushes the crown down firmly to the case when closed. 

You can find more information about Ref. 6152/1 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter IV, pages 202-255. About the crown protecting device you can find information on pages 225 to 233.

A local Panerai AD in Hesse state’s capital city Wiesbaden, Juwelier Stoess (www.stoess.eu), is having a special Panerai exhibition for two weeks (february 25th to march 10th) with a completely “Panerai corporate designed shop window” which is getting a lot attraction in Wiesbaden’s famous shopping area Wilhelmsstrasse – close to the well known Kurhaus / Casino.

There are special and rare Panerai models in the display, also some Vintage Panerai instruments are placed. Beside a battery powered light gun, a so called Elettrosegnalatore GPF 1/58, two parts of Arillo’s “Trittico” in their wooden storage box are in the spot: a Luminor depth gauge (16 meters) and a Luminor compass.

Tried to catch a nice movement view of a Vintage Panerai “Kampfschwimmer” watch. The Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 used in Ref. 3646 watches are doubtless a part of the Panerai DNA. Strong machines, which still can keep perfect time after many years of use…