A few more photos of the Ref. 3646 / Type D watch, which will be auctioned in may 2012 in Frankfurt/Germany.

During a visit at the department of the Auctioneer Dr. Crott I was able to take a close look at the details of the watch. The original plexi “volcano dome” looks just stunning. The watch has the original onion shaped Rolex crown with “Brevet +” signature. The winding of the crown onto the tube is still possible but could be improved during a service by the future owner.

The case of the watch shows a very nice aging. It has not been polished and bears a lot of super fine scratches and hairlines, giving the case an unique matte finish, which appears as a beautiful mixture between polished and brushed steel.

Remarkable is also the original strap which is still on the watch. Used in seawater caused an obvious “shrinking process” over the past decades, this strap is still attractive from a collectors’ point of view – even if the watch can’t be worn with this strap anymore. It would be too dangerous to damage it. Knowing that this watch came as it was for many years, there is of course the chance to find a new leather strap in “historic look” so that the watch can be worn.

Auctoneer Dr. Crott provided some photos of the watch, which will be used for their catalogue of the 85th auction on may 12th 2012 in Frankfurt/Germany.

The view onto the caseback shows a wonderful and also rare “Kampfschwimmer” engraving, individualized for the owner of the watch, Bernhard Dornsiepen (initials “BD”). Dornsiepen was in service 1944 and became later an instructor for the indoor training of the “Kampfschwimmer”. The indoor training was exercised at the “Weisskoppel”, home base of the german “Kampfschwimmer” units (Lehrkommando 700) on the island of Sylt in northern Germany from november/december 1944 until the end of the 2nd world war.

Instructor Bernhard Dornsiepen 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 “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History” / “history1”. He mentioned Dornsiepen as one of the instructors for indoor training several times and underlined his diving skills.

[Photo courtesy of Auktionen Dr. H. Crott / S. Pflaesterer]

Auctoneer Dr. Crott provided some photos of the watch, which will be used for their catalogue of the 85th auction on may 12th 2012 in Frankfurt/Germany.

The front view shows the anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” sandwich dial and the blueish steel hands with their original luminous material. Cracks on the plexi are a nice “proof of age” of a probably “volcano dome” shaped plexi. Also the aged numbers and markers of the dial in different colors (from yellow to light orange / amber) are a typical feature of 3646 / Type D watches.

[Photo courtesy of Auktionen Dr. H. Crott / S. Pflaesterer]

Auctoneer Dr. Crott provided some photos of the watch, which will be used for their catalogue of the 85th auction on may 12th 2012 in Frankfurt/Germany.

The view into the opened back side of the watch shows a typical Rolex 618 / Type 1 movement.

[Photo courtesy of Auktionen Dr. H. Crott / S. Pflaesterer]

A very interesting 3646 / Type D watch will be auctioned at Auktionen Dr. H. Crott on their 85th auction on may 12th, 2012. Further details of the auction and this LOT will be published at their website soon.

The watch is matching in all details with our database. The caseback bears a rare engraving (“Marine Kampf-Schwimmer 1945″) with the initials “BD” of the german frogmen.

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!

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

[Photo courtesy of Auktionen Dr. H. Crott / S. Pflaesterer]

Returned home from my visit at the SIHH in Geneve yesterday. It was great to see that Panerai continue to use their DNA in the new collection.

My personal highlight was “the return of the 8 mm crown” (PAM 399) on a Luminor case, which was only produced with the legendary crown protecting device in modern Panerai watches since 1993. This type of crowns have been used on vintage Panerai watches of the references 6152, 6154 and 6152/1 (Rolex 8 mm Brevet crown). You can find more info in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter VI.III on page 325.

Features of the watch:
Reference: PAM399
Case: 47mm AISI 316L polished steel
Movement: Hand-wound mechanical,exclusive Panerai OP XXVII calibre, base Minerva 16-17
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
Water resistance: 30 metres
Crystal: Plexiglas 3.0 mm
Back: See-through sapphire crystal

You can find a detailled overview of the 2012 models at www.paneristi.com, also at www.panerai.com

As a vintage Panerai enthusiast, it was a big pleasure for me to see the famous “74” Ref. 6152/1 watch with Angelus movement and single pencil hands on display at the Panerai booth! Panerai showed a couple of special and rare watches, also the PAM203 with vintage Angelus movement (a special edition model of the year 2005).

Interesting interview at Luxury Inside, asias leading online luxury magazine.

A few weeks ago I visited a german “Kampfschwimmer” veteran for an interview.

Mr. Kiefer, born 1925, welcomed me in good health, clear mind and answered some of the remaining questions to finish “his” chapter in our next book. Luckily he found some photos from that period of his life, which will be a great addition. On the photo above he is holding a framed portrait of himself when he was 18 years old – taken just a few days before he joined the german navy.

His story and Ref. 3646 / Type D watch – “The Kiefer Radiomir” were already featured in our first book back in 2007, also in our book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History” and will be in our next history book again.

During the last 15 months of research and editorial work, this was definately one of my personal highlights. First hand informations, directly from the unit, is something that happens not often in these days – more than 67 years ago… [Volker Wiegmann]

Today I got the chance ot see the PAM372 for the first time in real. The “nearest-to-my-place” Panerai dealer promised me weeks ago to give me a call when his first PAM372 would hit his store, so I could take an eye on it before he will call the new owner (to get his christmas gift “just in time”).

Since our friend Asi posted his comparing report directly from SIHH earlier this year I was excited to see this watch now with my own eyes. What caught me instantly, was the engraved “Luminor Panerai” on the dial – that looks just wonderful!

As the watches were hitting the boutiques and Ads lately, a lot of collectors got their “early Christmas gift” already. I must admit that this is a wonderful watch and it will makes many collectors very happy – for sure!

I put my 6152/1 on to make some comparing photos with the 372. Panerai put in a lot of their DNA into the PAM372: the flat lugs, coming out of the middle of the case, remind me on the Vintage Panerai references 6152 and 6154, the edged cushion shape of the case also, which does not exist on 6152/1 watch cases. I also like the fact that the watch has a plexi instead of a sapphire – some extra “old school flavour”. Overall a very well done piece.

[Volker Wiegmann]