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]

Tried to catch some interesting details and design elements of the case of a Luminor depth gauge, which is aimed to 16 meters. On the backside of the depth gauge is a matriculation number engraved (“Matr. No 189”). The membrane (diameter: 23 mm) is placed in the center of the case, surrounded by the company signatures “Officine Panerai · Firenze”. Some types of instruments bear a Panerai reference number (e.g. “Mod. GPF 4/55”, as engraved on a compass caseback) instead of a matriculation number. Other types are totally unsigned without any engravings on their casebacks – a variety of different decorations exists. Some of these unsigned cases bear a matriculation number on the leather strap (hand written).

The stainless steel case is matte grey coated, sized 70 x 90 mm. The instruments use the same 26 mm leather straps as those who were mounted on watches (screwed lugs), specially treated for seawater use. The length of the strap meant that the swimmer was able to wear the gauge over his diving suit. The underside of the instrument is ergonomically shaped and has a brushed surface. It is fixed with 6 screws onto the upper part of the case, same as compasses are constructed. The huge dome (26,5 mm) is made of Plexiglas. The depth gauge has a total height of 43 mm with a weight of nearly 400 gramms.

The meter hand is made of transparent Plexiglas, which has a chamber in its tip, holding the luminous material to point out the actual depth. Gauges with Radiomir usually have a white Plexiglas hand. You can see a group of  Radiomir and Luminor depth gauges here. The center of the dial bears “Luminor Panerai” and below “Metri” is engraved. You can find more details of the tool’s dial here. The luminous material on hands, numbers, markers and dots is still reacting very quickly and bright when a light source is beamed onto the numbers and markers.

More informations about this Panerai instrument can be found in chapter III of our 1st book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”.

Cleaning up my Ref. 6152/1 for the next photo session of our book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”. Took off the strap, removed dust and dirt on the case, between the lugs and along the crown protecting device, checking its Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement. Put back the original strap with G.P.F. Mod. Dep. buckle… Ready.

[Volker Wiegmann]

“ELUX” Panerai inclinometer for tanks, made in 1971. Brevettato No 846567 / october 1968). Powered by two 1.5 V batteries in a separate steel case (with engraved matriculation number), connected with a cable to the device, which can be positioned longitudinally and transversally, rotating 90°.

The case of the inclinometer measures 145 x 55 mm, hinged to the fixing plate to be screwed onto the tank with four screws. Delivered in a grey cardboard box (21 x 21 x 7.5 cm).

Returned from a fantastic journey to Australia, where P-DAY#10 was celebrated at Hamilton Island. After six years I met my friend Alan “Hammer” Bloore again, who wrote the preface of chapter III in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References” (page 186-187).

I’ve published a report in the public forum at www.paneristi.com. Enjoy reading part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / part 5 / part 6 / part 7 / part 8 / part 9.

Amanda from the P-DAY#10 organization crew has created a wonderful slideshow which was shown during the Farewell Dinner on sunday, november 7th at Outrigger Marquee, Hamilton Island.

[Volker Wiegmann]

Recently we added another Ref. 3646 / Type D watch into our database.

It’s caseback number fits perfectly into the number group of today existing Type D watches, aside the fact that all other features of this “Kampfschwimmer” are matching our database too. Another important “piece of the puzzle” is added.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260693
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

You can read more about Ref. 3646 / Type D watches in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References” (chapter I.IV, page 85-121).  

The veteran’s family found our website and contacted us via e-mail, provided some informations which are very useful for us to compare with already known watches. It’s great to see that these “war birds” are still surfacing after many years.

…belated but not forgotten, we send our birthday greetings to Tuscany: Emilio Bianchi turned 99 years (!) on october 22nd 2011. He is the last living member of the “fab six” SLC commandos, who took part at the mission “G.A. 3” in December 1941, soon to be 70 years ago… For being co-pilot of Luigi Durant De La Penne’s SLC221 against the “HMS Valiant” in the harbour of Alexandria / Egypt, Emilio Bianchi was awarded with the italian gold medal for gallantry at war (M.O.V.M.).

You can read about Emilio Bianchi in the book “Panerai Historia” by Giampiero Negretti (page 72-79). Also informations can be found in the book “I Mezzi d’Assalto della Xa Flottiglia MAS” by Marco Spertini / Erminio Bagnasco / Albertelli Editore (page 48-50). Emilio Bianchi is featured in the japanese “Panerai Style Book” by Begin, 2001.

Emilio Bianchi is also featured in the book “The Value of Time” on page 71 wearing a Luminor Marina at 4:25 p.m., being one of the “portraits of positiveness” aside other personalities choosen from arts, sport and professions. Other persons featured in this book are e.g. Flavio Briatore, Ornella Muti, Deborah Compagnoni, Roberto Cavalli and Maria Teresa Panerai.

[photo courtesy of Antonio Guccione / Officine Panerai, 1999]

I met Emilio Bianchi in person during my first visit of the III Club Panerai Meeting in Viareggio/Italy in may 2003. In the following years he joined the Club Panerai meetings several times, e.g. to visit the former secret training base at Bocca di Serchio, which was unforgettable for all who took part.

In may 2007 Emilio Bianchi signed the crest of the Com.Sub.In. (scuba divers and commandos of the Marina Militare Italiana) which has been forwarded to a fellow friend in Australia. Moments like this have build a strong relationship inside of me between the Panerai watches and their history based on friendship and passion. It has been very special for me to meet him in person – a living legend.

Go for the 100, Emilio! [Volker Wiegmann]

November will be interesting to follow two important auctions, where Vintage Panerai watches will be up for sale. We hope they find a good new home and remail surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world.

Auktionen Dr. Crott will have their 84th auction including a Ref. 3646 / Type C watch at the Frankfurt Airport  Hotel Sheraton (saturday, november 12th). 

Christies will have their auction 1383 including a Ref. GPF 2/56 watch at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, Geneva (monday, november 14th).