The Ref. 3646 Panerai watch with the “HK” initials and “Einsatzgruppe Keller” caseback engraving is in our database since 2005.

The initial onion shaped winding crown has been replaced with a Rolex Oyster crown of a different type. Parts of the luminous material on the steel minute hand have been broken out by aging process. Both features are not illustrated in our graphics (left), but of course part of the database for identification use.

The watch comes with a completely documented history of its initial owner, a german “Kampfschwimmer” unit, which makes it a very interesting and collectible piece – a true “warbird”.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260630
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Always a pleasure to take off the watch and just look at its caseback. I read the names of the two previous owners, Mario Arillo M.O.V.M. and Fabio Castellani. I remember the story behind and the excitement when I held it in my hands for the first time in may 2003. In fact it is the first Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” watch I ever saw… and it still fascinates me today just like in the very first moment.

Our fellow collector friend Assaf Burstein from Israel provided some very nice comparing photos of the brand new PAM372 next to his 6152/1.

It is great to see that Panerai has introduced a watch with so many historical features, carrying the DNA of the brand into the future.

The long waited for “fiddy base” watch is here, giving applause to the designers in Milan.

Paneristi wanted this watch since years –
Panerai made it real!

Technical details of the “Luminor 1950” PAM372 (find more at www.panerai.com):
Hand-wound mechanical, Panerai P.3000 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, 16½ lignes, 5.3 mm thick, 21 jewels, Glucydur balance, 21,600 alternations/hour. Incabloc anti-shock device. Power reserve 3 days, two barrels. 160 components.

Functions:
Hours, minutes.

Case
Diameter 47 mm, polished steel.

Bezel
Polished steel.

Back
See-through sapphire crystal.

Device protecting the crown
(protected as a Trademark) Brushed steel.

Dial
Black with luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers.

Interesting to see the case construction / shape from different views. The lugs are comming out of the case much deeper than on the original 6152/1 case. They reminds on the lugs of the 6152 and 6154 watches, which is underlined by the strong edges on the sides of the PAM372 case. From a top view this is nearly not visible, but good to see from Asi’s comparing photos. Nice, that Panerai placed the reference numbers between the lugs, just like on their “vintage grandfathers”, which hold the Rolex reference number and individual six digit case number.

By the way: “Asi, it looks good on your wrist, and nice shirt too!”

The “Luminor Panerai” engraved dial is just great! The old font has been used for that, which is much nicer than the modern Helvetica font. Giving applause to the fact that the names are not printed onto the dial, but engraved into the dial. The “double pencil” hands seem to be a little bit too small / short, but I can imagine that this will be changed on later production models. It would be not the first time, that Panerai presented a watch to the public at the SIHH which later appears with small modifications… On the display back we can find again the historical correct fonts used for the “OFFICINE PANERAI BREVETTATO” – very nice! The see-thru chrystal is a nice feature to show the new P.3000 movement.

The trademark signatures on the crown protecting device are causing a little “head down” in me, but as it is the number 1 feature of the brand, Panerai must bring it – honestly I would have been off the roof to see an engraved “BREV. ITAL.” on the backside of the crown protecting device. Overall its really a wonderful watch, the star of the 2011 Panerai collection for me. Regular production 3000 pcs., hopefully enough for all who like to wear the heritage of a legendary brand on their wrist …a Panerai “Luminor 1950”.

[photos by Assaf Burstein – thanks mate!]

Great news from Geneva today: Panerai presented the novelties of their 2011 collection.

One of the highlights are these two 47 mm watches, which got a lot attention immedately after they were released on the public forum at paneristi.com: PAM372 (Panerai P3000 cal. /regular production / 3000 units) and PAM368 (Panerai P2002/9 cal. / special edition / 1000 units), which use a lot DNA of the historical models, giving applause to the designers from Panerai for going this way!

The official Panerai website is updated – click here to see the novelties 2011.

Took Sigi’s 3646 out to catch a nice view of the engraved caseback with his initials “SK” with my camera. Only a few of probably 16 watches from the “Einsatzgruppe Keller” exist today…

You can read more about “Kampfschwimmer” watches and their missions in chapter I.II, I.III and I.IV of our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, also this watch is featured in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter I.IV.

Unique pieces from Ralf’s historic collection:
A complete combat swimmer’s suit (made by Belloni in 1944) worn by a german “Kampfschwimmer” frogmen in ww2, complete with face mask (twin-viewing-glass = the so called “model 49”), gloves, combat knife, flippers and other equipment.

The pendulum breathing apparatus, produced by I.A.C. in cooperation with Pirelli, is equipped with two oxygen tanks (stamped june 1944).

You can read more about the combat swimmer’s equipment in our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History” in chapter III, page 167-201.

“Seven in one strike” – a collection of different Officine Panerai depth gauges, gray coated 70×90 mm cases.

7 meters (Radiomir)
15 meters (Luminor)
30 meters (Radiomir)
35 meters (Radiomir)
40 meters (Luminor)
50 meters (Radiomir)
60 meters (Radiomir)

[photo by Ralf Ehlers]

Officine Panerai produced various versions of high precision lathes in the middle of the last century. These tools are a great proof of precision and quality level of the Officine Panerai company, being able to create high precision tools for mechanical workshops in different types.

“Tornio Panerai – Mod. G.P.2 per orologeria” 

Diametro foro dell’ albero (spindle drill) 8mm
Lunghezza bancale (bench lenght) 300 mm
Distanza punta (pointing length) 150mm
Altezza punte (pointing height) 40mm

[photo by Ralf Ehlers]

The “Tornio Panerai – Mod. G.P.2 per orologeria” is featured in the “Torni Panerai – Catalogo N. 20” on page 11 (dated march, 1963).

Officine Panerai signal torch, creating three different light colors by a rotating head (white, green and red light) with external device to turn on and off (fixed or flashing light; patented in the 1950’s).

Dimensions of the signal torch:
length 23 cm / calibre 5.8 cm (head), 3 cm (rear/grip)
powered by 1 x 3Volt Superplus battery

[photo by Ralf Ehlers]