Signal buoys with color changeable flashlights, used by the italian navy divers, produced by Officine Panerai.

The buoy provides the position of navy divers in training by the orange ball on top during daylight conditions. For night training the buoy provides flashlight signals.

The battery powered flashlight can be adjusted to white, red and blue color and provides signals in various frequency.

weight: 13 kg
height: 168 cm
powered by 16 mono batteries (1.5 Volt)

Used in Ref. 3646 watches from Type A to Type G, the Rolex Cal. 618 movement comes without Incabloc shock protection. Typical for the non-incabloc version is the serif font for the letters A-R (French) and F-S (English) engraved on the regulation device (later versions show “+/-” symbols – see also Type 4).

The central bridge shows the “ROLEX 17 RUBIS” engraving on the left side. This engraving is used only in Ref. 3646 watches from Type A to Type D, as the Ref. 3646 watches from Type E to Type G bear “17 RUBIS FAB. SUISSE”.

You can read and see more about the different versions of Rolex Cal. 618 movements in Panerai watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”.

Research in vintage watches is boring? Absolutely not! This week we got three new entries in our database, so three more pieces of the puzzle added. All of them are Ref. 6152/1 watches with Rolex movements, two with “Marina Militare” dial and one with “Luminor Panerai” dial. They all match with our database structure, which confirms its functionality during our research since years.

Compare a Panerai “Luminor Submersible” from actual production whith this vintage Ref. GPF 2/56 – you can find a lot Panerai DNA from the 1950’s transferred into modern times.

The “Big Egiziano” aka “Egiziano Grosso” received its nickname because of  the huge case: it measures 60 mm, with crown protecting device even 66 mm. Panerai has produced a replica of this fantastic toolwatch as a Special Edition model in 2009 (PAM341) made of titanium.

Ralf captured the legendary, matte coated rotating bezel with 5 minute graduation in form of pin shaped elevated markers, with the 15, 30 and 45 minute markers particularly accentuated. The reference point at 12 ‘o’clock is filled with luminous material.

You can read more about the Ref. GPF 2/56 in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, chapter V, pages 256-283.

Looking thru my library today, I stopped at this photo which I took in april 2007. It was one of the first photos to build up the layout of our 1st book.

The pure DNA of Panerai featuring the crown protecting device, 47 mm case with solid lugs, huge domed plexi and “a strap like a belt” come out quite well, I think…

You can read more about the “Arillo Luminor” in our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, chapter I.V, pages 114-141 and also in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, chapter IV.II, pages 226-237.

Interesting detail of the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 and Type 3 movements: the small Cortebert symbol, engraved on the movement base under the balance cock. Both types of Rolex movements were used in Ref. 6152/1 watches (Type 3 = 15 Rubis version, Type 4 = 17 Rubis version).

The illustration left shows a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 where the position of the “Cort” engraving can be found.

You can read and see more about the different versions of Rolex Cal. 618 movements in Panerai watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”.

Officine Panerai introduced the PAM360 – the 44  mm Luminor watch for the 10th anniversary of www.paneristi.com – on their homepage www.panerai.com

Find the entire story here.

Interesting pieces of underwater equipment: an underwater spyglass / binoculars and the famous Galeazzi knife with tool grip, together with instruments from Guido Panerai & Figlio: compass, Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” watch (Angelus Cal. 240 SF movement), depth gauge and “Elux” torch.

The Panerai Ref. 6154 “Egiziano Piccolo” in good company: compasses, depth gauges and it’s “big brother” GPF 2/56 “Egiziano Grosso” in the background.

Even with an impressive case size of 47 millimeters, the Ref. 6154 watch looks pretty small compared to the instruments around, which have a case size of 70 x 90 mm.

Movement view of two Ref. 6152/1 watches: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement (17 Rubis and Incabloc shock protection) and the Angelus Cal. 240 SF (15 Rubis and Incabloc shock protection, signed “JUIN .61”) on the right.

Both watches have the legendary crown protecting device. The device of the watch with Rolex movement (124806) is signed “BREV. ITAL” and “9”, while the watch with Angelus movement (124784) is signed only with “3”.

Interesting to see, that the watch with Rolex movement has different hands (double pencil shape) compared to the watch with Angelus movement, which usually comes with single pencil shaped hands. Note also, that the size of the “Luminor Panerai” is different (smaller on dials with Angelus movement).

You can read and see more about the watch 124784 in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, chapter VI.III (page 312-329).