An electro-mechanical device with 9 days power reserve for controlling and activating explosives (delay mechanism). Swiss “Reform” movement with 15 Rubis, 1a quality level, signed “Panerai Firenze”. 

The following text is engraved on the lid (upper left photo):
important
avoid dangerous circuit closures should observe the following precautions.
1) make sure before starting the graduation of the external switch on the lid is in open position.
2) meter should never be left calibrated to zero.

Photo credits to Assaf Burstein from Israel

Movement view of two vintage Panerai watches: Rolex inside…! 
The differences in decoration and engraving of the bridges are clearly visible on Rolex Cal. 618 Type 1 and Type 4 movements.

During our research work we created for a better understanding a subdivision of 4 movement types, which is an important feature of our database of today’s existing vintage Panerai watches. Basically they are all Cal. 618, but they show differences in many details.

Beside the engravings and different decoration, the main identifying features are:
Type 1 = 17 Rubis, no Incabloc (used in Ref. 3646 Type A – G and in Ref. 6154)
Type 2 = 15 Rubis, no Incabloc (used in Ref. 6152)
Type 3 = 15 Rubis, Incabloc shock protection (used in Ref. 6152/1)
Type 4 = 17 Rubis, Incabloc shock protection (used in Ref. 6152/1)

Left watch: Ref. 3646 / Type D
Rolex Calibre 618 Cortebert Type 1.
16 Lines, power reserve approx. 36 hours, 18.000 half-oscillations per hour.
17 Rubis, no Incabloc.

Right watch: Ref. 6152/1
Rolex Calibre 618 Cortebert Type 4.
16 Lines, power reserve approx. 36 hours, 18.000 half-oscillations per hour.
17 Rubis, Incabloc shock protection.

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”.

Recently Ralf discovered a rare Panerai compass, produced in the WW2 aera. It is smaller (case diameter 54 mm / height 28 mm, on the right of the photo) than the later produced compasses (case diameter 70 mm, on the left of the photo), together with a 3646 / Type D watch (produced in 1943-1944).

The small Panerai compass has flexible lugs (26 mm width) and a plexiglas dome with one screw on the side, which can be removed to fill up the fluid). The top of the plexiglas dome has a bearing line and is screwed to the case with six screws. The screws reaching deep into the side part of the plexiglas dome, which is a remarkable difference between the WW2 aera and post WW2 aera versions.

It’s also interesting to see that the compass dial of this early production is divided into (only) 45° sections, not like the “younger” compasses which are divided into 22.5° sections.

We know another compass of the same production batch, which is engraved “Officine Panerai Brevettato” on the caseback, while this piece has a plain caseback without a Panerai signature. For some reasons some of the post WW2 instruments (e.g. depth gauges) are “anonymous” (not engraved on the caseback), while most of them bear the “Officine Panerai Brevettato” signature.

Elettrosegnalatore GPF 1/58 Brevetto IT. N° 47/165. Signal light used by the italian navy.

Powered by internal batteries (see upper left details in the photo) or external 12V DC supply (not pictured), which can be connected by cable at the bottom of the rear grip. The signal light can be activated by a “pistol-like” trigger, using an aiming device for sending the light singnals straing to their destination. The GPF 1/58 is equipped with a shoulder extension which can be mounted additionally to the rear.  Light colors can be changed by turning the wheel on the base of the front grip, which rotates the filters next to the light bulp.

The signal light, shoulder extension and spare light bulps are stored in a leather suitcase. The external power supply is stored in a separate, smaller suitcase of similar type.

Returned from a great weekend in Viareggio/Italy, home of the Club Panerai, which just celebrated it’s 10th birthday (2000 – 2010). Piero Lapiana realized another great meeting with friends, watches and food.

I’ve published a report in the public forum at www.paneristi.com. Enjoy reading part 1 / part 2 / part 3.

Fellow paneristi mates have published their personal reports as well. Ron (Isle of Man) at www.paneristi.com published a nice random photo galore. Ralf (Germany) has published a nice report at www.paneraiforum.de with several batches of photos.

Italy – home of Panerai. [Volker Wiegmann]

A set of vintage Panerai instruments – the so called “Trittico”

Left: depth gauge (30 meters)
“Radiomir Panerai” dial, coated 70 mm case.
Center: watch (Ref. 6154)
“Egiziano Piccolo” with “Radiomir Panerai” dial, 47 mm case.
Rigth: compass
Dial divided into 22.5° sections, coated 70 mm case.

Club Panerai is celebrating the 10th anniversary on may 1st, 2010.

The Club Panerai is dedicated to the owners of some of the Luminor and Radiomir models, manufactured by the Officine Panerai of Florence, overall for the Commandos and the Scuba-Divers of the Italian Navy.

The annual Club Panerai Meeting has become an important date for Panerai collectors around the world. Thanks to the organizers Piero Lapiana, Marco Mancini and Ricciardo Canova, the guests have been able to visit historical places, which are related to the history of Panerai watches and operators, which have used the instruments from our favourite brand during their missions. By their efforts and good relationship to the italian navy, guests have been able to get access to military places which usually are not open for the public. Also some italian veterans have joined the meetings, which will remain as unforgettable moments for those who were able to meet them in person.

Highlights of the past meetings have been: The visit of the “Arsenale” (Naval Museum in La Spezia), the visit of Bocca di Serchio (a secret training site of SLC pilots during WW2) together with Emilio Bianchi (M.O.V.M.), several visits at the Commando of the italian scuba divers Com.Sub.In. (Le Grazie), the visit of the training ship “Palinuro”, the visit of the Naval Academy in Livorno, the visit of the Panerai Boutique in Portofino – just to mention a few…

The hotel “Club I Pini” with its special atmosphere has given the meetings a special family atmosphere. We like to thank the organizers from Club Panerai for their efforts in the past ten years and a successful future for their club!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Today’s extract out of our database is a 6152/1 watch. It holds the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement (typical for 6152/1 watches), which has 17 Jewels (bridge engraved “17 Rubis”) and Incabloc shock protection. The crown protection device bears an engraved “1” on its backside.

Panerai collectors call this kind of watches “The Luminor Base” because of the typo on the dial, the missing second hand (only 2 hands) and the crown protecting device, which is one of the main design elements that makes a Panerai watch “different” to many other watches.

Powered with the Rolex movement, this type of vintage Panerai stands for the “Base” version without small second (modern Panerai watches of ref. PAM2, PAM112 and PAM176).

The title “Luminor Marina” (modern Panerai watches of ref. PAM1, PAM111, PAM177) has its root in the vintage 6152/1 watches (see the 6152/1 on the left), which are powered by Angelus movements (Cal. 240) with the typical small second function. They symbolize “The Luminor Marina” as version with 3 hands, that is hours, minutes and small second.

Officine Panerai underwater torches produced for the egyptian navy in the 1950’s.

The plexi tube was changeable for two functions: clear part on top for floodlight use (large photo), black part on top for spotlight / signal use (small photo). The plexi tube has windings on both ends and can be changed by the unit while operating underwater.

The torch can be switched on/off by turning the knurled wheel.