Author Archive

Ref. 3646 / Type C @ Christie’s New York

by on Nov.13, 2018, under Watch Point

Rahmen_Bild_hoch_2018_Christies_TypeCChristie’s will auction a Ref. 3646 / Type C with “Radiomir Panerai” sandwich dial and Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with onion shaped “Brevet +” crown (Type 11) in their Sale 16202 – An Evening of Exceptional Watches, December 6, in New York (Lot 22). The watch is recorded in our database since October – the second Ref. 3646 / Type C for the year 2018.

According to Christie’s, this Ref. 3646 / Type C has been in the same family since the Second World War.

The inner caseback bears the typical engraving of Ref. 3646 / Type C watches – the Rolex SA hallmark, the reference number and the seven digit case number. The outer caseback of this watch is not engraved / plain. An overview of the caseback markings (different hallmarks inside) in Ref. 3646 watches can be found here: Type A-C and Type D-G.

Watches of the Ref. 3646 / Type C are featured in our book “The References” (first volume / 1930’s-1940’s) in chapter II.III (page 248-397). Earlier this year, Fellows auctioned a similar watch of the same number group with deep red numbers and markers, which marked the first new entry in our database in 2018. Read more here.

Christie’s online catalogue of Sale 16202 can be found here.

We hope that also this watch will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.christies.com]

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Piers Motley to auction a Ref. 3646 / Type E

by on Aug.22, 2018, under Allgemein

Rahmen_Bild_2018_1000x700_PMA01Another souvenir from the Second World War in shape of a Ref. 3646 / Type E “Kampfschwimmer” with painted brass dial recently surfaced in the United Kingdom.

Piers Motley Auctions will feature this watch in their September auction. Read more about this interesting new addition to our database in our watch point.

[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.piersmotleyauctions.co.uk]

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Ref. 3646 / Type E @ Piers Motley Auctions

by on Aug.22, 2018, under Watch Point

Piers Motley Auctions (Exmouth / United Kingdom) will auction a Ref. 3646 / Type E “Kampfschwimmer” with painted brass dial in their auction on 17 September, 2018 (Lot 245).

Rahmen_Bild_2018_1000x700_PMA03The watch appears in good condition from the photos provided by the auction house. The blued steel hands are completely filled with luminous material, the anonymous brass dial shows no broken off numbers or markers, which we know from other watches with such dials, recorded in our database. The watch comes with the flat version of the bezel, matching to its anonymous, flat dial. Both lead seals are still present. The caseback of the watch bears no individual engraving.

The watch is powered with a matching Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 mod. movement (17 RUBIS FAB. SUISSE instead of ROLEX 17 RUBIS on the left side of the central bridge). The onion shaped winding crown (“BREVET +” Type 11) is screwed down onto the collar of the 47 mm cushion shaped case with soldered lugs. The watch is fitted onto a custom made leather strap with underlay, showing a big portion of patina, too. There are service marks on the inner caseback which could be the reason for the ratchet wheel without sunburst design.

Rahmen_Bild_2018_1000x700_PMA02What makes this watch a Ref. 3646 / Type E in our database criteria? As we have pointed out different caseback engravings earlier here, a Ref. 3646 without the Rolex SA hallmark can be only Type E (26XXXX) or Type G (317XXX) from its six digit case number embossed on the inside of the caseback.

This specimen has enlarged the number group of Ref. 3646 / Type E watches from 260850 – 261097 to 260850 – 261111. Twentysix Ref. 3646 / Type E watches were registered in our records as of 1.1.2016, 27 watches since end of 2016 with the Ref. 3646 / Type E “California Dial” auctioned at Phillips, being the only “new” Type E entry in our records until this watch – the 261111 – surfaced and represents the 28th Ref. 3646 / Type E in our records.

Very interesting also (just like the overlap between Ref. 3646 / Type D and Type E watches – read more on page 535-543 in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s) that there exist watches of the Ref. 3646 / Type F (again with Rolex SA hallmark embossed in the center of the caseback) which have a lower case number than this Ref. 3646 / Type E.

You can read the press release from Piers Motley Auctions here.

We hope that also this watch will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photos with kindly permission / courtesy of www.piersmotleyauctions.co.uk]

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Eppli to auction an engraved Ref. 3646 / Type D

by on Aug.07, 2018, under Allgemein

Rahmen_Bild_2018_Eppli_TypeD_6Auction House Eppli (Stuttgart/Germany) features a Ref. 3646 / Type D with anonymous, painted brass dial and engraved caseback in their auction on September 1st, 2018 (Lot 560). Eppli is known for auctioning another Ref. 3646 / Type D with brass dial two years ago in April 2016.

This Ref. 3646 / Type D has been consigned for auction at Eppli by the family of the first owner Horst Muntau, who was a “Kampfschwimmer” in the Kriegsmarine / German Navy at the end of the Second World War.

Rahmen_Bild_2018_Eppli_TypeD_5Several documents of this era, as well as historic photos of Horst Muntau are part of the lot and making it a very rare “full set”. This 3646 / Type D is recorded in our database since April 2018 and appears for auction for the first time.

The watch features a typical Rolex 618 / Type 1 movement and comes with an original leather strap sewn onto the soldered lugs of the cushion shaped case including its original nickel plated brass pin buckle (“ergonomically” customised – bent down, like we know it from many other buckles of this type).

Rahmen_Bild_2018_Eppli_TypeD_7The engraved initials on the caseback “HM” (surrounded by the year of his service as “Kampfschwimmer” in 1945) are matching the name of the “Kampfschwimmer”. We have published more on this watch earlier in our Watch Point.

Recently we have published an update on today’s existing pieces of this number group in our database. With the beginning of August 2018, Horst Muntau’s “Kapmfschwimmer” watch is one of nineteen watches with painted brass dial within the 95 watches of the Ref. 3646 / Type D registered in our database.

We hope that this watch will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Historic photo of Horst Muntau courtesy of Auktionshaus Eppli e.K.]

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“Luminor Panerai” Compass

by on Jul.14, 2018, under Allgemein

Bussole_IMG_6473_600x600Compasses and depth gauges made by Guido Panerai & Figlio are featured in several versions (with “Radiomir” and “Luminor” luminous material) in chapter XI of the second volume of our book “The References”.

Chapter XI.I is featuring compasses from Guido Panerai & Figlio. Five different models are featured from page 1320 to 1333. Three with “Radiomir”, two with “Luminor”, similiar to the instrument which can be seen in the photo.  

Our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s is featuring several historic photos in which such compasses from Guido Panerai & Figlio can be spotted on page 794, 1064, 1068, 1316, 1318.

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Summer Read – “back to the fifties and sixties”

by on Jul.10, 2018, under Allgemein

IMG_3811_600x600How about taking a seat in your frontyard, backyard or in a quiet corner of your garden? If your coffee table has a free corner for one of our four books, it could be a cozy time for a summer read:

“History1” – four chapters, 420 pages
“History2” – five chapters, 480 pages
“The References” 1930’s-1940’s – five chapters, 696 pages
“The References” 1950’s-1960’s – seven chapters, 696 pages

The coffee table shot shows the book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s, with the famous “8 GIORNI BREVETTATO” symbol embossed into the green canvas hardcover, on the right. The 696 pages feature watches from Guido Panerai & Figlio made in the 1950’s and 1960’s: Reference 6152, 6154, 6152/1, GPF 2/56 and modified References. Furthermore this book holds a chapter about compasses and depth gauges, as well as straps and buckles of this era.

All books are in stock and can be shipped soon – just visit our bookstore. Use the browse by tags function to read information about the content in each of the four books. Read how to place your order here.

Take a seat and enjoy reading!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

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Watches of the Reference 3646 / Type A – Type G

by on Jun.27, 2018, under Allgemein

3646_Type_E_California_Dial_600x600More than two hundred watches of the Reference 3646 are registered in our database today. Among all different Vintage Panerai models, the 3646 marks the reference with the most known specimen in our records. Nine years ago, in 2009, 143 recorded watches were featured in the first (sold out) edition of our book “The References”. Within the entire serial number sequence of the reference 3646, we differentiate between seven different variations (3646 / Type A – Type G). The photo on the left shows a Ref. 3646 / Type E with “California Dial”, which is featured in chapter II.V (page 544-551).

In our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s the watches of the entire reference 3646 are featured in chapter II with more than six hundred pages in the chapters II.I-II.VII following an intro on page 40-49. The seven different variations can be found in our reference quickfinder on page 14-20.

Chapter II.I = Reference 3646 / Type A
(featuring two different watches on page 50-169).

Chapter II.II = Reference 3646 / Type B
(featuring four different watches on page 170-247).

Chapter II.III = Reference 3646 / Type C
(featuring seven different watches on page 248-397).

Chapter II.IV = Reference 3646 / Type D
(featuring nine different watches on page 398-531).

Chapter II.V = Reference 3646 / Type E
(featuring four different watches on page 532-573).

Chapter II.VI = Reference 3646 / Type F
(featuring two different watches on page 574-607).

Chapter II.VII = Reference 3646 / Type G
(featuring two different watches on page 608-645).

See the different inner casebacks of Ref. 3646 / Type A – Type C watches here, as well as the inner casebacks of Ref. 3646 / Type D – Type G watches here. Read about the 3646 watches with disappeared hallmarks here.

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Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” @ Eppli

by on Jun.11, 2018, under Watch Point

Rahmen_Bild_2018_Eppli_TypeD_1An interesting and rare Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” with painted brass dial and engraved caseback with initials of the first owner Horst Muntau will be auctioned at Eppli on September 1st, 2018 in Stuttgart/Germany. The watch has been added into our database earlier this year, being one more specimen with painted brass dial within the number group of Ref. 3646 / Type D watches.

The watch comes with a typical onion shaped “Brevet +” winding crown (Type 11) as well as with its original leather strap and nickel coated brass pin buckle. Inside the watch is working a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with typical decorations and engravings on the bridges. The watch appears with an unpolished case with flat bezel and typical internal details (decorative polish on the inside of the caseback, Rolex SA hallmark with reference and individual case number).

Rahmen_Bild_2018_Eppli_TypeD_8Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (painted brass, anonymous)
Case number: 260XXX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Noteworthy:
The outer caseback of the watch bears personal engravings of the first owner Horst Muntau with the initals “HM”, year of service as “Kampfschwimmer” in 1945. The family of the first owner has consigned the watch at Eppli with additional information in shape of photos of the first owner in his navy uniform, as well as several documents of his duty in the Kriegsmarine / German Navy during the Second World War.

Rahmen_Bild_2018_Eppli_TypeD_7On many other engraved Ref. 3646  watches of this type it is not possible to find a connection between watch and wearer. Fortunately this watch has been in the family of the first owner since the end of the Second World War and several documents of the service and instruction period to become a “Kampfschwimmer” have been kept together, making it a rare and interesting “full set” Ref. 3646 / Type D in terms of overall condition plus additional information about the first owner matching with the engraving on the outer caseback.

Watches of the Reference 3646 / Type D are featured in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s in chapter II.IV (page 398-531) including a historic photo of a “Kampfschwimmer” wearing a 3646 with brass dial on page 475. Brass dialed Ref. 3646 / Type D are featured on page 468-493. In this part of the book, an overview of different decorative polish on the inside of the caseback (Type A – Type G) can be found on page 486.

We hope the watch will find a good new home and that it remain surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[First photo of documents and watch courtesy of Auktionshaus Eppli e.K.]

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“Luminor Panerai” Depth Gauge

by on May.20, 2018, under Allgemein

IMG_5838_600x600Compasses and depth gauges made by Guido Panerai & Figlio are featured in several versions (with “Radiomir” and “Luminor” luminous material) in chapter XI of the second volume of our book “The References”.

Chapter XI.I is featuring compasses from Guido Panerai & Figlio. Five different models are featured from page 1320 to 1333. Three with “Radiomir”, two with “Luminor”. Chapter XI.II is featuring depth gauges from Guido Panerai & Figlio, similiar to the instrument which can be seen in the photo. Ten different models are featured from page 1334 to 1367. Six with “Radiomir”, aimed to 7, 30, 35 (2 versions: adjustable and non-adjustable dial), 50 and 60 meters. Four with “Luminor”, aimed to 7, 15, 16, 30 and 40 meters.  

Click on the link to see the video of a pressure test on a “Luminor Panerai” 16 meter depth gauge: Vintage_Panerai_Depth_Gauge. Click on the link to see the pressure release – “the surfacing” in this video: Vintage_Panerai_depth_gauge_surfacing

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May summary: three watches in two auctions

by on May.04, 2018, under Allgemein

Rahmen_Bild_2018_DrCrott_TypeD_5The month of May will see three Vintage Panerai watches offered in two different auctions. A Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” will be offered in Frankfurt during Dr. Crott Auctioneers‘ 97th Auction on Saturday, 12 May, 2018. Earlier this year, this watch (lot 114) marked the first new recorded specimen in our database for the year 2018 inside the Ref. 3646 / Type D number group. Read more on this “Kampfschwimmer” here in our watch point.

One day later, on 13 May, Phillips offers two Vintage Panerai watches in their Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN (session two / Sunday). Lot 212 is a Ref. 6152/1 with “Luminor Panerai” dial. Read more on this 6152/1 with a very rare matriculation number of the Guardia di Finanza engraved on the caseback here. The third watch up for auction in May is another Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” which was auctioned 21 years ago in 1997 at Christie’s “Ravenborg Collection of Rolex Watches”. It is now lot 213 in Phillips’ Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN and you can read more about it here in our watch point (please note also the update on this watch from 7 May, 2018).

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