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]

Some time ago I have written on paneristi.com about fake watches which have the same caseback numbers than existing, real vintage Panerai watches (3646 / Type C #1010222 – in our database since march 2007; 3646 / Type D #260720 – in our database since december 2009). I’d like to keep the info available for collectors here as well. Recently I have been contacted by another Panerai collector who showed me a doubtful piece, which we were able to identify by checking our database.

We ask collectors to be careful and check for important details. We offer our free help to check our database if the offered watch is already known.

A load of Vintage Panerai instruments with “Luminor” and “Radiomir” substance; 10 depth gauges aimed for various depths and 13 compasses produced from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Especially rare are the two small compasses, which have been used in World War 2 (left corner of the photo) by german and italian frogmen. Further details about these two rare instruments can be found here [Italian frogmen’s compass] and [German frogmen’s compass].

[photo by Ralf Ehlers]

Stunning watch infront of some Vintage Panerai compasses: the GPF 2/56. The case diameter of this reference is 66 millimeters including the crown protecting device. It was made by Panerai for the Egyptian navy in the mid 1950’s, which received the nickname “Egiziano Grosso” because of its huge size.

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

Two “Elux Panerai” signal devices for underwater use in their cardboard storing boxes. Creating red or green light, both devices are battery powered.

Large device (red “Elux” light patch = 5 x 10 cm):
Battery pack 18 x 8 cm, 4 x 1.5 V mono batteries.
on/off switch as known from the underwater torches.

Small device (green “Elux” light patch = 2.5 x 5 cm):
Battery pack 21 x 3 cm, 2 x 1.5 V AA mignon batteries.
on/off switch behind a rubber membrane.

[photos by Ralf Ehlers]

Sending birthday greetings to Italy: Omeris Arpesella, veteran of the italian “Gruppo Gamma”, celebrates his 96th birthday today.

The photo taken back in 2006 shows Diego Gabathuler, Piero Lapiana (clubpanerai.com) and Omeris Arpesella in La Spezia near the naval museum “Arsenale”. It was a happy moment just after the handover of the memorial plate with the names of the Panerai collectors from all around the world who realized a new Panerai watch to replace Omeris’ stolen 3646 “California Dial” in the year before, summer 2005. 

There is no better moment than Omeris’ birthday to remember that great gesture of many people… Buon Compleanno, Omeris!

A set of vintage “Luminor Panerai” instruments – the so called “Trittico”: compass, Ref. 6152/1 wrist watch and 16 m depth gauge. The depth gauge is calibrated to 16 meters. There exist other versions for various depths, depending on their use (attack or defense; calibrations from 7 to 60 meters are known today). Both instruments, the compass and the depth gauge, have a case size of 70 x 90 mm. The compass rose is divided into 22.5° sections, commonly used in seafaring circles.

The owner of a yet undiscovered Ref. 6152/1 “Marina Militare”, based in Italy, has contacted us recently to provide some information about his watch, which we added into our database. The case number (1247XX) of the watch is inbetween the number of today existing 6152/1 watches. So, one more “piece of the puzzle” is added – our database is permanently growing.

You can find more information about Ref. 6152/1 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter IV, pages 202-255.