We are glad to announce that also our book “History2″ has been recorded in the Library of the Federal Archives of Germany. Visitors of the library in Koblenz can see and read our book (with the signature B I 318 -2-) there.

Aside further international archives (The National Archives of the United Kingdom, The Imperial War Museum in London, The Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare), the Federal Archives have been a helpful source for us during the research, in Chapter V, Chapter VI, Chapter VII and Chapter VIII. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

View on the inner caseback of a Ref. 6154 “Egiziano Piccolo” – the unique and beautiful decorated Montres Rolex S.A. Symbol, different to the other references made for Panerai in the 1950s (6152, 6152/1).

You can find an overview on the differences in the inner caseback of the three references 6152, 6154 and 6152/1 here.

Our new book “History2″ is featured in the new “timegeeks” magazine on page 6, introducing new watch book releases (http://timegeeks.dk). Kristian Haagen, a passionated watch enthusiast and journalist, has provided us his latest magazine’s edition as pdf-file: September 2013.

Kristian “Bezelator” Haagen  is known in the watch world as a long-term member of the paneristi.com forum since september 2000. He  received the 2003 and 2004 “asshat award” and his unforgettable “corkscrew treatment” will remain as one of the most attended performances ever made by a paneristi.com member.

Thanks for giving our new book “History2” a spotlight in your Magazine, Kristian! [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Ralf captured the wonderfully aged brown “Radiomir Panerai” dial of this Ref. 6154 “Egiziano Piccolo” (small Egiziano). Faded Colors and cracked luminous markers and numbers are giving this watch a very Special appearance and unique look. In its flat 47 mm stainless steel case, it is today one of the rarest Vintage Panerai watches. The reference 6154 was produced for the Egyptian Navy in 1954 in very small numbers – until today only a few watches surfaced into the Vintage Panerai world.

Compared with the references 6152 and 6152/1, the 6154 is even more elegant and almost “streamlined” which gives it a special nickname in the Vintage Panerai world: “the Maserati amongst Ferraris”.

The german watch portal www.watchtime.net featured the Vintage Panerai Ref. 3646 / Type D – “The Kiefer Radiomir”– with an overview about the details of the watch and the history behind its first owner, german frogmen Karl-Heinz Kiefer.

“The Kiefer Radiomir” is fully described in our book “History1″ in Chapter III on 55 pages with 39 photos and 3 technical illustrations. Thanks to www.watchtime.net for putting a spotlight onto Panerai’s DNA. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Interesting to see the profile of a Ref. 3646 watch in this photo, showing the pillow shaped case with the onion shaped crown (“Brevet +”) and its soldered to the case lugs in the middle of the photo. Bezel and caseback are both screwed down to the brass holding ring inside the watch, using lead seals to make the watch waterproof. The lead seals are sitting on the flat areas of the cushioned shaped case. This watch is using the high version of the bezel made for watches with a sandwich dial from Panerai.

In our new book “History2” we put a spotlight onto the construction of the Ref. 3646 in Chapter VIII.I with a technical illustration (page 771 – 775) and several photos, explaining the waterproof construction of the Reference 3646.

The german watch portal www.watchtime.net featured the Vintage Panerai Ref. 3646 / Type D – “The Pape Radiomir”– with an overview about the details of the watch and the history behind its first owner, german frogman Heinz Pape.

“The Pape Radiomir” is fully described in our book “History1″ in Chapter II on 91 pages with 44 photos and 3 technical illustrations. Thanks to www.watchtime.net for putting a spotlight onto Panerai’s DNA. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Another special moment for Ralf… and another promise kept: recently he visited Walter Lewandowski, the german frogmen veteran, who is featured in our new book “History2″ in Chapter VIII. Ralf delivered, as promised, a personal copy to Mr. Lewandowski (born in 1925) who welcomed him in good health, happy to see the result of our research and editorial work during the last two years.

Walter Lewandowski’s wife captured the moment when Ralf showed the final chapter to him.

Be well and stay in good shape, Mr. Lewandowski!  [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

We are glad to announce that our book “History1” has been recorded in the Library of the Federal Archives of Germany. Visitors of the library in Koblenz can see and read our book (with the signature B I 318 -1-) there.

Aside further international archives (The National Archives of the United Kingdom, The Imperial War Museum in London, The Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare), the Federal Archives have been a helpful source for us during the research, in particular on Chapter II. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Today we send our birthday greetings to the german frogmen veteran Jochen Burnus, who can celebrate his 90th birthday in good health. Jochen Burnus, born 1923, is featured in our book “History2” in Chapter V. A few weeks ago Ralf visited Jochen to handover our new book where “his” personal story is published.

Stay in good shape, Jochen – alles Gute zum Geburtstag, “Heiwidiwu!”
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]