Sotheby’s New York will auction a rare Ref. 3646 / Type B with riveted plastic dial – read more at their website here.

This specimen is one of only 21 Ref. 3646 / Type B watches known in our database until today. It has been recorded in 2013 and still remains the watch with the lowest case number within all known Ref. 3646 / Type B watches, bearing the small Oyster Watch Co hallmark on the inside of the caseback (“full polish” decoration) with its seven-digit casing reference number and the reference number 3646. You can read more on our 3646 caseback classification here.

The watch is fitted with a riveted plastic dial, which has a smaller diameter than the sandwich dials, visible by the little gap between dial and (high) bezel. It bears the famous “Radiomir Panerai” writing below 12 o’clock. The surface of the plastic dial has become distorted over time. The luminous material under the surface in the numerals and indices appears lightly raised, while the other areas have become recessed (see also photo here).

The watch is fitted with a Rolex crown (Type 13) with “Oyster Patent +” lettering. The steel hands on this watch have become competely skeletonized. The dodecagonal caseback of the watch does not have an outer engraving. The 47 mm steel case has the typical breadth of the curved strap loop, a common feature on watches from the early series (Type A to Type C) visible in the photo below.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type B
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai” (sandwich, riveted plastic dial)
Case number: 1009XXX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

We have featured this watch in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s in chapter II.II on page 173-189. It was one of several historic Panerai watches Hammer provided to us in 2014 to be featured in our books. We hope our friend’s beloved 3646 will find a good new home and that it remain surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photos courtesy of Martin Wilmsen]

Aguttes (Paris/France) will auction a Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” with Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement and engraved caseback from 14 to 28 June online here (Lot 5).

This Ref. 6152/1 is in our database since June 2007, when we took the photos in this posting, during the annual Club Panerai collectors meeting in Viareggio/Italy. Back then, Marco, son of Admiral Cataldo Gigantesco, showed us the watch of his father. Aguttes has published detailled information on Admiral Gigantesco’s career at the Marina Militare / G.O.I. which led to the unique engraving on the caseback of the watch in 1983 here.

The Rolex movement of the watch with “Luminor Panerai” dial is a typical Cal. 618 / Type 4 version with incabloc shock protection and 17 jewels. The watch is equipped with so-called “Double Pencil” hands. The crown-protecting device of this watch is signed “BREV. ITAL.” and additionally numbered “5” on the underside.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai”
Case number: 124591
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4

Chapter VIII.II of our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s is featuring similar watches like this specimen on auction at Aguttes, with Rolex movement and Panerai crown-protecting device, on page 922-1057. The unique caseback engraving has been illustrated and explained in our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s on page 916-917. An overview about the “BREV. ITAL.” signatures on watches with crown-protecting device can be found on page 975.

Currently this Ref. 6152/1 is one of the 73 watches in our database with Rolex movement and Panerai crown guard. Read more on the known watches in our records here as of 1 Januar 2023.

We hope that this Ref. 6152/1 will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

We recently added another unknown watch into our database – yet another piece of the puzzle surfaced, which marks the Ref. 3646 / Type D #104 in our records. The “Kampfschwimmer” watch with anonymous painted brass dial appears with an unpolished case with a matching flat bezel. The original winding crown has been replaced.

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.

The caseback of the watch is not engraved. However, a handwritten note from the son of the “Kampfschwimmer” explains that his father completed his training in Bad Tölz at Lehrkommando 702. You can read more about the training site Bad Tölz and the Lehrkommando 702 in our book “History2” on page 660-662 and 789-795.

The watch will be up for auction on November 13, 2021 at Dr. Crott’s 105th auction in Mannheim.

The inner caseback bears the typical Rolex SA hallmark, reference and case number known for 3646 / Type D watches. Inside the watch is a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with typical decorations and engravings on the bridges (ROLEX 17 RUBIS / FAB. SUISSE).

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer”  (painted brass, anonymous)
Case number: 2607XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

We hope that this Ref. 3646 / Type D with brass dial will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

The Ref. 3646 / Type D with anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” dial appears at Dr. Crott Auctioneers’ 104th auction (22 May, 2021 in Mannheim/Germany) with an unpolished case with a matching high bezel and original, domed plexi.  The blued steel hands appear skeletonized, broken out lume on both hands. The caseback of the watch is plain (not engraved with a signature or initials of the first owner). Currently, this watch is the first new entry in 2021 and 103rd specimen in the number group of Ref. 3646 / Type D watches in our database.

Inside the watch is a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with typical decorations and engravings on the bridges (ROLEX 17 RUBIS / FAB. SUISSE). The inner caseback bears the typical Rolex SA hallmark, reference and case number known for 3646 / Type D watches, with “Half Polish” decoration.

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). 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. Read more on our specification of the Reference 3646 here.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 2606XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Still sewn onto the upper soldered lug is one part of the original leather strap including the large, nickel-plated brass pin buckle. The original onion shaped winding crown and the stem are unfortunately missing. Its not impossible to find these parts, however it is not easy, too. But if this would happen after the auction during a service, the new owner would have a very nice Ref. 3646 / Type D with a lot patina on his wrist.

The watch is up for auction at Dr. Crott Auctioneers here.

We hope that this Ref. 3646 / Type D with brass dial will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photo of the Ref. 3646 / Type D courtesy of www.uhren-muser.de]

Phillips will feature a rare Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” in their Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI, which will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2020. Read more about lot 999 here.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai”
Case number: 124833
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4

The Rolex movement of the watch with “Luminor Panerai” dial is a typical Cal. 618 / Type 4 version with incabloc shock protection and 17 jewels. The watch is equipped with so-called “double pencil” hands with sharp pins. This particular variation of the brass hands is known among collectors as the “Double Pencil – Sharp Pin” style.

Similar watches of the Reference 6152/1 with Rolex movement and crown-protecting device can be found in chapter VIII.II (page 922-1057) of our book  “The References” 1950’s-1960’s .

We hope that this Ref. 6152/1 with Angelus movement and “Fourliner” dial will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photo courtesy of www.phillips.com]

Phillips will feature a rare Ref. 6152/1 “Fourliner” in their Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI, which will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2020. Read more about lot 998 here.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Fourliner”
Case number: 124964
Matriculation number: 31
Movement: Angelus Cal. 240 SF (8 days)

Typical for watches with this case and dial configuration (however only very few are known compared to the Ref. 6152/1 watches with Rolex movements) is the display caseback, featuring the matriculation number 31, with a view onto the Angelus movement, signed MAI.61.

Similar watches of the Reference 6152/1 with Angelus movement and Rolex crown (with matriculation number 35, 45 and 52) can be found in chapter X.III (page 1212-1259) of our book  “The References” 1950’s-1960’s .

We hope that this Ref. 6152/1 with Angelus movement and “Fourliner” dial will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photo courtesy of www.phillips.com]

Phillips will feature a very rare Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” in their Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI, which will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2020. Read more about lot 997 here.

Until today we have just a few 6152/1 watches in our records that still feature such an additional rotating bezel – and one of them is the watch up for auction here at Phillips. However, seven other watches registered in our database with a Plexiglas crystal that has been adapted for affixing a rotating bezel show that the known examples (including this specimen) are not one-offs or “prototypes” as they have been often labelled to underline the extreme rarity.

The Rolex movement of the watch with “Luminor Panerai” dial is a typical Cal. 618 / Type 4 version with incabloc shock protection and 17 jewels.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai”
Case number: 124614
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4

Watches of the Reference 6152/1 with Rolex movement and crown-protecting device can be found in chapter VIII.II (page 922-1057) of our book  “The References” 1950’s-1960’s .

We hope that this Ref. 6152/1 will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photo courtesy of www.phillips.com]

Phillips will feature a rare GPF 2/56 “Big Egiziano” with in their Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI, which will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2020. Read more about lot 996 here.

Features of the watch:
Reference: GPF 2/56
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 019
Movement: Angelus Cal. 240 SF (8 days)

[Photo courtesy of www.phillips.com]

This “Big Egiziano” bears the matriculation number 019 on the inside of the caseback, which is screwed onto the body by six screws. The “engine” of this watch with a case size of 60 mm and rotating bezel, the Angelus Cal. SF 240 eight-days-movement, is signed “12.55” and equipped with an Incabloc shock protection.

A similar GPF 2/56 with also brown faded “Radiomir Panerai” dial (case number 018) has been featured back in 2011 when it was auctioned at Christies here.

Watches of the Reference GPF 2/56 can be found in chapter IX (page 1058-1161) of our book  “The References” 1950’s-1960’s. Read also the historical background on watches and instruments from Guido Panerai & Figlio used by the Egypt frogmen (“Al ferka al serria”) in chapter VII and IX, accompanied with rare historic photos.

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

We have recently added another unknown watch into our database – yet another piece of the puzzle surfaced, which marks the Ref. 3646 / Type D #100 in our records at the beginning of the year 2020.

The watch with anonymous painted brass dial appears with an unpolished case with a matching flat bezel. The caseback of the watch is not engraved. It remained in a drawer during the last decades and was introduced to us in the last days of January by the current owner.

The inner caseback bears the typical Rolex SA hallmark, reference and case number known for 3646 / Type D watches. 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.

Inside the watch is a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with typical decorations and engravings on the bridges (ROLEX 17 RUBIS / FAB. SUISSE). The blued steel hands appear untouched, with the original luminous material, partially broken out on the minute hand. Original winding crown and stem are missing.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer”  (painted brass, anonymous)
Case number: 2607XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The watch will be up for auction here.

Christie’s New York will auction a Ref. 3646 / Type D with anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” dial in their auction Important Watches on 12 December, 2019 (lot 10). It is the third new entry of the Ref. 3646 / Type D in our database in the year 2019.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer”  (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 2605XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Watches of the Ref. 3646 / Type D with anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” dials are featured in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s on page 398-531 in chapter II.IV.

Further info on this watch can be found in Christie’s e-catalogue 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 of the Ref. 3646 / Type D watch courtesy of www.christies.com]