Our books featured in the watch press

by on Mar.05, 2010, under General

Since 2007, both of our books have been featured in german and swiss watch magazines. The latest press review was published in “Armbanduhren“, one of germany’s leading watch mags.

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A note from Mr. Franco Cologni

by on Mar.02, 2010, under General

After the release of the 2nd book we sent copies of our both books to Mr. Franco Cologni.
We received his following comment:

Dear Sirs,

I have just received your beautiful present which I appreciate a lot. These two books represent a very important testimony for Panerai and they are certainly a fundamental reference of the story of this brand. A true story that, also thanks to your job, is becoming legendary. In your books appears an emotion that it isn’t present in a lot of other books concerning watches: the passion.

With my best and heart-felt compliments!
Franco Cologni

Mr. Cologni served until March 2005 as Chairman of Panerai, the watch brand that Richemont had acquired in 1997 thanks to his intuition regarding its promising potential. He is currently the president of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH).

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A Panerai legend finally surfaced

by on Feb.21, 2010, under General

With great pleasure we took note of the release of the Mare Nostrum chronograph (PAM300) at the SIHH in Geneva, january 2010.

Finally Panerai has launched the legendary chronograph, which is a milestone in the brand’s heritage. We are sure that this watch, produced in only 99 units, will be come a sought after piece like PAM21, PAM203 and PAM267… giving applause to Panerai for turning the mythos into reality!

It will be interesting to see, if Panerai will keep this case design exclusively for the released special edition only, or if further Panerai chronographs come in this case – maybe in smaller size and with inhouse movements (P.2004)?

(Photo: Archivio Storico Panerai)

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Fake watches are for fake people.

by on Feb.21, 2010, under General

We appreciate the FHH anti-counterfeiting campaign
« FAKE WATCHES ARE FOR FAKE PEOPLE ! ».

Find more informations here.

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Rolex case numbers and M.M. caseback numbers are not in relationship

by on Jan.19, 2010, under General

An interesting fact is at watches from the reference 6152/1, that there is no relationship between Rolex case number (engraved between the lugs) and the M.M. matriculation numbers, which are engraved on the caseback. Today we believe that the numbered watch cases (or entire watches) have been mixed after they were delivered (if they ever came in a matching number row out of Rolex) to their customer.

Good examples of this non-present relationship are 6152/1 watches 124527 (caseback engraved M.M. 023) and 124766 (caseback engraved M.M. 025). As the gap between 023 and 025 is only 1, the cases are 239 numbers away from each other.

Watch 124822 comes with engraved M.M. 066 caseback. Its 41 numbers higher than M.M.025, while their cases are 56 numbers away from each other.

The reason might be simple: caseback engravings (to use as a military matriculation number) may have been done by the customer and not by Panerai. What we find today let us think so. Additional, you can find no relationship on further details: dial versions, movement versions (Angelus 240 or Rolex 618), with or without crown protectors…

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On the hunt for yet unknown datings

by on Jan.19, 2010, under General

Since we have crossed the closing line of our 2nd book on april 1st 2009, we are still on the hunt for new, yet unknown datings on Angelus movements, which have been used in vintage Panerai watches.

Until today we know three different datings: 12.55 (in GPF 2/56), MAI.61 (in 6152/1 watches, find below the location at the movement in the red circle) and JUIN.61 (in 3646 and 6152/1 watches). It will be interesting to see further datings in the future, also because it can answer questions about the type of decoration and engraving on the bridges of the Angelus movements, which we know in different versions.

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Our database work

by on Jan.18, 2010, under General

By collecting facts and details of today existing watches, we have continued to increase the entries in our database with more than 250 (1.1.2010) watches so far.

Beside case numbers and dial versions, we add further details, which allow us to create graphics of the files, which is helpful for our research and a great addition next to informations in the usual way as text and numbers.

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