Another piece of the “3646 puzzle” added
by Volker on Jul.26, 2019, under Allgemein
We recently added another Ref. 3646 / Type G with “California Dial” into our records. It will replace the watch formerly called “the last 3646” since its case number is higher than the Ref. 3646 / Type G with painted brass dial, auctioned at Antiquorum back in 2014 (read more here).
Typical features of Ref. 3646 / Type G watches are the removed / not existing Rolex stamp in the inner caseback. You can compare the different inner caseback engravings in Ref. 3646 watches here. The center of the caseback (with all-over decorative polish inside, not engraved on the outside) on this watch is thinner than watches featuring the Rolex SA hallmark. Read more about these interesting details in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s on page 486-487 (decorative polish) and page 645 (topography).
The “California Dial” is corresponding with the flat bezel of the watch – a typical combination of dial version and bezel (a Panerai dial with its sandwich construction would need a higher bezel due to its height). The “Error-Proof Radium Dial” by Rolex, with its railroad track minute markers and “SWISS MADE” signature at six o’clock, features half arabic and half roman numbers with luminous material applied from above.
The onion shaped winding crown (“BREVET +” Type 11) is screwed down onto the collar of the 47 mm cushion shaped case with soldered lugs. A black leather strap with small pin buckle is fitted onto the soldered lugs of the watch.
The Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 mod. movement in this “California Dial” watch is another important element, which appears with confirming details of the today recorded watches in the number group 3646 / Type G.
Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type G
Dial: “California Dial”
Case number: 31753X
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 mod.
Read more about the Ref. 3646 / Type G in chapter II.VII of our book “The References” 1930’s-1940′s on page 608-645.
One more 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” surfaced
by Volker on Jun.07, 2019, under Allgemein
Another Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” with Rolex movement and crown-protecting device has been added into our records: The first specimen of this group in 2019.
The son of the first owner, a high decorated veteran of the Mezzi d’Assalto, provided us information about the watch and his father who continued his career in the Marina Militare after the end of the war until his retirement in 1982. His father took part in missions of the Decima MAS against enemy ships in the bay of Algeciras / Gibraltar in 1943.
Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 1246XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4
The 6152/1 is powered by a Rolex 618 / Type 4 movement under its unsigned solid caseback (find classification of the 615X references here) and dust lid, which can be found in more than 80% of all Ref. 6152/1 watches, recorded in our database until today.
The hands of the watch (double pencil, sharp pin) appear today without their initial luminous material, however they have not been re-lumed during a service in 2004. The crown-protecting device of this watch is signed “BREV. ITAL.” and additionally numbered “3” on the underside. The family of the veteran kept the original strap and buckle (visible in the first photo), and at the moment a modern Panerai strap is mounted onto the watch for the use on special occasions.
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 .
26 May 1941 – today in history…
by Volker on May.26, 2019, under Allgemein
In May 1941, the Decima MAS continued its attacks on the Port of Gibraltar. This time, the SLC pilots’ energy was preserved because they were flown over to Spain disguised as crew members and shipping company employees so that they wouldn’t have to go through the lengthy approach by submarine. Once they had arrived in Spain, they travelled overground to the Port of Cádiz, where the Italian tanker Fulgor had been detained since Italy joined the war.
On 15 May 1941, the transport submarine Scirè left the Port of La Spezia with the “maiali” on board, but without their pilots. After passing the Strait of Gibraltar on 22/23 May, Borghese reached the Port of Cádiz and overnight took on board the six SLC pilots who had previously been on the Fulgor: Decio Catalano and Giovanni Giannoni, Amedeo Vesco and Amelio Franchi (replaced by reserve Antonio Marceglia), Licio Visintini and Giovanni Magro.
Despite the successful deployment of the three SLCs on 26 May 1941, the B.G.3 mission failed due to technical problems and a good deal of bad luck in the last phase of the attack when an explosive charge that had been successfully attached to the hull of a ship became detached at the last second. All six SLC pilots reached the Spanish coast and were able to return to their base at Bocca di Serchio with the aid of the Italian Consul in Algeciras.
However, the mission B.G.3 still had some positive aspects: The British did not notice the operation and the element of surprise was not wasted. The use of the tanker Fulgor as a forward base on Spanish territory proved extremely useful and effective.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong will auction a Ref. 3646 / Type C
by Volker on Mar.31, 2019, under Watch Point
Sotheby’s will auction a Ref. 3646 / Type C with “Radiomir Panerai” sandwich dial, Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement (lot 2276) in their auction Important Watches on 3 April 2019 in Hong Kong.
The watch is recorded in our database since March 2007. In 2015 the watch was auctioned at Christie’s Geneva (Important Watches Sale 1410).
The Ref. 3646 / Type C “Radiomir Panerai” with deep red numerals and indices is featured in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s on page 292-297 in chapter II.III.
(Photo of the Ref. 3646 / Type C courtesy of Jared Platt)
Lockdales to auction a Ref. 3646 / Type D from the “L.K. 700”
by Volker on Feb.04, 2019, under Allgemein
Lockdales (Ipswitch, Suffolk, United Kingdom) is featuring a Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” with painted brass dial in their upcoming auction The Fine Sale #163 on 20 February, 2019 (Lot 307).
The watch comes with a rare engraved caseback, bearing the initials of the first owner “HK” surrounded by “L.K. 700 Marine-Kampfschwimmer 1945”. L.K. 700 is a short of Lehrkommando 700. Read more about this special unit in our book “History1”, chapter I, page 28-53.
Noteworthy, this watch is another specimen surfaced in the United Kingdom, where some watches were brought to as souvenirs from the Second World War by allied servicemen. After more than 70 years they re-emerge in different conditions, such as the watch up for auction at Lockdales.
Read more in our Watch Point.
[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.lockdales.com]
Two Vintage Panerai watches to be auctioned at Artcurial
by Volker on Dec.21, 2018, under Allgemein
Artcurial will start into the auction year 2019 with two Vintage Panerai watches: A Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” from the Second World War (Lot 79) and a very rare Ref. 6152 / Type A from the 1950’s (Lot 116).
Less than one year after its first appearance at Dr. Crott Auctioneers in Germany (97th Auction May, 2018, Lot 114) the Ref. 3646 / Type D with anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” dial will be up for sale again at Artcurial in Monaco on 23 January, 2019. We featured this watch in our Watch Point here.
Furthermore, Artcurial will have another Vintage Panerai in the same auction: A very rare Ref. 6152 / Type A with “Radiomir Panerai” dial (photo). This watch has been featured in our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s on page 756-759 in chapter VI.I and surfaced for the second time after 2008, where it was auctioned at Antiquorum in Hong Kong (Lot 406).
More information on both watches is published at our Watch Point.
[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.artcurial.com]
Christie’s New York to auction a Ref. 3646 / Type C
by Volker on Nov.18, 2018, under Allgemein
Christie’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). Read more about this new addition in our database at our watch point. Christie’s online catalogue of Sale 16202 can be found here.
[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.christies.com]
Piers Motley to auction a Ref. 3646 / Type E
by Volker on Aug.22, 2018, under Allgemein
Another 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]
Eppli to auction an engraved Ref. 3646 / Type D
by Volker on Aug.07, 2018, under Allgemein
Auction 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.
Several 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).
The 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.]
“Luminor Panerai” Compass
by Volker on Jul.14, 2018, under Allgemein
Compasses 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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