Lets face it: Vintage Panerai watches can be considered “rare” among thousands of vintage timekeepers from many different brands. Our new book “The References” features a “Luminor Panerai” watch which deserves the attribute “exceptional”: Admiral Gino Birindelli’s Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai”. Less than 90 watches of the Reference 6152/1 with Rolex movements are recorded in our database today, around 2/3 of them have a Panerai crown-protecting device.

What makes a rare Vintage Panerai watch an exceptional Vintage Panerai watch? For us, its the summary of interesting details of the watch and the historical background of the previous owner. In this case, its a very famous owner: Gino Birindelli M.O.V.M. (1911-2008) was in fact the first SLC pilot who entered an enemy harbor with his device in the night of 30 October 1940. At a time when the secret weapon of the Royal Italian Navy had to deliver its ultimate proof to be successful. At a time when months of intensive training under the highest level of secrecy was about to turn the “Spirito del Serchio” from a military secret into a legend. At a time when two transport submarines and their crews were already lost before an attack was even carried out… not an easy task at all. But Birindelli made it.

Chapter II.I (first volume / 1930’s-1940’s) features a chronological line-up of the missions carried out by the Decima MAS until 8 September 1943, in which the mission B.G.2 against Gibraltar is listed. Birindelli survived being a prisoner of war from October 1940 to March 1944 (first sent from Gibraltar at the end of 1940 to a camp near London – almost 3 months isolated – followed by camps in Edinburgh, Tennessee, Casablanca, Algiers and finally back to Taranto in Italy.

After this torture with a lucky end, his career in the Italian Navy continued. Birindelli was commander of the Incursori (COMSUBIN) from 26 September 1948 to 30 April 1950, once again from 1 May 1954 to 5 June 1956. What better officer could lead these special units than one of the famous SLC pilots who invented the secreat weapon years ago? Gino Birindelli circumnavigated the globe between 1 September 1956 and 1 March 1957, stopped at 34 ports on four continents and covered a distance of 33.170 nautical miles. Birindelli was promoted to rear admiral in 1959, headed the I Divisione Navale as well as the fleet command (Comandante in Capo della Squadra Navale) Gino Birindelli headed the Allied naval forces in southern Europe before he retired in December 1973 in the rank of Ammiraglio di Squadra.

Chapter VIII.II (second volume / 1950’s-1960’s) features Gino Birindelli’s 6152/1 watch with crown-protecting device, Rolex movement, “Luminor Panerai” dial and extremely rare rotating bezel, of which only a few are known to exist today. Thanks to the support of Sotheby’s Geneva by the provided photos for our book, the details of this watch are shown on page 1006-1013, followed by the impressive story of its famous owner on page 1014-1043.

Enjoy reading the history behind a truly “exceptional” Vintage Panerai watch in chapter VIII.II of “The References”.

Our new book set “The References” is featured in the latest issue of Kristian Haagen’s timegeeks magazine. Our “coffee table shots”, of which two are featured (see above) in the April 2016 issue of timegeeks, reached his attention when he was able to take a close look onto our latest book set with a short review in the “gear etc.” section on page 22.

Kristian Haagen from Denmark is a well known watch writer an published numerous print an online medias since 1998. His sixt book on wristwatches – his first written in English language – “Hashtags & Watches” reflects his love for print as well as his daily horological postings on his popular Instragram account. Famous for his personal style captions, his new book reached a wide attention in the watch world.

Read more from Kristian Haagen at www.timegeeks.dk and www.8past10.com

Featured in our new book Vintage Panerai “The References” 2nd edition (2016) on page 1346-1347 in chapter XI.II / second volume: a Radiomir depth gauge for 50 metres. case 70 x 90 mm, 26 mm leather strap and brushed stainless steel GPF buckle. Made by Guido Panerai & Figlio for the Italian navy commandos of the COMSUBIN in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Read more on Vintage Panerai instruments worn on the wrist in chapter XI (page 1314-1367).

The second volume of our new book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s starts with a view on the three famous References and the historical background on the years after the Second World War (page 704-719). A sigificant and impressive quotation of Admiral Gino Birindelli (commander of the Italian COMSUBIN underwater special forces in the years 1948-1950 and 1954-1956) marks the beginning of the second volume with a total of 696 pages.

New maritime special units were set up during the same period in which Guido Panerai & Figlio was producing watches with the References 6152, 6154 and 6152/1 – big and bold cases with strong lugs and 8 mm Rolex crown, soon followed by the additional crown-protecting device on watches of the Reference 6152/1 and GPF 2/56. The coffee table shot shows page 810-811, one of the Reference 6154 watches featured in chapter VII.

Chapter VI features comparing photos and technical illustrations to show the differences between the References 6152, 6154 and 6152/1 which were produced from the early 1950’s onwards. Aside an unique “pile shot”, which shows a side view on three different 61XX watches on page 732, different case dimensions, markings and hallmarks are described. The coffee table shot shows technical illustrations on page 738-739.

Information on “The References” 1950’s-1960’s (second volume) can be found here.

Our new “The References” books can be ordered only in our bookstore.
Learn how to order in our FAQ section.

Enjoy reading!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Watches from Guido Panerai & Figlio are deeply connected to the history of the Royal Italian Navy during the Second World War. In our new book “The References” we have included an overview of the missions of the “Decima” aside the legendary watches, which were an important part of the units of the underwater (“Mezzi Subacquei” / “Gamma” frogmen and SLC) and surface (“Mezzi di Superficie” / explosive boats) special forces of the Decima MAS (“Mezzi d’Assalto”).

Chapter I and II of the first volume (1930’s-1940’s) carry the history of a new weapon – the SLC slow running torpedo, called “maiale” – and the men who trusted on the watches from Guido Panerai & Figlio during their dangerous missions in deep and darkness of the mediterranean sea. Because of the significance of the fascinating history behind these watches, we have dedicated our new book “The References” to the inventors of the SLC, Teseo Tesei and Elios Toschi.

Chapter II of “The References” features some of the rarest Panerai watches owned by famous and high decorated Italian veterans. The first watch of the Reference 3646 / Type A, featured in chapter II.I, belonged to Admiral Ernesto Notari. He was awarded with the Silver Medal for Gallantry at War (M.A.V.M.) for the mission B.G.6 in May 1943. The documentation of the watch and the history of Ernesto Notari, including a summary of the “Mezzi d’Assalto” missions until 8 September 1943 can be read from page 58 to 153 in chapter II.I.

Chapter II.II, about the watches of the Reference 3646 / Type B, features the watch of the legendary “Gamma” frogman Luigio Ferraro. He was awarded with the Gold Medal for Gallantry at War (M.O.V.M.) for his “Stella” missions in the eastern part of the mediterranean sea in 1943. The documentation of the watch and the history of Luigi Ferraro can be read from page 190 to 225 in chapter II.II.

A watch of the Reference 3646 / Type C which belonged to the SLC pilot Licio Visintini is featured in chapter II.III. Visintini took part in several missions against the allied fleet in Gibraltar. After surviving from mission B.G.3 and B.G.4 in 1941, Visintini returned undercover to Gibraltar in June 1942 where he built the core of the “Orsa Maggiore” on board the tanker Olterra – the hidden base for the SLC units of the “Decima” in the bay of Gibraltar (see coffee table shot on the left). Mission B.G.5 turned into a “mission with no return” for Licio Visintini in December 1942… The documentation of the watch and the history of Licio Visintini can be read from page 350 to 397 in chapter II.III.

Information on “The References” 1930’s-1940’s (first volume) can be found here.

Enjoy reading!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

The second volume of our new book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s starts with chapter VI, featuring one of the rarest Vintage Panerai models: The Reference 6152.

Since a second serial number sequence was discovered after the first edition of “The References” was published in the year 2009, we have separated this reference in the new edition in two chapters: VI.I (6152 / Type A) and VI.II (6152 / Type B) from page 720 to 781.

Three of these rare Ref. 6152 watches are featured with photos and technical illustrations to show the differences in construction compared to the earlier references, which we have published in the first volume of “The References” 1930’s-1940’s.

The coffee table shot above shows page 744-745 of chapter VI.I, a 6152 / Type A with “Radiomir Panerai” dial. The second coffee table shot (left) shows a technical illustration of another Ref. 6152 / Type A on page 759.

Information on “The References” 1930’s-1940’s (first volume) can be found here.
Information on “The References” 1950’s-1960’s (second volume) can be found here.

Our new “The References” books can be ordered only in our bookstore.
Learn how to order in our FAQ section.

Enjoy reading!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

The GPF 2/56 features several unique features among all models produced by Guido Panerai & Figlio. The huge case with the rotating bezel was entirely produced by the company from Firenze, using Angelus movements to reach a power reserve of eight days. This was expressed by the use of the unique “8 Giorni Brevettato” symbol, engraved at 3 o’clock on the “Radiomir Panerai” and “Luminor Panerai” dials (both of these dial versions were used in watches of this reference).

The number of GPF 2/56 watches registered in our database has more than tripled since 2009 when we published “The References” for the first time. Read in chapter IX about the different versions of this reference (page 1058-1161). Chapter IX is dedicated to the GPF 2/56, in which five of these rare watches are featured. Aside the technical information of these legendary watches we have added historic information. The military background includes rare historic photos and four mission reports provided directly to us by an Egypt frogmen veteran (page 1064-1071).

The coffee table shot shows page 1155-1156 of chapter IX.II, a GPF 2/56 with grey coated case and “Luminor Panerai” dial. Information on “The References” 1950’s-1960’s (second volume) can be found here.

Our new “The References” books can be ordered only in our bookstore.
Learn how to order in our FAQ section.

Enjoy reading!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Vintage Panerai watches with Angelus movements are featured in the second volumes of our new “The References” books in chapter IX (GPF 2/56, page 1058-1121) and chapter X (page 1162-1313) with the Modified Reference 3646, Transitional 3646, Modified Reference 6152/1 with Rolex crown and the Modified Reference 6152/1 with crown-protecting device).

The coffee table shot shows page 1244-1245 of chapter X.III, a 6152/1 with Rolex crown, display caseback and “Fourliner” dial. Information on “The References” 1950’s-1960’s (second volume) can be found here.

Our new “The References” books can be ordered only in our bookstore.
Learn how to order in our FAQ section.

Enjoy reading!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Our new “The References” books are in stock. Both volumes (2 x 696 pages) can be shipped immediately now.

Yesterday, as promised, all completed pre-orders from 19 February to 3 March 2016 have been sent out from our office with DHL in the first shipping wave. A tracking information from DHL has been sent via email to our customers to follow the delivery schedule.

Both volumes – 1930’s-1940’s and 1950’s-1960’s – feature first-hand information and several, yet unreleased photos of Italian, German and Egypt frogmen. The coffee table shot shows two book sets in their green canvas slipcases with black embossed spine. In front of the two book sets, page 1064-1065 of chapter IX (second volume / 1950’s-1960’s) is featuring a photo of an Egypt frogmen in the 1960’s, wearing a “Trittico” of Guido Panerai & Figlio watches and instruments (GPF 2/56, depth gauge and compass).

Information on “The References” 1930’s-1940’s (first volume) can be found here.
Information on “The References” 1950’s-1960’s (second volume) can be found here.

Our new “The References” books can be ordered only in our bookstore.
Learn how to order in our FAQ section.

Enjoy reading!
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

… features of the Vintage Panerai 6154. Watches of the reference 6154 are featured in chapter VII of our new “The References” books and part of the second volume (1950’s-1960’s). The photo shows a typical brown faded “Radiomir Panerai” dial with many fissures in the numbers and markers (page 848-849).

Enjoy reading! Our new “The Reference” books are in stock and can be ordered only in our bookstore.