Tag: 3646
Yet another piece of the Vintage Panerai puzzle surfaced
by Volker on Jun.09, 2013, under General
We have added another unknown watch into our database – yet another piece of the puzzle surfaced. The “Kampfschwimmer” watch with the case number 260739 will be up for auction on june, 11th at auctioneer Bonhams in London (LOT 357).
Aside the flat brass dial and the corresponding flat bezel it is bearing typical features of watches of the Reference 3646 / Type D. The original plexiglas and the winding crown have been replaced. Typical feature of the brass dial is the closed 6 and 9 digit because the numbers and markers are embossed into the brass dial and not engraved into the dial (like the sandwich dials from Panerai are made).
Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (painted brass, anonymous)
Case number: 260739
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1
Auctioneer Bonhams features the following provenance under this LOT: Provenance: This watch was given to the current vendor’s father by a German prisoner of war in Italy in 1944, while serving in the Royal Engineers bomb disposal unit.
It underlines our theory that in the future such watches will surface in allied countries which fought against german and italian forces in the 2nd world war. Ownership changed quite often and watches were sought after pieces for allied servicemen. From interviews we took with veterans, this has been confirmed several times (read also “History1”, Chapter III, page 207, which features a simliar Ref. 3646 / Type D watch with brass dial).
Special thanks to Mike Wood for providing additional info on this watch for our database. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]
A yet unknown 3646 / Type C watch surfaced
by Volker on May.24, 2013, under General
We have added another unknown watch into our database – yet another piece of the puzzle surfaced. The “Radiomir Panerai” watch with the case number 1010119 will be up for auction in june, bearing typical features of watches of the Reference 3646 / Type C.
Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type C
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 1010119
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1
This Vintage Panerai Ref. 3646 / Type C watch appears to be one with a “dark red” Panerai dial, which changed the color of the luminous “Radiomir” over decades during its aging process. It comes with an original leather strap and buckle, which is very hard to find in these days.
Further info and photos of the watch can be found on the auctioneer’s website (Auctionata, Berlin/Germany).
Close view on a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1
by Volker on May.10, 2013, under General
Used in Ref. 3646 watches from Type A to Type G, the Rolex Cal. 618 movement comes without Incabloc shock protection. Typical for the non-incabloc version is the serif font for the letters A-R (French) and F-S (English) engraved on the regulation device (later versions show “+/-” symbols – see also Type 4).
The central bridge shows the “ROLEX 17 RUBIS” engraving on the left side. This engraving is used only in Ref. 3646 watches from Type A to Type D, as the Ref. 3646 watches from Type E to Type G bear “17 RUBIS FAB. SUISSE”.
Spot on: the onion shaped 3646 crown
by Volker on Apr.16, 2013, under General
Put the focus on the onion shaped crown (Type 11) of a Reference 3646 watch to capture the details of the “Brevet +” signature with the swiss cross symbol. The crown has a diameter of 7 mm and can be screwed down onto the tube which is surrounded by the typical “neck” shaped side of the 47 mm cushion shaped case of the Reference 3646.
More information about the different crown types used on Ref. 3646 watches can be found in our new book “History2”, in which two watches are featured using the Type 11 crown (“Brevet +”) aside two watches of which one is using a Type 12 replacement crown (“Rolex Oyster”) and one is using the well known tubular shaped Type 13 crown (“Oyster Patent +”). All three type of Rolex crowns have the same thread, matching the tube.
A yet unknown 3646 / Type B watch surfaced
by Volker on Mar.30, 2013, under General
Another visit at auctioneer Dr. Crott brought us another new database entry for the Reference 3646 / Type B. The yet unknown watch with the case number 1009992 will be up for auction in may, bearing the typical features of watches of the number group 1009925 – 1010024, representing the Reference 3646 / Type B.
Until today we have recorded only 13 existing specimen of this type of 3646 watches in our database, which is one of the smaller groups inbetween known watches of Type A to Type G.
The small Oyster stamp on the inner caseback is one feature aside the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with 17 Jewels and no Incabloc shock protection. Typical for this type of movement is the “ROLEX 17 RUBIS” engraving on the center bridge. As usual on movement used in watches of the Reference 3646, the balance cock bears the S-F / A-R regulation device.
The watch comes with the high version of the bezel, neccessary on watches with sandwich dials from Panerai. The bezel carries a domed Plexiglas, which is today in very good condition. The “neck” of the cushion shaped stainless steel case is still existing, on which an onion shaped “Brevet +” crown (Type 11) is screwed on.
The case has not been polished and appears with a nice patina on case, bezel and caseback. Also the watch comes with an old leather strap with a big “belt style” buckle, which we have seen on some other Ref. 3646 watches before.
We hope the watch will find a good new home and that it remain surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]
Engravings can tell a story…
by Volker on Mar.28, 2013, under General
The caseback of a Ref. 3646 / Type D watch. It bears engraved initials of the first owner of the watch: “SK”. The initials are placed above the year in which the “Einsatzgruppe Keller” was founded (February 1945).
The history of this watch is featured in our new book “History2” (Chapter V). Aside this watch’s history, we discovered in the last years the history of three other today existing watches of the same task force (16 frogmen). In the last months of the 2nd world war, several missions have been carried out under the command of Lieutenant Alfred Keller.
Our book “History1” carries the story of the “HP” watch (Chapter II), while two more watches of the “Einsatzgruppe Keller” are featured in our new book “History2”: The “HK” watch (Chapter VII) and the “WL” watch (Chapter VIII).
The 3646 / Type D which surfaced in former Yugoslavia
by Volker on Mar.15, 2013, under General
Recently I had the chance to see another Ref. 3646 / Type D watch, which surfaced into the Vintage Panerai world a few months ago. The pictures which were available haven’t been very detailled so it was interesting to take a close look on the details of the watch and take some photos.
The first noteable thing is of course the replacement dial, taken probably from a cockpit instrument (VDO gauges) which is using a very reduced design, bearing only 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Needless to say on which brand’s dial design this is a reminder…
The fact that such a dial was used for replacement is answering the question byself, with which dial this watch once came. Because of the flat bezel of the watch (see photo), only a flat dial (“California Dial” or painted brass “Kampfschwimmer”) is possible (for explanation read also our book “History1”, Chapter II.I page 162-163 or “The References”, Chapter I.VII page 156-157).
The comparing photo shows the watch (3646 / Type D 260838 on top, flat bezel) placed above another 3646 / Type D (260554) with the high version of the bezel, using a sandwich dial from Panerai.
Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: flat, matching with the bezel (anonymous)
Case number: 260838
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1
The original strap has not “survived” but we know this has happened on most of the sewn-onto-the-case straps of Ref. 3646. It should be easy to find a “vintage style” strap, so there are many options for this kind of “personalization” in the future to let this watch look nicer than on the actual bracelet. From what I was able to see, the steel bracelet did not cause serious damage (abrasion / wearout) on the welded-to-the-case lugs.
Once again, this “new surfaced” Ref. 3646 watch is matching our Type D criteria by its details, which has risen the number of Ref. 3646 / Type D database entries up to 60 watches (as of march 1st, 2013). In combination with the 6 digit case number, the Rolex SA embossing on the fully decorated inner caseback is a typical feature of Ref. 3646 / Type D watches (this particular watch has the highest number – 260838 – expanding the Ref. 3646 / Type D number group to 260408 – 260838).
Matching with the inner caseback engravings is the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with its typical engravings on the center bridge. The outer caseback bears no engraving. The steel hands have kept their blueish color, the luminous material partially felt off but is worth to conserve as is. Seal rings should be attached as well to keep humidity off the case.
It may not easy to find an original onion crown in the future to bring back the original appearance. Actually the watch bears a replacement crown, as we know this watch was used for a long time, the winding crown is one of the main parts which had to be replaced. Lack of original spare parts caused the use of different crowns than the originals, which has happened on other 3646 watches too.
Informations provided by the owner of the watch, answering questions I asked him via e-mail are the following:
Question 1: Is there any known history coming along this watch?
“The watch was in possesion of a yugoslavian army officer. Actually its function was a “polit komisar” in the army. This was a quite high titule in the communist yugoslavian army. We know the name of this officer but at this time his relatives would prefer to keep it secret since they do not know why it would be of interest to anyone, so I also do not see a reason to disclose it. The watch has been worn until the death of this person in 1982, daily. Thats why also the parts where exchanged. The dial actually was not readable anymore. After 1982 it was more or less in a wardrobe closet. It must have been obtained in the second world war, where directly is not known since this officer has been active on different parts and battles against Italians and Germans at that time.”
Question 2: Do exist any photos of the past, showing the previous owner wearing it?
“Yes we have pictures of the owner wearing the watch in different decades. Actually a picture from the year 1954 then in the sixties and late seventies. In the 50s and 60s the original dial is seen as also the leather strap. Then in the late 70s we can see the metal bracelet, at that time also the dial has been changed with the VDO. After the death of the owner in 1982 the watch was more or less left on side at one of the sons of the owner.”
Watches with a history like this show us the way which some of them took during or after WW2. The lack of original spare parts caused many untypical appearances like – in this case – an untypical dial taken from a VDO cockpit clock… If we can take a close look at the watch and see its details, together with information available from previous owner(s), it can help to find answers on the questions which arise when such a watch surface today. The fact that the watch changed ownership in former Yugoslavia confirmed our knowledge about italian and german frogmen units which were captured at the end of WW2 in this area. Just as some of the watches changed ownership with west allied forces (where they surfaced as well) it has happened in eastern europe too.
[Volker Wiegmann]
Just because… Radiomir!
by Volker on Mar.07, 2013, under General
Recently we got the chance to take a photo of a Ref. 3646 / Type C watch, which is representing the DNA of Panerai all over by its distinguished design elements.
Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type C
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 10102xx
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1
A “clean and simple” dial, reduced to the max, fitted in a 47 mm cushion shaped case with welded loops and the “Brevet +” crown… it does not need much to create a legend, which is lasting for more than 70 years and keep collectors of these watches all around the globe so fascinated…
A yet unknown 3646 / Type D watch surfaced
by Volker on Jan.07, 2013, under General
Recently we added another surfaced Ref. 3646 / Type D watch into our database.
The caseback number fits perfectly into the number group of today existing Type D watches, aside the fact that all other features of this “Kampfschwimmer” are matching our database too. Another important “piece of the puzzle” is added.
Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260424
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1
The watch has been discovered “accidentially” by a Panerai collector during his visit of a museum in the Netherlands (“Het Polderhuis / Westkapelle”). The history of this watch can be tracked back to january 1945 when the crew of the german small submarine (of the type “Seehund”) U 5327, Lt. Andersen and his engineer Hardacher, were captured by local resistance and british forces. The submarine was taken over by the british and the watch was kept by a local farmer. He used the watch until he died some years ago and his family passed this watch to the museum where it is displayed today.
The discovery of this watch has been published by Gert Jan Wijkhuizen in the public forum at www.paneristi.com.
Just because… “volcano dome”
by Volker on Dec.18, 2012, under General
Looking thru my photo library recently, I stopped at a nice photo of a “volcano dome” plexi. Many Ref. 3646 watches don’t have the initial plexi anymore because of damage or replacement.
Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 260437
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1
This watch was featured in a german watch magazine (“Chronos”). Read also our blogs with more information about this watch – pre-auction – movement – dial – caseback – post-auction which have been posted earlier this year.