Movement view of two vintage Panerai watches: Rolex inside…! 
The differences in decoration and engraving of the bridges are clearly visible on Rolex Cal. 618 Type 1 and Type 4 movements.

During our research work we created for a better understanding a subdivision of 4 movement types, which is an important feature of our database of today’s existing vintage Panerai watches. Basically they are all Cal. 618, but they show differences in many details.

Beside the engravings and different decoration, the main identifying features are:
Type 1 = 17 Rubis, no Incabloc (used in Ref. 3646 Type A – G and in Ref. 6154)
Type 2 = 15 Rubis, no Incabloc (used in Ref. 6152)
Type 3 = 15 Rubis, Incabloc shock protection (used in Ref. 6152/1)
Type 4 = 17 Rubis, Incabloc shock protection (used in Ref. 6152/1)

Left watch: Ref. 3646 / Type D
Rolex Calibre 618 Cortebert Type 1.
16 Lines, power reserve approx. 36 hours, 18.000 half-oscillations per hour.
17 Rubis, no Incabloc.

Right watch: Ref. 6152/1
Rolex Calibre 618 Cortebert Type 4.
16 Lines, power reserve approx. 36 hours, 18.000 half-oscillations per hour.
17 Rubis, Incabloc shock protection.

You can read and see more about the different versions of Rolex Cal. 618 movements in Panerai watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”.

A very interesting 3646 / Type C watch will be auctioned soon at Auktionen Dr. H. Crott (LOT 379). It’s matching in all details with our database, where it is listed since august 2009. In this condition, such Panerai watches are quite rare to find in these days. It comes even with an original leather strap, which is absolutely hard to find, as most of the original straps were cut off after long time of use, because the lugs on 3646 watches are welded to the case (which caused the straps to be sewn onto the lugs / not interchangeable like on Ref. 615X watches ).

Our database entry (click above) shows the following detials: Inner caseback signed 1010288. Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement. Dial signed “Radiomir Panerai” with redish aged numbers and markers. Steel hands. Onion shaped “Brevet+” crown.

We hope it will find a good new home!

It does not need a lot to become a legendary watch. The clean face of a ref. 3646 Panerai:  just 8 markers, 4 numbers and 2 hands which glow in the darkness to keep it’s operator “in time”. Waterproof. And of course accurate. Functionality can be simple – and something which the operators had to trust in.

More than 70 years have passed, but the design of the Panerai watches left many so called “design icons” behind. They attract new collectors day by day and carry their DNA into the future. A true legend with a true history – not a marketing fairy tale.

Does it take more to call these timekeepers “real toolwatches”? No, not at all.

Read more about this 3646 / Type D watch and the DNA of Panerai in both of our books.  [Volker Wiegmann]

In our hunt for well documented vintage Panerai watches, we have received a letter, written by a german “Kampfschwimmer” veteran. It tells the story about the 3646 Type D watch, which has been published in our 2nd book (chapter I.IV).

The detailled informations about it’s previous owners let us follow back the history to the year 1945, when it was used by a german unit of the “Kampfschwimmergruppe Keller” at the eastern front, who let engrave his initials on the caseback. 

An unique mission report has been published in our 1st book “Watches with History”, taken from a diary of another frogmen of the Keller group. The complete line-up of ownerships until today makes it a very interesting piece.

After years of travelling across europe, the watch has returned to Germany in 2008. It was completely serviced and now appears in good shape, well running – after more than 65 years…

Omeris Arpesella, veteran of the italian “Gruppo Gamma”, is still missing his 3646 “California Dial” with engraved caseback. The watch was stolen in 2005 at his home and never surfaced until yet.

To keep collectors aware, we publish the individually engraved caseback of the watch, which our dear friend Omeris owned and used during his service in the 1940’s.

 Please note that the photos were taken in 2004, shortly before the watch was serviced. The weared off crown has been changed with a NOS onion shaped Rolex crown and also the corrosived steel hands were changed with NOS brass “double pencil” hands.

What makes this watch unique and easys to identify, is its engraved caseback. Potential buyers should be aware of this detail if such a watch will ever hit the market or is being offered.

The file has been published in the public forum at www.paneristi.com back in 2005 during the V Club Panerai Meeting in Viareggio/Italy. More than 70 Panerai collectors immedately contributed a brand new Panerai watch (PAM210) for Omeris as a gesture of their sympathy.

One year later in may 2006, it was the honor of some of the initiators to handover a memorial plate at the naval museum “Arsenale” in La Spezia to Omeris. It shows all names of the supporting Panerai collectors from all around the world, who are still in hope that one day Omeris gets his “California Dial” back…