Page 924-925 – the patented, L-shaped lever with crown-protecting device of a Ref. 6152/1.

Page 1148-1149 – patent 545668 (dated 30 November 1955) presents the O-ring used in the GPF 2/56.

Page 1332-1333 – the casebacks on the compasses, which are screwed in at six points, ar signed in the center with „OFFICINE PANERAI – FIRENZE“ and below with the patented trademark „BREVETTATO“. The Radiomir compass on the right also features the „MOD. G.PF. 4/55“.

“The References” 1950’s-1960’s at a glance:
37 Vintage Panerai watches from the 1950’s to 1960’s. Featured References: 6152, 6154, 6152/1, GPF 2/56 and modified References, compasses and depth gauges followed by an overview of the straps and buckles used in this era.

26 x 26 cm, 696 pages, trilingual (German, Italian and English language in one book), 27 database charts, 353 illustrations, including rare historic photos from Italian and Egyptian frogmen, hardback jacket, slipcase.

Visit our bookstore and enjoy reading soon!

Artcurial will feature a very rare Ref. 6152 / Type A with “Radiomir Panerai” dial from 1953 in their upcoming Auction on 23 January, 2019 in Monaco (Lot 116). 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) and added into our database.

This 6152 shows clear signs of ageing on its “Radiomir Panerai” dial and hands. The huge Plexiglas crystal (Tropic 24), which is damaged at the bottom at 6 o’ clock is testament to the heavy use to which the watch was subjected as an important item of equipment. It comes from the first serial number sequence of the Reference 6152, produced in 1953, which we entitled 6152 / Type A.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152 / Type A
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai”  (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 9566XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 2

The watch features so called “Double Pencil” brass hands, with the minute hand showing a particularly pointy design. This particular variation of the brass hands is known among collectors as the “Double Pencil – Sharp Pin” style (see also page 889 in Chapter VIII.I of our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s). The caseback of this watch features the words “REGISTERED DESIGN / MODELE DEPOSE”, which are typical of the Reference 6152.

In terms of rarity and known watches in our database, the Reference 6152 can be called the rarest of all three (6152, 6154 and 6152/1). Read more also here.

Artcurial stated in their lot description, that the watch comes with a tool and various documents from the original owner, Rear Admiral Amedeo Vesco.

During the Second World War, Vesco took part in several missions of the Decima MAS as a SLC pilot of the “Mezzi Subacquei” against the harbour of Gibraltar in May (“Operazione B.G.3”) and September 1941 (“Operazione B.G.4”). He was awarded twice with the Silver Medal for Gallantry at War (M.A.V.M.). After the Second World War, Vesco became commander of the COMSUBIN in 1950 and again from 1951 until 1954. Read more on Amedeo Vesco also here and in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s on page 371-379.

We hope this rare watch will find a good new home and that it remain surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.artcurial.com]

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]

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]

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]

Close look at a “Radiomir Panerai” dial of a Vintage Panerai Ref. 6152 watch. The surface of the sandwich dial with the milled letters is showing pure Panerai DNA above the double pencil hands.

This dial version, using the famous “Radiomir” luminous material, can be found across all Vintage Panerai References: 3646, 6152, 6154, 6152/1 and GPF 2/56 and also in the prototype of the “Mare Nostrum” chronograph. The self-iluminating substance “Radiomir” was patented by Guido Panerai already in 1915, which enabled the use of instruments even in complete darkness.

During the last visit at auctioneer Dr. Crott in Mannheim, another very rare Vintage Panerai watch was available for a detailed expertise: A yet unknown Ref. 6152 with “Radiomir Panerai” dial and Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 2 movement.

The watch surfaced in Italy and will be auctioned in may during the 87th auction on saturday 11th. The watch comes with original strap and GPF-buckle (without engraving).

Always a special moment when such a rare watch can be seen with own eyes. The extraordinary design elements of the 47 mm case with the “crown pit” and the “edged cushion” are outstanding, just mentioning two of the 6152 features which makes it different to watches of the references 6154 and 6152/1.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 958697
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 2

Most interesting about this watch is the fact, that it is building a second number group together with watch number 958713, which surfaced in 2010.

Aside the Reference 6154, which was produced for the Egyptian Navy, the Reference 6152 can be called as the rarest Vintage Panerai model. Only ten watches are known until today, which are divided into two number groups: 956632 to 956643 and 958697 to 958713.

Hopefully in the future some gaps inside these two small number groups can be closed with other surfacing watches of this reference…!

The combination of 6152 case and 6152/1 caseback isnt an individual issue – until today only two 6152 watches are known with “matching” 6152 casebacks. The 6152/1 caseback which comes with this watch, bears the engraving S.M.Z M.M. 170.

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]

Small – but interesting – differences can be found in the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 2 movements used in vintage Ref. 6152 Panerai watches: the bridges received different engravings, being technically the same (15 Rubis, no incabloc shock protection). Note the different position of ROLEX and 15 RUBIS!

For a better understanding, the differences are colored:
Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 2 = pink
Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 2 mod. = yellow.

Such differences in engraving the bridges are similar to the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 and Type 1 mod. movements, which were used in Ref. 3646 Panerai watches. We have published these differences in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, in the chronological classification (page 12-29), and also illustrated in chapter I.VII (page 149).

Referring to our earlier posting about the different Rolex movements in vintage Panerai watches, the characteristic features of the Type 2 movement (used in Ref. 6152 watches) are:

15 Rubis, no Incabloc shock protection
(balance cock engraved with a “plus-minus scale”)
16 Lines, power reserve approx. 36 hours.
18.000 half-oscillations per hour.

As just recently another rare Ref. 6152 watch surfaced, we know that there exist different engravings on the bridges. In the graphic here you can see the first discovered version with “ROLEX” and “15 RUBIS” engraved on the center bridge (see chapter II, page 180 in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References”). The other today known engraving version is shown here (Beside the differences in the engravings, the characteristic features of both movements are the same).

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”.

Our collector friend Hagen contacted us with his latest entry in his collection: A stunning Ref. 6152 watch!

Not that the Ref. 6152 is one of the rarest references Panerai ever produced – the case number of the watch is a real sensation: 958713! It opens another, yet undiscovered number group in our database. Until today we had a number group with 6 known watches between 956632 and 956643. We hope to find other Ref. 6152 watches in the future, which have a number close to Hagen’s 958713, so that we can estimate the 2nd number group’s size.

Interesting to see the movement: not a surprise to us, it comes with a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 2 movement, similar to the other 6152 watches we have in our database: 15 Rubis without Incabloc shock protection. The area around the crown shows the “gap” which is typical for the 6152 case.

The unpolished case confirms the fact, that also the Ref. 6152 watches have the reference and case number between the lugs. Until april 2009 this was not discovered! I had the chance to take a very close look at the Ref. 6152 watch number 956636 in summer 2010 and to my surprise I found these markings which we did not see before… we knew this watch already for years but nobody noticed it, as the watch was polished, which took away the appearance of these markings.

The reference number “6152” is placed between the lugs at 12’o’clock and the case number “958713” is placed between the lugs at 6’o’clock, both stamped under the case’s slope. The “double pencil” hands with “sharp pins” hold the original luminous material above a “Radiomir Panerai” dial with a wonderful patina.

What a great find!