Christie’s has a Ref. 3646 / Type E “California Dial” in their next auction (LOT 219) in Geneva, november 11th. Great to see another surfaced watch matching the criteria of our database work.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type E
Dial: “California Dial”
Case number: 261078
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 mod.

Typical features of Ref. 3646 / Type E watches are the removed / not existing Rolex stamp in the inner caseback and the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 mod. movement. You can compare the different inner caseback engravings in Ref. 3646 watches here. Also 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. You can read more about 3646 / Type E watches in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References”.

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]

[Photos with kindly permission / courtesy of www.christies.com]

Sad news from Italy reached us today: WW2 veteran of the “Gruppo Gamma”, Omeris Arpesella, passed away last week.

Omeris (*1915 †2013) was known to us since 2003 during the III Meeting Club Panerai in Viareggio/Italy as a proud owner of a Ref. 3646 “California Dial” Panerai watch, which sadly was stolen only a few years later…

Just recently we discovered during our research and study, that Omeris was also featured in allied secret intelligence files during WW2, where he was recorded as a skilled frogmen with the “Gruppo Gamma” / Decima MAS.

During the events of the Club Panerai Meetings we have met Omeris always as a very kind and friendly person. His powerful handshakes and big smiles will remain not forgotten to those who were with us, meeting one of the last “Gamma” units… 

The Radiomir Panerai Fund for Omeris Arpesella’s stolen “California Dial” watch (2005 – 2006, see photo with Diego Gabathuler and Piero Lapiana) will remain unforgettable to all who supported us in giving back Omeris a piece of his history!

Rest in peace, Omeris!  [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann] 

A look at the dial side of the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 mod. movement and the underside of a “California Dial” with hour wheel. Photo taken from our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, chapter I.VII.

A Vintage Panerai Ref. 3646 / Type E will be auctioned at Sotheby’s.

The inner caseback embossing is corresponding with the movement version of the Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 mod., typical for a 3646 / Type E watch – hopefully this “California Dial”  will find a good new home on may 15th…

It’s simple. It’s clean. It’s perfect. The Panerai DNA is still striking after 60+ years…! The photo shows a Ref. 3646 / Type G watch with Oyster crown and the typical flat bezel (1944).

Read more about the “California Dial” watches – the DNA of Panerai – in both of our books.  [Volker Wiegmann]

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…