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.

Recently we added another Ref. 3646 / Type D watch into our database.

It’s 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: 260693
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

You can read more about Ref. 3646 / Type D watches in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References” (chapter I.IV, page 85-121).  

The veteran’s family found our website and contacted us via e-mail, provided some informations which are very useful for us to compare with already known watches. It’s great to see that these “war birds” are still surfacing after many years.

Recently we have added another yet unknown watch into our database.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type C
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 1010168
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

You can read and see more about the different versions of Ref. 3646 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”. Find the illustrations of  ref. 3646 / Type A – C casebacks here.

After the auction house Dr. Crott has provided more details to us, we were able to add the watch into our database with all important features to compare it with other existing watches of this number group.

Our database entry (click above) shows the following detials: Inner caseback signed 1010147. Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement. Anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” dial with aged numbers and markers. Steel hands. Original, nicely aged Plexiglas. Onion shaped “Brevet+” crown.

This watch will be auctioned at Auktionen Dr. H. Crott on their 84th auction on november 12th, 2011. Further details about this LOT 33090 are published at their website. You can also read and see more about the different versions of Ref. 3646 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”.

We hope it will find a good new home!

The owner of a yet undiscovered Ref. 6152/1 “Marina Militare”, based in Italy, has contacted us recently to provide some information about his watch, which we added into our database. The case number (1247XX) of the watch is inbetween the number of today existing 6152/1 watches. So, one more “piece of the puzzle” is added – our database is permanently growing.

You can find more information about Ref. 6152/1 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter IV, pages 202-255.