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!

The Red Sea, the Straits of Tiran, the Gulf of Aqaba, even the shores of Dakar (Senegal) and Abidjan (Ivory Coast) – target zones of the Egypt frogmen during the Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War.

Not very much has been ever published before about missions against enemy ports, ships and oil platforms during the conflicts between Egypt and Israel. In the mid-50’s, both Egyptian and Israeli special forces attended separate training courses in Italy to learn the skills for underwater missions from their Italian instructors. After our search for historical documents and with the support of a high decorated Egypt frogmen veteran we were able to put a spotlight on some of the missions carried out decades ago.

Read the historical background on watches and instruments from Guido Panerai & Figlio used by the Egypt frogmen in chapter VII and IX of “The References” 1950’s-1960’s (second volume), accompanied with rare historic photos (page 794-795 shown in the coffee table shot above). The new “The References” books (two volumes with 696 pages each) can be ordered only in our bookstore. Enjoy reading!

Phillips will feature a rare GPF 2/56 “Big Egiziano” with in their Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI, which will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2020. Read more about lot 996 here.

Features of the watch:
Reference: GPF 2/56
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 019
Movement: Angelus Cal. 240 SF (8 days)

[Photo courtesy of www.phillips.com]

This “Big Egiziano” bears the matriculation number 019 on the inside of the caseback, which is screwed onto the body by six screws. The “engine” of this watch with a case size of 60 mm and rotating bezel, the Angelus Cal. SF 240 eight-days-movement, is signed “12.55” and equipped with an Incabloc shock protection.

A similar GPF 2/56 with also brown faded “Radiomir Panerai” dial (case number 018) has been featured back in 2011 when it was auctioned at Christies here.

Watches of the Reference GPF 2/56 can be found in chapter IX (page 1058-1161) of our book  “The References” 1950’s-1960’s. Read also the historical background on watches and instruments from Guido Panerai & Figlio used by the Egypt frogmen (“Al ferka al serria”) in chapter VII and IX, accompanied with rare historic photos.

We hope that this “Big Egiziano” will find a good new home and remains surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Watches of the reference GPF 2/56 are featured in two of the twelve chapters of our new “The References” books and part of the second volume (1950’s-1960’s). The GPF 2/56 watches with “Radiomir Panerai” dials are featured in chapter IX.I, while the GPF 2/56 watches with “Luminor Panerai” dial are featured in chapter IX.II.

The photo shows a “lume shot” of a GPF 2/56 with grey anti-reflective coating and “Luminor Panerai” dial on page 1140-1141. More photos of this watch can be found on page 1136-1161.

Our “The Reference” books are available here in our bookstore. Enjoy reading! 

In many respects, the GPF 2/56 set new standards in terms of design at Guido Panerai & Figlio: The casing diameter, now at a stately 60 mm (or 66 mm including the crown-protecting device), made the earlier Panerai watches with their 47 mm casings look small by comparison. This was also the first time a rotating bezel with five-minute increments was used, a luminous reference point at 12 o’clock and three other major indices at 15, 30 and 45 minutes. The inside of the rotating bezel is fixed securely to the casing and caseback with six screws at a distance of 60° on the underside. If the six screws are loosened, it is possible to lift off the caseback, the rotating bezel and the Plexiglas crystal from the watch casing. Unlike earlier Panerai watches, the caseback of the giant GPF 2/56 does not feature a thread but is fixed securely to the casing by the six screws. Compared to the Panerai watches used during the Second World War (bezel and caseback „twisted“ together by their internal thread onto the holding ring of the movement) as well as the watches produced in the 1950’s (bezel pressed onto the casing and caseback with external thread screwed onto the centre of the 47 mm casing).

While the crown-protecting device was a very prominent, almost “superimposed” addition to the Reference 6152/1, and could only be integrated into the Rolex casing to a certain degree as a result of its construction, the GPF 2/56 clearly shows the “completely seamless integration” of the legendary crown-protecting device.

The coffee table shot on the left shows page 1092 – 1093 in chapter IX.I of our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s with a photo of the screwed caseback of a GPF 2/56 (left) and an illustration of the construction of the “kept together by six screws” GPF 2/56 (right). Enjoy reading!

One of the unique technical features of the GPF 2/56 compared to other watches from Guido Panerai & Figlio is the rubber sealing ring of the winding crown.

The famous patent 545668 from November 1955 can be seen right next to its realization on page 1148-1149 in chapter IX.II, showing the side of a GPF 2/56 “Luminor Panerai” with removed crown-protecting device and crown with its rubber sealing ring, making this area of the watch watertight when the lever is closed by axial pressure to the case.

Vintage Panerai watches with the legendary crown-protecting device are featured in the second volume of our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s in chapters VIII (Ref. 6152/1 with Rolex movements), IX (GPF 2/56) and X.IV (Modified Reference 6152/1 with Angelus movements).

We would like to express our sincere words of thanks to Officine Panerai for making the famous patent 545668 available for the effective comparing view on the double page in our book, shown above. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Guido Panerai & Figlio’s legendary, patented crown-protecting device from the 1950’s – today it would be called a “Panerai app for underwater wristwatches”. How to describe this functional feature from the past today? Lets give it a try:

System requirements: Ref. 6152/1 or GPF 2/56 case. Protecting the winding crown during underwater use. Release lever for winding the movement and setting time.

Approved decades ago, the crown-protecting device turned into a legend many years later. This “Panerai app” created an unique look which attracts watch collectors around the world. Available on modern Panerai watches, made for the public since 1993, the crown-protecting device carries the Panerai DNA from the past into the future.

Vintage Panerai watches with crown-protecting device are featured in the second volume of our book “The References” (1950’s-1960’s) in chapters VIII, IX and X.

The GPF 2/56 features several unique features among all models produced by Guido Panerai & Figlio. The huge case with the rotating bezel was entirely produced by the company from Firenze, using Angelus movements to reach a power reserve of eight days. This was expressed by the use of the unique “8 Giorni Brevettato” symbol, engraved at 3 o’clock on the “Radiomir Panerai” and “Luminor Panerai” dials (both of these dial versions were used in watches of this reference).

The number of GPF 2/56 watches registered in our database has more than tripled since 2009 when we published “The References” for the first time. Read in chapter IX about the different versions of this reference (page 1058-1161). Chapter IX is dedicated to the GPF 2/56, in which five of these rare watches are featured. Aside the technical information of these legendary watches we have added historic information. The military background includes rare historic photos and four mission reports provided directly to us by an Egypt frogmen veteran (page 1064-1071).

The coffee table shot shows page 1155-1156 of chapter IX.II, a GPF 2/56 with grey coated case and “Luminor Panerai” dial. 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]

Christie’s New York will have a rare GPF 2/56 “Radiomir Panerai” with Angelus movement (LOT 154), made for the Egyptian Navy, in their upcoming Important Watches auction 3752 (June 17th).

This “Egiziano Grosso” bears the matriculation number 012 on the inside of the caseback, which is screwed onto the body by six screws. The “engine” of this watch with a case size of 60 mm and rotating bezel, the Angelus Cal. SF 240 eight-days-movement, is signed “12.55” and equipped with an Incabloc shock protection.

The Angelus movement can be clearly identified on the face of the huge watch by its small second function with a subdial at 9 o’clock. Hour and minute hand are shaped in the “single pencil” style, which is also typical for Vintage Panerai watches with Angelus movement. The sandwich dial bears the “8 GIORNI BREVETTATO” symbol on the right side at 3 o’clock. This engraved symbol is an unique feature in the range of Vintage Panerai watches, and can be found only in this particular reference, which was produced for the Egyptian Navy.

Features of the watch:
Reference: GPF 2/56
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 012
Movement: Angelus Cal. 240 SF (8 days)

This GPF 2/56 “Radiomir Panerai” is already recorded in our database and has been published in our book “The References” (first edition 2009 / chapter V).

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]