Stunning view of a Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” Panerai.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260530
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The removed bezel put the entire dial infront of the lens, showing the depht of the sandwich construction and different colors of the luminous numbers and markers which have changed during many years of UV impact as a natural aging process.

Tried to catcha nice view of the engraved caseback of the 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer”…

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260554
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

A Vintage Panerai “Kampfschwimmer” watch will be auctioned at Christies  on may 16th in Geneva. The watch is matching our database, being a “clean” 3646 / Type D watch with case number 260628 and correct Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement.

The caseback is individually engraved with two initials of the previous owners – together with the anonymous sandwich dial its a typical “Kampfschwimmer”.

A yet unknown Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” surfaced recently.

During a visit at the german navy divers in Eckernförde, Ralf was able to put another watch into our database. One more piece of the big puzzle is placed into its right place!

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260518
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The watch has the original strap fitted on, including the “bent down” crome coated brass buckle and bears a fantastic individual engraving on the solid caseback: “Marine-Kampfschwimmer 1945 – RD” (“RD” are the initials of the unit, which used the watch during his missions. The engravings are done in the same style (with the same tool) as other watches of this type have been “personalized”. The watch is matching our database perfectly, of which we published several identical watches in chapter I.IV of our book “The References”.

Its a big pleasure to see a “clean” Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement in this watch. It underlines our database theories as well. It bears the typical features of a Type 1 movement, beside the fact that no parts of this movement have been replaced or changed with others.

[photos by Ralf Ehlers]

The Ref. 3646 Panerai watch with the “HK” initials and “Einsatzgruppe Keller” caseback engraving is in our database since 2005.

The initial onion shaped winding crown has been replaced with a Rolex Oyster crown of a different type. Parts of the luminous material on the steel minute hand have been broken out by aging process. Both features are not illustrated in our graphics (left), but of course part of the database for identification use.

The watch comes with a completely documented history of its initial owner, a german “Kampfschwimmer” unit, which makes it a very interesting and collectible piece – a true “warbird”.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 260630
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Took Sigi’s 3646 out to catch a nice view of the engraved caseback with his initials “SK” with my camera. Only a few of probably 16 watches from the “Einsatzgruppe Keller” exist today…

You can read more about “Kampfschwimmer” watches and their missions in chapter I.II, I.III and I.IV of our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, also this watch is featured in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter I.IV.

Took a photo of the “Kampfschwimmer” Panerai last weekend (Ref. 3646 / Type D). A watch, used in german missions at the eastern front in the last weeks of WW2 against pontoon bridges of the allied forces. The link to its first owner, a unit of the “Einsatzgruppe Keller”, is visible on the caseback by an engraving.

The watch is working great after more than 65 years and its a pleasure to wear it. It carries a lot DNA of the Panerai brand and provides much more than just the accurate time to me. It is powered by a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with 17 Rubis.

We have published an overview of different Rolex movement types used in Panerai watches here. Use the “browse by tag” feature to see and read more about these watches in our blog or click here to get transferred to an older blog entry about the same watch. 

You can read more about “Kampfschwimmer” watches and their missions in chapter I.II, I.III and I.IV of our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, also this watch is featured in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter I.IV.

…looking at the 3646 again and again – always stunning to see and feel the design of this watch. It’s simple. It’s clean. It’s perfect. The Panerai DNA is still striking after 60+ years…!

Two rare combat knifes used by italian and german units in the 2nd world war, placed on an original newspaper dated november 1944.

The photo shows a group of german “Kampfschwimmer” units winding their Panerai watches. This type of knife is visible on the right unit’s belt, fixed by a carabiner.

You can read more about combat swimmer’s equipment in our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, chapter III.

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]