Great news from Geneva today: Panerai presented the novelties of their 2011 collection.

One of the highlights are these two 47 mm watches, which got a lot attention immedately after they were released on the public forum at paneristi.com: PAM372 (Panerai P3000 cal. /regular production / 3000 units) and PAM368 (Panerai P2002/9 cal. / special edition / 1000 units), which use a lot DNA of the historical models, giving applause to the designers from Panerai for going this way!

The official Panerai website is updated – click here to see the novelties 2011.

In the mood for another DNA photo, I placed the 6152/1 onto the GPF 1/58.

Meanwhile, two new entries in our database arrived: Both Ref. 6152/1 watches with Rolex movement, yet undiscovered. Our database grows… more to discover in the future!

Caught some details of the “Elettrosegnalatore GPF 1/58”. Fantastic to see the rich details on such a simple tool… many fine engravings all over the case of the signal light, Panerai branded almost everywhere, including matriculation number on the rear plate (covers the batteries).

Stunning functionality of the grip, which can be rotated to move a colored tube over the light bulb, coming up from the front grip into the area infront of the mirror (see detail photo upper and lower left). The signal light can expose white (regular), blue (“A”) and red (“R”) light signals by using the rear grip’s pistol trigger. At the detail photo (lower left), the blue light tube is turned on.

A shoulder extension (stored in the transport box together with a set of spare light bulbs) can be mounted on the rear plate, giving comfort for a straightening use of the signal light in a seesaw situation. For sending accurate signals, an ironsight (low right on the detail photo) is placed on top left of the case, which has an overall dimension of approx. 29 x 22 cm (without shoulder extension).

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]

Compare a Panerai “Luminor Submersible” from actual production whith this vintage Ref. GPF 2/56 – you can find a lot Panerai DNA from the 1950’s transferred into modern times.

The “Big Egiziano” aka “Egiziano Grosso” received its nickname because of  the huge case: it measures 60 mm, with crown protecting device even 66 mm. Panerai has produced a replica of this fantastic toolwatch as a Special Edition model in 2009 (PAM341) made of titanium.

Ralf captured the legendary, matte coated rotating bezel with 5 minute graduation in form of pin shaped elevated markers, with the 15, 30 and 45 minute markers particularly accentuated. The reference point at 12 ‘o’clock is filled with luminous material.

You can read more about the Ref. GPF 2/56 in our book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, chapter V, pages 256-283.

Looking thru my library today, I stopped at this photo which I took in april 2007. It was one of the first photos to build up the layout of our 1st book.

The pure DNA of Panerai featuring the crown protecting device, 47 mm case with solid lugs, huge domed plexi and “a strap like a belt” come out quite well, I think…

You can read more about the “Arillo Luminor” in our first book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”, chapter I.V, pages 114-141 and also in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”, chapter IV.II, pages 226-237.

Nice view on a ref. 6152/1 dial with Angelus 240 SF movement. In this perspective, the “sandwich” construction of the Panerai dials is clearly visible. The luminous material is placed deeper / under the dial’s surface. It’s not painted on the face of the dials, as it was usually done by other brands at this time. Numbers and markers are cut out (milled) from the dial, which is matte black painted. The “Luminor Panerai” inscription is milled on the dial (but not cut out), filled with white color.

The “sandwich” dial is one of the most important identifying features – pure Panerai DNA.

Read more about this and other identifying features – the DNA of Panerai – in both of our books. [Volker Wiegmann]

Ralf has provided a stunning macro photo of the milled symbol, which is filled out with white, non-luminous color. It appears only on the dials of GPF 2/56 reference watches: the legendary “8 Giorni Brevettato” symbol, representing the Angelus Cal. 240 SF movement with 8 days power reserve.

The case diameter of this reference is 66 millimeters including the crown protecting device. It was made by Panerai for the Egyptian navy in the mid 1950’s, which received the nickname “Egiziano Grosso” because of its huge size.

Three modern Panerai watches have this symbol of Panerai DNA printed on their dials: the famous PAM203 (2005) with vintage Angelus movement and two Special Editions with 8 days inhouse movements (P.2002/7): PAM339 (2010) and PAM341 (2009). Another rare Special Edition – PAM267 (2007) – is using the same vintage Angelus movement as the PAM203, but without the “8 Giorni Brevettato” symbol printed on the dial.

Read more about the “8 Giorni Brevettato” in chapter IX of our book “The References”

…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…!

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]