Artcurial will feature “The Rösel Radiomir” – a Ref. 3646 / Type C with anonymous sandwich dial – in their upcoming auction on 18 July, 2019 (Lot 705) in Monaco.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type C
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer”  (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 1010351
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

This Ref. 3646 / Type C “Kampfschwimmer” is recorded in our database since 2012. The watch has been auctioned in the same year for the first time at Dr. Crott and for the second time, five years later, in 2017 at Phillips GWA6.

The Ref. 3646 / Type C “Kampfschwimmer” and the history behind is featured in our book “History2” in chapter IX with 98 pages, 63 photos and 4 technical illustrations (see photo below). Furthermore it is published in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s in chapter II.III on page 322-349. Read more about “The Rösel Radiomir” here.

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

[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.artcurial.com]

Another Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” with Rolex movement and crown-protecting device has been added into our records: The first specimen of this group in 2019.

The son of the first owner, a high decorated veteran of the Mezzi d’Assalto, provided us information about the watch and his father who continued his career in the Marina Militare after the end of the war until his retirement in 1982. His father took part in missions of the Decima MAS against enemy ships in the bay of Algeciras / Gibraltar in 1943.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 1246XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4

The 6152/1 is powered by a Rolex 618 / Type 4 movement under its unsigned solid caseback (find classification of the 615X references here) and dust lid, which can be found in more than 80% of all Ref. 6152/1 watches, recorded in our database until today.

The hands of the watch (double pencil, sharp pin) appear today without their initial luminous material, however they have not been re-lumed during a service in 2004. The crown-protecting device of this watch is signed “BREV. ITAL.” and additionally numbered “3” on the underside. The family of the veteran kept the original strap and buckle (visible in the first photo), and at the moment a modern Panerai strap is mounted onto the watch for the use on special occasions.

Similar watches of the Reference 6152/1 with Rolex movement and crown-protecting device can be found in chapter VIII.II (page 922-1057) of our book  “The References” 1950’s-1960’s .

Antiquorum will auction a Ref. 3646 / Type D with anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” sandwich dial, Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement (lot 727) in their auction Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces on 12 May 2019 in Geneva.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer”  (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 2606XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The inner caseback (full polished, read more in “The References” 1930’s-1940’s on page 486-487) bears the typical Rolex SA hallmark, reference and case number known for 3646 / Type D watches. Inside the watch is working a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with typical decorations and engravings on the bridges. The blued steel hands appear untouched, with the original luminous material. The 3646 / Type D comes with a replacement winding crown (Rolex).

The watch is recorded in our database since 2007 when it was auctioned at Dr. Crott. It is known to be featured in a letter from the Rolex service center in Cologne, dating back to January 1984, in correspondence with Wempe.

Watches of the Ref. 3646 / Type D with anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” dials are featured in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s on page 398-531 in chapter II.IV.

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

[Photo courtesy of www.antiquorum.com]

Sotheby’s will auction a Ref. 3646 / Type C with “Radiomir Panerai” sandwich dial, Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement (lot 2276) in their auction Important Watches on 3 April 2019 in Hong Kong.

The watch is recorded in our database since March 2007. In 2015 the watch was auctioned at Christie’s Geneva (Important Watches Sale 1410).

The Ref. 3646 / Type C “Radiomir Panerai” with deep red numerals and indices is featured in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s on page 292-297 in chapter II.III.

(Photo of the Ref. 3646 / Type C courtesy of Jared Platt)

Lockdales (Ipswitch, Suffolk, United Kingdom) is featuring a Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” with painted brass dial in their upcoming auction The Fine Sale #163 on 20 February, 2019 (Lot 307).

The watch comes with a rare engraved caseback, bearing the initials of the first owner “HK” surrounded by “L.K. 700 Marine-Kampfschwimmer 1945”. L.K. 700 is a short of Lehrkommando 700. Read more about this special unit in our book “History1”, chapter I, page 28-53.

Noteworthy, this watch is another specimen surfaced in the United Kingdom, where some watches were brought to as souvenirs from the Second World War by allied servicemen. After more than 70 years they re-emerge in different conditions, such as the watch up for auction at Lockdales.

Read more in our Watch Point.

[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.lockdales.com]

Lockdales (Ipswitch, Suffolk, United Kingdom) is featuring a Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” with painted brass dial in their upcoming auction The Fine Sale #163 on 20 February, 2019 (Lot 307).

The watch appears from the provided photos with a replacement crown, original nickel-plated brass pin buckle and rare engraved caseback, bearing the initials of the first owner “HK” surrounded by “L.K. 700 Marine-Kampfschwimmer 1945”.

The inner caseback bears the typical Rolex SA hallmark, reference and case number known for 3646 / Type D watches. Inside the watch is working a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with typical decorations and engravings on the bridges.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (painted brass, anonymous)
Case number: 2605XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

Watches of the Reference 3646 / Type D are featured in our new “The References” 1930’s-1940’s in chapter II.IV (page 398-531) including a historic photo of a German “Kampfschwimmer” wearing a 3646 with brass dial on page 475. Similar nickel-plated brass pin buckles of the WW2 era are featured in chapter V Straps and Buckles (page 677-685).

Noteworthy, this watch is another specimen surfaced in the United Kingdom, where some watches were brought to as souvenirs from the Second World War by allied servicemen. After more than 70 years they re-emerge in different conditions, such as the watch up for auction at Lockdales.

A similar Ref. 3646 / Type D watch with painted brass dial is featured in our book “History1” in chapter III together with the history of its first owner, a German “Kampfschwimmer” who provided us very interesting information about his service, training and how some of these Panerai watches “changed ownership” during the time when he was a POW in the summer of 1945 (page 206-207).

Further information on the training commando 700 (L.K. 700 a short of Lehrkommando 700, which is part of the engraving on the caseback of the watch) can be found in our both books “History1” and “History2”.

The Ref. 3646 / Type D watch can be found online here at the salesroom.

We hope this Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” 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.lockdales.com]

Artcurial will feature a very rare Ref. 6152 / Type A with “Radiomir Panerai” dial from 1953 in their upcoming Auction on 23 January, 2019 in Monaco (Lot 116). This watch has been featured in our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s on page 756-759 in chapter VI.I and surfaced for the second time after 2008, where it was auctioned at Antiquorum in Hong Kong (Lot 406) and added into our database.

This 6152 shows clear signs of ageing on its “Radiomir Panerai” dial and hands. The huge Plexiglas crystal (Tropic 24), which is damaged at the bottom at 6 o’ clock is testament to the heavy use to which the watch was subjected as an important item of equipment. It comes from the first serial number sequence of the Reference 6152, produced in 1953, which we entitled 6152 / Type A.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152 / Type A
Dial: “Radiomir Panerai”  (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 9566XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 2

The watch features so called “Double Pencil” brass hands, with the minute hand showing a particularly pointy design. This particular variation of the brass hands is known among collectors as the “Double Pencil – Sharp Pin” style (see also page 889 in Chapter VIII.I of our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s). The caseback of this watch features the words “REGISTERED DESIGN / MODELE DEPOSE”, which are typical of the Reference 6152.

In terms of rarity and known watches in our database, the Reference 6152 can be called the rarest of all three (6152, 6154 and 6152/1). Read more also here.

Artcurial stated in their lot description, that the watch comes with a tool and various documents from the original owner, Rear Admiral Amedeo Vesco.

During the Second World War, Vesco took part in several missions of the Decima MAS as a SLC pilot of the “Mezzi Subacquei” against the harbour of Gibraltar in May (“Operazione B.G.3”) and September 1941 (“Operazione B.G.4”). He was awarded twice with the Silver Medal for Gallantry at War (M.A.V.M.). After the Second World War, Vesco became commander of the COMSUBIN in 1950 and again from 1951 until 1954. Read more on Amedeo Vesco also here and in our book “The References” 1930’s-1940’s on page 371-379.

We hope this rare watch will find a good new home and that it remain surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.artcurial.com]

Artcurial will feature a Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” with anonymous sandwich dial in their upcoming Auction on 23 January, 2019 (Lot 79) in Monaco. This Ref. 3646 / Type D watch marked the first new recorded specimen in our database in 2018 inside the Ref. 3646 / Type D number group.

Both, the 47 mm cushion shaped case and the plexi are unpolished. Typical for a Ref. 3646 with sandwich dial, the watch has the high version of the bezel. The blued steel hands appear untouched, with the original luminous material and show only a very small broken out area in the inner area of the hour hand and in the surface of the luminous material of the minute hand.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer”  (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 2604XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The inner caseback bears the typical Rolex SA hallmark, reference and case number known for 3646 / Type D watches. Inside the watch is working a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with typical decorations and engravings on the bridges. The watch does not have the original seals between bezel, case and caseback anymore but the watch comes with its original onion shaped “Brevet +” winding crown.

Noteworthy:
The outer caseback of the watch has no personal engravings of the first owner. The family of the first owner has consigned the watch at Artcurial with an original portrait photo, dated November 1944, taken in Venice/Italy, showing him in his navy uniform during the time he was exercised to become a “Kampfschwimmer”.

We hope this Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” watch will find a good new home and that it remain surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.artcurial.com]

Artcurial will start into the auction year 2019 with two Vintage Panerai watches: A Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” from the Second World War (Lot 79) and a very rare Ref. 6152 / Type A from the 1950’s (Lot 116).

Less than one year after its first appearance at Dr. Crott Auctioneers in Germany (97th Auction May, 2018, Lot 114) the Ref. 3646 / Type D with anonymous “Kampfschwimmer” dial will be up for sale again at Artcurial in Monaco on 23 January, 2019. We featured this watch in our Watch Point here.

Furthermore, Artcurial will have another Vintage Panerai in the same auction: A very rare Ref. 6152 / Type A with “Radiomir Panerai” dial (photo). This watch has been featured in our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s on page 756-759 in chapter VI.I and surfaced for the second time after 2008, where it was auctioned at Antiquorum in Hong Kong (Lot 406).

More information on both watches is published at our Watch Point.

[Photo with kindly permission / courtesy of www.artcurial.com]

Christie’s will auction a Ref. 3646 / Type C with “Radiomir Panerai” sandwich dial and Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement with onion shaped “Brevet +” crown (Type 11) in their Sale 16202 – An Evening of Exceptional Watches, December 6, in New York (Lot 22). Read more about this new addition in our database at our watch point. Christie’s online catalogue of Sale 16202 can be found here.

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