Phillips will feature a very rare Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” in their Geneva Watch Auction: SIX, which will be held on Sunday, 12 November 2017.

It is one of very few existing Ref. 6152/1 watches with a rotating plexi bezel. Until today we have just four 6152/1 watches in our records that still feature such an additional rotating bezel – and one of them is the watch up for auction. The Rolex movement of the watch with “Luminor Panerai” dial is a typical Cal. 618 / Type 4 version with incabloc shock protection and 17 jewels. The watch came from the descendants of Admiral Gino Birindelli (1911 – 2008) and was auctioned for the first time only a few years ago at Sotheby’s in May 2014.

Further info on this watch (lot 209) can be found here.

What makes this watch special for us:
During the 2nd world war, Birindelli was a SLC pilot in the very early missions of the Mezzi d’Assalto against Alexandria (G.A.1) and Gibraltar (B.G.1 and B.G.2) in 1940. He was in fact the first SLC pilot who entered an enemy harbor with his device in the night of 30 October 1940, for which he was awarded with the gold medal for galantry at war (M.O.V.M.). Birindelli survived being a prisoner of war from October 1940 to March 1944. After the 2nd world war his career in the Italian Navy continued and became quite unique. Birindelli was commander of the Incursori (COMSUBIN) from 26 September 1948 to 30 April 1950, once again from 1 May 1954 to 5 June 1956. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1959, headed the I Divisione Navale as well as the fleet command (Comandante in Capo della Squadra Navale). Gino Birindelli headed the Allied naval forces in southern Europe before he retired in December 1973 in the rank of Ammiraglio di Squadra. Read more on Admiral Gino Birindelli here.

The watch of Admiral Gino Birindelli and the unique story behind his career can be read in our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s (chapter VIII.II, page 1006 to 1043).

We hope that this remarkable 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.phillips.com]

Of the less than 70 registered watches of the Reference 6152/1 with Rolex movement and crown-protecting device, almost a third feature a “Marina Militare” dial. The specimen shown here was a new entry into our database in 2016, which is also engraved on the caseback with the “long version” marking Sommozzatori Marina Militare, together with a three-digit number (S.M.Z. M.M. XXX). Less than fourty casebacks with such a matriculation number are recorded in our database until today, used on both, Ref. 6152/1 watches with 8 mm Rolex crown and Ref. 6152/1 with the crown-protection device from Guido Panerai & Figlio, no matter which movement is inside (Rolex or Angelus).

This 6152/1 is powered by a Rolex 618 / Type 4 movement, which can be found in more than 80% of all Ref. 6152/1 watches, recorded in our database until today (Type 4 = 17 Rubis and Incabloc shock protection.

Find information about the different matriculation numbers on Ref. 6152/1 watches in our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s in chapter VIII.I (page 913-917). Watches of the Reference 6152/1 with Rolex movement and crown-protecting device can be found in chapter VIII.II (page 922-1057).

Introducing another piece of the Vintage Panerai puzzle – and one more from the watches, which were used by the Carabinieri, bearing a rare engraving on its caseback. Until today we have recorded only seven Ref. 6152/1 in our database with C.C. engraving and matriculation number on their casebacks.

Beside this watch, four similar specimen with “Luminor Panerai” dial and crown-protecting device are part of our database. The new owner has recently provided photos and informations, after purchasing the watch from the family of a Carabinieri veteran, for our records.

More than 50% of all recorded Ref. 6152/1 watches with crown-protecting device bear a “Luminor Panerai” dial. Inside the watch works a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement which is known in more than 80% of all Ref. 6152/1 watches, recorded in our database until today.

Read more about watches with C.C. engraving on page 964-971 in our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s. Read also more on Vintage Panerai watches with engraved matriculation numbers here.

Phillips will feature a Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” in their Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR. The watch is recorded in our database since 2010 and appears to be a perfect example for a 6152/1 with Rolex 618 / Type 4 movement in excellent condition.

The “Luminor Panerai” dial is the most used in all Ref. 6152/1 watches recorded in our database, as well as the Rolex 618 / Type 4 movement is working in more than 80 % of all recorded watches of the Reference 6152/1. The crown-protecting device of this watch is signed “BREV. ITAL.” and additionally numbered “10” on the underside.

Chapter VIII.II of our book “The References” 1950’s-1960’s is featuring similar watches like this specimen on auction at Phillips, with Rolex movement and Panerai crown-protecting device, on page 922-1057. An overview about the “BREV. ITAL.” signatures on watches with crown-protecting device can be found on page 975.

Further info on this watch (lot 82) can be found here.

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 with kindly permission / courtesy of www.phillips.com]

Sotheby’s London features a Ref. 6152/1 with 8 mm Rolex crown in their Watches auction on March 8th (Lot 139).

The 6152/1 with its brown aged “Radiomir Panerai” dial is recorded in our database since 2013 together with additional information dating back to the year 1992. Back then the faded brown color of the dial and the dark faded luminous material in the “Double Pencil – Sharp Pin” hands were already visible. The watch features a typical Rolex 618 / Type 4 movement (Type 4 = 17 Rubis and Incabloc shock protection).

Watches of the Reference 6152/1 with 8 mm Rolex crown are featured in our new “The References” 1950’s-1960’s in chapter VIII.I (page 878-921).

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 of the Ref. 6152/1 watch with kindly permission / courtesy of www.sothebys.com]

Christie’s Geneva will have a rare “Luminor Trittico” (LOT 174, set of watch, compass and depth gauge) in their upcoming Important Watches 1410 Auction (November 9th, 2015).

The Ref. 6152/1 watch with “Luminor Panerai” dial, Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement and crown protecting device is accompanied by a compass and depth gauge, both “Luminor” versions. The compass with this luminous material is – compared to the more existing pieces with “Radiomir” a very rare example. The Ref. 6152/1 watch and the “Luminor Panerai” depht gauge (aimed to 40 meters) are both marked with a very rare matriculation number of the italian Polizia di Stato (P.S.).

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 124XXX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4

Today, less than 90 watches of the Reference 6152/1 with Rolex movements are recorded in our database, of wich ca. 3/4 are featured with the patented crown protecting device by Panerai. The today known 1/4 of these watches come with a Rolex 8 mm crown. More than 80% of all recorded Ref. 6152/1 watches with a crown protecting device are featured with the – typical – Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement (with 17 jewels and Incabloc shock protection), such as the present watch appears in the Christie’s auction.

Watches of the Ref. 6152/1 with Rolex movement and Panerai crown protecting device will be featured in chapter VIII.II of our upcoming book “The References” (2nd edition). Compasses and depht gauges will be featured in chapter XI.

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]

Artcurial will auction another Ref. 6152/1 with “Marina Militare” dial during the “Panerai only” auction on monday, december 8th in Paris (LOT 41). The watch is accompanied by a compass in its grey cardboard box, building a set of Vintage Panerai wrist tools from the post-WW2 / 1950s era.

Noteable detail on this watch is the 180° rotated crown protecting device, signed “BREV ITAL.” and with additional small “4”. The watch is one of several specimen in our database which does not bear its six digit case number anymore, which usually can be found between the lugs at 6 o’clock. The caseback of the watch is engraved with “M.M. 050”.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Marina Militare” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: –
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4

The minute hand is “double pencil” shaped with “sharp pin”, while the hour hand appears to be thicker and slightly longer than usual, probably replaced. Inside the watch is working a Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement (17 Rubis + Incabloc shock protection) with typical engravings on the bridges of the movement. The inner caseback of the watch bears the typical Rolex marking of the refence 6152/1.

The compass appears with an orange discolored plexiglas dome (approx. 23 mm high) with a bearing line, under which the black compass dial can be spotted. This opaque condition is probably caused by polluted damping liquid (mixed with seawater), which affected the inside of the plexiglas dome which is connected to the case by six screws from the underside. The huge 70 x 90 mm sized steel case bears a “MOD. G.P.F. 4/55” engraving above the “OFFICINE PANERAI FIRENZE” in the center and “BREVETTATO” at the bottom (the LOT description does not provide if there is also an additional matriculation number between the lugs).

We hope the watch and compass 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.artcurial.com]

May 2014 will be interesting to follow three important auctions, where Vintage Panerai watches will be up for sale. We hope they find a good new home and remail surfaced in the Vintage Panerai collectors world.

Dr. Crott (Frankfurt/Germany) starts the auction month on saturday, may 10th. They have an engraved “Kampfschwimmer” Ref. 3646 / Type D in their 89th Auction (LOT 289). The watch comes with a rare brass dial, corresponding flat bezel, typical Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement, leather strap and very rare chromed brass buckle. The caseback of this Vintage Panerai watch is engraved with the initials of the first owner HV surrounded by Marine-Kampfschwimmer 1944.

Christie’s (Geneva/Switzerland) has another Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer” on their Important Watches 1401 for auction (LOT 433) on may 12th. This Vintage Panerai watch comes with anonymous sandwich dial and the typical Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1 movement (with 17 jewels and without Incabloc). The caseback is engraved with the initials of the first owner GF surrounded by Nahkampflehrer von L.K. 700 1945.

Last but not least, Sotheby’s (Geneva/Switzerland) presents a Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” in their Important Watches auction (LOT 298) on may 14th. The watch belonged to Admiral Gino Birindelli (M.O.V.M.), commander of the Com.Sub.In. in the 1950s and SLC pilot veteran from WW2. The engine of this Vintage Panerai watch is the typical Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 movement (with 17 Jewels and Incabloc). It comes with a rare, rotating plexi bezel of which only a few pieces are existing today.

Another auction highlight in may will be a Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” watch: Sotheby’s Important Watches in Geneva presents the watch of a famous owner on may 14th, 2014 (LOT 298).

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 1249XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4

The watch comes from the descendants of Admiral Gino Birindelli (1911 – 2008). It is one of very few existing Ref. 6152/1 watches with rotating plexi bezel. The movement of the watch is corresponding with our database, being a typical Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 version with incabloc shock protection and 17 jewels.

During the 2nd world war, Gino Birindelli was a pilot in the early SLC missions G.A.1 (August 1940 against Alexandra, transported by the submarine Iride), B.G.1 and B.G.2 (October 1940) in which he and his well known comrads (Damos Paccagnini, Teseo Tesei, Luigi Durant De La Penne, Alcide Pedretti, Emilio Bianchi / Gastone Bertozzi, Giuseppe Viglioli) were transported by the submarine Scirè under the command of Junio Valerio Borghese against targets in the harbour of Gibraltar. Birindelli and his co-pilot Paccagnini were captured and became POW. After his release from POW he was awarded with the gold medal for galantry at war (M.O.V.M.) in 1943 for his achievement during the mission B.G.2 in Gibraltar, 1940.

After the 2nd world war, Birindelli was commander of the Com.Sub.In. (Comando Subacquei ed Incursori) special forces in Varignano near La Spezia from 1948 to 1950 and from 1954 to 1956. Later he became commander of NATO forces of the Mediterranean in the early 1970s, followed by a political career in the italian parliament.

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]

[Photo of the Ref. 6152/1 watch with kindly permission / courtesy of www.sothebys.com]

The german watch magazine “Chronos” featured the Vintage Panerai Ref. 6152/1 – “The Arillo Luminor”– with an overview (page 64-69) about the details of the watch and the history behind its first owner, italian commander of the submarine “Ambra”, Mario Arillo (M.O.V.M.). The february-april issue “Chronos Spezial” is entirely about Panerai’s roots and history with a review from the past until today, including tests, movements and milestone models.

“The Arillo Luminor” is fully described in our book “History1″ in Chapter IV on 165 pages with 106 photos and 7 technical illustrations. The book “History1″ is in stock. It can be ordered directly in our bookstore.

Get your copy of the “Chronos Spezial” 1/2014 now at the newspaper stores across europe. Find more info at www.watchtime.net [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]