Tag Archives: Panerai

Rolex Panerai 3646: Rare because few dared

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This Rolex Panerai 3646, circa 1940, is being offered for sale at Bonham’s 4 December 2013 auction in London. According to Bonhams, it was made for the German Navy and its estimated value is between £18,000 and £22,000. Photo: © Bonhams

This Rolex Panerai 3646, circa 1940, is being offered for sale at Bonham’s 4 December 2013 auction in London. According to Bonhams, it was made for the German Navy and its estimated value is between £18,000 and £22,000. Photo: © Bonhams

There is a nice history to Panerai wristwatches and it dates back to the 1930s when the company began supplying diver’s wristwatches to the Italian Royal Navy.

Among the early watches was the Rolex Panerai 3646 which is powered by the manual-winding Calibre 618 based on the Cortébert movement and cases supplied by Rolex.

The 47mm Rolex Panerai 3646 seen above was made for the German Navy and is being offered for sale by Bonhams during their 4 December 2013 auction which is being held in London.

The digits “3646” come from the case number given by Rolex, according to Mario Paci in the book Gli Orologi Panerai dal 1936 al 1997 (Panerai watches from 1936 to 1997).

Estimated at between £18,000 and £22,000, this particular diver’s watch offered by Bonhams was issued to a Kampfschwimmer or “combat diver” of the German Navy, states the auctioneer. Such watches were a vital piece of the diver’s equipment, says Paul Maudsley, head of Bonhams Watch Department.

These were produced from around 1938 onwards and only a few exist today. Of course, another reason is that not many were made for there were few such heroes (commandos) of the sea.

In his book Militäruhren (Military Timepieces), Konrad Knirim notes that Kampfschwimmers were volunteers.

Indeed, they were a rare breed of brave gentlemen who ventured where few dared.

Note: Our update on the 4 December 2013 Bonhams sale whereby we featured another auction piece, the Patek Philippe Ref. 3417, can be found in the 24 December 2013 article: Patek Philippe Ref. 3417 Amagnetic: in demand, “present tense”. The Rolex Panerai featured here was sold for £56,250, way above the estimated valuations.

Another Panerai article from timewerke.com that may be of interest:
i. Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Pam 532 Paneristi Forever: when Panerai is forever

Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM 532 Paneristi Forever: when Panerai is Forever

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Celebrating a mutually beneficial relationship spanning 13 years: The Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days “Paneristi Forever” PAM 532 with the Siluri a Lenta Corsa or torpedo on the black dial at six o’clock. Limited to 500 pieces and priced at 9,200 euros. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Watches&Wonders September 2013

Celebrating a mutually beneficial relationship spanning 13 years: The Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days “Paneristi Forever” PAM 532 with the Siluri a Lenta Corsa or torpedo on the black dial at six o’clock. Limited to 500 pieces and priced at 9,200 euros. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Watches&Wonders September 2013

Not only does Panerai’s PAM00532 “Paneristi Forever” give due recognition to the Paneristi, an online community of fans who share information and images about the brand found on www.paneristi.com, this particular timepiece also scores highly in terms of timing simply because it was launched at the Watches&Wonders exhibition in late September 2013 in Hong Kong.

[To find out more about Watches&Wonders, do check out: Watches&Wonders: What and Who]

The Paneristi website was created in September 2000 and is the “must visit” website for those who are into the brand. Showcasing the PAM00532 or Radiomir 1940 3 Days “Paneristi Forever” in the month of September [at Watches&Wonders] is therefore apt for celebrating exactly 13 years of a mutually beneficial relationship between the brand and the loyal collectors from this online community.

The Paneristi site hosts a forum which is moderated by people “completely independent of the brand”, notes Panerai in its official announcement about the PAM 532 “Paneristi Forever”.

The colours of the luminescence on the hour, minute and second hands including the hour markers, the seconds sub-dial indicators and the 3, 6 and 12 Arabic numerals on the black dial result in its vintage look.

In addition, there is the Siluri a Lenta Corsa or slow speed torpedo (above six o’clock on the dial) that was used by the Italian Navy Commandos during the Second World War. The accompanying strap is made of untreated natural leather.

There is nothing spectacular in terms of decoration on the case back but what is most telling about the brand’s appreciation of the Paneristi website is seen from the engraved inscription which states: “Paneristi Forever”. This is a very strong statement coming from the brand.

Case back of the PAM 532 with the engraved inscription: “Paneristi Forever” – a very strong statement about the Paneristi website coming from the brand. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Watches&Wonders September 2013

Case back of the PAM 532 with the engraved inscription: “Paneristi Forever” – a very strong statement about the Paneristi website coming from the brand. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Watches&Wonders September 2013

The Radiomir 47mm diameter case is “the same form as the historic one that was transitional between the Radiomir and the Luminor… that was adopted for the first Panerai prototype in 1936,” according to the brand.

The matt black finish of the case is the result of DLC-coating (Diamond-Like Carbon) on stainless steel. The water-resistance of the PAM 532 “Paneristi Forever” is equivalent to the pressure at 10 bar or 100 metres.

Panerai’s PAM 532 Radiomir 1940 3 Days “Paneristi Forever” is powered by the in-house Calibre P.3000 manual-winding movement with 3 days of power reserve. The PAM 532 “Paneristi Forever” is priced at 9,200 euros.

With such a special symbiotic relationship, Paneristi can be forever when Panerai is forever.

Another Panerai article from timewerke.com that may be of interest:
i. Rolex Panerai 3646: Rare because few dared