This was a custom build from our forum’s very talented Natas back in late 2018/2019. At the time, I had wanted to share photos with our members. But, life got in the way. Moving houses, this was largely kept in storage until I found it again earlier last month. As I’m typing this up, this sits in my study along with miscellaneous military memorabilia.
This build is a recreation of the exact vintage gen that was auctioned off from Fellows around that time.
Many Paneristis bought into the brand when Sylvester Stallone rocked a Panerai Luminor in the movie Daylight in the 1990s. My love for the Luminor didn’t take place until the Expendables movie series released and I saw the watch in person at a boutique in NYC. Prior to that, I had actually found the unusual case shape and crown guards to be Invicta mall ninja looking! As far as collecting in this hobby goes, I think it’s fair to say that we all inevitably dabble into the vintage areas as we progress in our respective journeys.
Without further ado,
As WWII was looming, Panerai and Rolex worked closely together to manufacture military watches for the Italian Navy, many of which were requisitioned by German forces.
This watch, among other additional numbers of Ref. 3646 Type C to G watches were used by Nazi commandos from 1944 to 1945. Some of these watches can easily be identified by their distinctive engravings on the outside of their case backs. Those engraving were executed during the captivity of Nazi combat swimmers on the island of Sylt in Germany.
The fact that Panerai watches were used by Nazi combat swimmers (Meereskämpfer, Kampfschwimmer, Einzelkämpfer) during WW2 is without a doubt the darkest chapter in G. Panerai e Figlio’s history.
An interesting observation is that the watches supplied by Rolex to Panerai at some point in 1944 lack of any Rolex markings, neither the cases nor the movements were signed. Only the continuous Rolex case numbers were stamped. According to new findings the Rolex stamps on the case backs appear to have been removed.
Original dials were painted with radium. Over time, they faded into orange/red colors. Those were hard to replicate, but I think Natas went pretty close.
I’ll let the photos do more of the talking and attach references to read below.
References:
perezcope.com
www.paneraimagazine.com
This build is a recreation of the exact vintage gen that was auctioned off from Fellows around that time.
Many Paneristis bought into the brand when Sylvester Stallone rocked a Panerai Luminor in the movie Daylight in the 1990s. My love for the Luminor didn’t take place until the Expendables movie series released and I saw the watch in person at a boutique in NYC. Prior to that, I had actually found the unusual case shape and crown guards to be Invicta mall ninja looking! As far as collecting in this hobby goes, I think it’s fair to say that we all inevitably dabble into the vintage areas as we progress in our respective journeys.
Without further ado,
As WWII was looming, Panerai and Rolex worked closely together to manufacture military watches for the Italian Navy, many of which were requisitioned by German forces.
This watch, among other additional numbers of Ref. 3646 Type C to G watches were used by Nazi commandos from 1944 to 1945. Some of these watches can easily be identified by their distinctive engravings on the outside of their case backs. Those engraving were executed during the captivity of Nazi combat swimmers on the island of Sylt in Germany.
The fact that Panerai watches were used by Nazi combat swimmers (Meereskämpfer, Kampfschwimmer, Einzelkämpfer) during WW2 is without a doubt the darkest chapter in G. Panerai e Figlio’s history.
An interesting observation is that the watches supplied by Rolex to Panerai at some point in 1944 lack of any Rolex markings, neither the cases nor the movements were signed. Only the continuous Rolex case numbers were stamped. According to new findings the Rolex stamps on the case backs appear to have been removed.
Original dials were painted with radium. Over time, they faded into orange/red colors. Those were hard to replicate, but I think Natas went pretty close.
I’ll let the photos do more of the talking and attach references to read below.
References:
Panerai and the Nazis
A vast number of Ref. 3646 Type C to G watches were used by Nazi commandos from 1944 to 1945. Some of these watches can easily be identified by their distinctive engravings on the outside of their …
perezcope.com
The Complete History Of Panerai
The Complete History Of PANERAI The World's First Professional Diving Watch Preface I originally published this...
Historic WWII Panerai sells for over £53,000
Historic military Panerai watch head obtained during WWII sold for £53,592. Read on to learn more about the history of this item
www.fellows.co.uk
