Rare Documented Wwii Panerai At Antiquorum's December Sale

[jpmlora]

In Antiquorum’s December sale of Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, Pocket Watches, & Clocks on December 6 & 7 there will be an exceptional timepiece from World War II, an Officine Panerai, “Radiomir Panerai” , Ref 3646 , first generation. This watch is one of very few Panerai from WW II with documented provenance.The watch was “captured” at the Nijmegen bridge during the battle of Arnhem on September 29th, 1944 which was one of the most notorious battles of WWII as the Allies attempted to seize bridges over Dutch waterways in preparation for the invasion of Germany. Thousands of allied troops died during the battle for the bridge, thus this was the last major German victory of the war. The watch was in fact mentioned in the memoirs of Capt. John Groves entitled, “Experiences as a Serving Officer in the 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment during the 1944/45 European Campaign”. It reads as follows:

“On September 29th the German “frogmen” whose exploits received, subsequently, some well deserved publicity, swam down the Waal from the east, which damaged the road bridge and destroyed the railway bridge at Nijmegen. This accomplished, they swam on towards the German positions at Ochten. A post of 10 Troop carrier men were supposed on the morning of the 29th to observe from the dyke bank overlooking the river near Hein, these “frogmen” clad in their grotesque grey rubber suits flapping across the fields in front of the observation post. Our men opened fire with Brens and one of the enemy surrendered at once, while the others took to the water and swam to the far bank of the river, where Dutch resistance troops picked them up and returned them to C Squadron. Five more were captured by B Squadron men further along the dyke bank. The swimmers, fine muscular specimens of the German Navy, had recived special training in Venice and were, perhaps a little unfortunate in misjudging the distance to Ochten and their own troops. It was here that Lt-Col F. Lane-Fox relinquished his command of the regiments, to be succeeded by Major C.H. Kinnersley. Sergeant A.C. Gardiner received The Military Medal for his actions during the above. He also kept the Panerai Radiomir watch”.

[RageRover]

Very cool. Notice the dial!

There goes all the assumption that the Germans only recieved non-marked dials...and/or they recieved mostly unmarked dials becasue they were spares that were lying around.

I believe this is the first Panerai discovered which was issued to the Germans and actually says Panerai on it?

Thats the same spec watch as the Italians.

A total of about 700 Panerais were made I believe? Unless my memory is wrong, about 300 3646s were made, about 300 6152(1)s, a bunch of 6154s, 50 (not counting a few prototypes) GPF 2/56 for the Egyptian Navy and prototypes here and there.

VERY VERY few have traded hands. ~700 watches is rare, but its not like ita a needle in a haystack. Its interesting to see new Panerais pop up and the stories that accompany them.

[baltic]

This is the watch featured recently on the BBC's 'Antiques Roadshow', valued at £20k.

[Highflyingclive]

Antiquorum sold this one last year - for $59,000

So-called "Rolex Panerai" Officine Panerai, Firenze 1860, “Radiomir Panerai”, case No. 1010305, Ref. 3646, first generation. Made for the Italian Navy Commandos circa 1940. Very fine and extremely rare, large, cushion-shaped, waterresistant, stainless steel military diver's wristwatch with Panerai buckle.

C. Signed Rolex, three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, wire lugs. D. Black with luminous Arabic numerals and bâton indexes. Luminous blued steel "bâton" hands. M. Cal. 15 3/4''', signed Rolex, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 47 x 47 mm. Thickness: 15 mm.

[RageRover]

I suspect the watch will hit about $60,000 US (~ 27,500 Pounds Sterling).

Have u looked at any of the auctions a few years ago. Such as mid to late 1990s? The sold for less that 1/10th of the current prices. I saw an auction listed at something like 8000 CHF! (I believe about $5000 US).

[Finepics]

I think this is the watch that featured on the UK TV's Antiques Roadshow recently - hardly suprising that the owners selling it after he discovered how much it's worth!!

[Finepics]

This is the watch featured recently on the BBC's 'Antiques Roadshow', valued at £20k.

Oh bugger - you just said that!!!

[Watchmeister]

I assume it is the picture but the one above looks brushed where as all the other pics I have seen show highly polished.

[Finepics]

I think it's just the photo - I have a lot of Antiquorum pics and they all look like this.

[Watchmeister]

Dude, you forgot the picture.

[Cucumber_Jones]

Antiquorum are always weird. They should get neil to take the photos for the auctions.

[Dutchy]

A real part of Dutch (and German) history. Very interesting read, thanks for that.

[RageRover]

I do agree that the watch should be polished, but looks brushed in the pic. If you go Antiquorum and view the original pic, you can get a huge blow up of the pic. You will then be able to see that the watch is indeed polished, and not brushed.

Panaerais were also not highly polished...just polished. So finish seems good.

It also seems that Antiquorum scans their auction catalog. They don't just upload the original pics. Which is why they always seem a bit off.

[rmcsherry]

Check out the knife-edged original GPF buckle, so cool!