$34,500
"Luminor Panerai", G. F. No. 3, Ref. 6152-1. Produced in the 1950s. Fine and very rare, large, cushion-shaped, water-resistant, stainless steel, military diving wristwatch with a Panerai buckle. Signed Rolex, three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, straight lugs, winding-crown with security lever, dust protection cap. Black with radium-coated Arabic numerals and indexes. Radium-coated "bâton" hands. Notes This timepiece is particularly rare as it was made for the "Guarda Di Finanzia". The production of the Panerai Firm for the Italian Navy was not limited to watches. Since the early 20th century, Panerai specialized in submarine precision instruments such as compasses, bathometers, and various control instruments. In 1935, at the request of the Submariner Group of the Italian Navy, the permanent Commission studied a project for a special luminescent diver’s wristwatch. The Commission suggested a few models already available on the Market, but none of them were satisfactory in terms of luminescence, water resistance and pressure. In March 1936, the Commission delivered a Radiomir wristwatch, which, after being tested at sea both at night and by day, turned out to be perfect. Ten examples of this model were immediately ordered and used during important manoeuvres, where they obtained excellent results. According to the Navy, the above events occurred in 1936, but experts and collectors believe that the first watches of this type appeared in 1938. So
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-05-26
