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Lot Essay
Rolex made for Officine Panerai Reference 3646
Following disappointing tests carried out on watches available in the 1930s, the Royal Italian Navy approached Panerai with the request of designing a watch resistant to extreme conditions while at the same time keeping exact time. The prototype which Panerai submitted to the First Submarine Group Command was called "Radiomir" and passed all tests successfully.
Consequently as of 1938 until the 1950s, small series of reference 3646 watches were produced, mainly for the Italian Navy. The models were fitted with hand-wound movements and waterproof cases supplied by Rolex, the dials consisted of two discs, a lower one coated with "Radiomir" luminous substance visible through the cut out numerals in the black upper disc, enabling the easy reading in the dark or under water. The large cushion-shaped cases had a diameter of 47 mm, wire lugs and a screw-down crown.
The present watch is from the so-called "no name" series with blank dial, generally reserved for the German Navy's Special Forces. For a detailed description and illustration of such watches see Military Timepieces by Konrad Knirim, pp. 271 - 277.
Following disappointing tests carried out on watches available in the 1930s, the Royal Italian Navy approached Panerai with the request of designing a watch resistant to extreme conditions while at the same time keeping exact time. The prototype which Panerai submitted to the First Submarine Group Command was called "Radiomir" and passed all tests successfully.
Consequently as of 1938 until the 1950s, small series of reference 3646 watches were produced, mainly for the Italian Navy. The models were fitted with hand-wound movements and waterproof cases supplied by Rolex, the dials consisted of two discs, a lower one coated with "Radiomir" luminous substance visible through the cut out numerals in the black upper disc, enabling the easy reading in the dark or under water. The large cushion-shaped cases had a diameter of 47 mm, wire lugs and a screw-down crown.
The present watch is from the so-called "no name" series with blank dial, generally reserved for the German Navy's Special Forces. For a detailed description and illustration of such watches see Military Timepieces by Konrad Knirim, pp. 271 - 277.