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拍品专文
Around 1935 and following disappointing tests carried out on watches available at that time, the Royal Italian Navy approached Giuseppe 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. A further order was made and following an extensive secret test phase watches were supplied to the Italian naval forces as of 1938.
From the beginning, watches with reference no. 3646 were made by Rolex for Panerai following strict technical requirements, notably a 47 mm. wide cushion-shaped case with soldered curved wire lugs, screw down "onion" crown, 12-sided case back and a Perspex crystal. The black dials were coated with half Arabic and half Roman luminous numerals on black lacquer background and only marked "SWISS MADE" below 6 o'clock. The outer railway minute divisions were printed in gilt, however not luminous. The particularity of the luminous blued steel hands is the small divider or separation in the center of the hour hand. The 16 lines caliber 618 Cortébert movements were finished by Rolex and decorated with the Geneva stripes.
The particularity of certain series of these early "Radiomir" watches, such as the present example, is the lack of any of Rolex signatures or hallmarks.
According to tradition, a small group of such "California" dial ref. 3646 watches were intended to be presented to high ranking Navy officials during a ceremony. However, likely due to the turmoil of the war, the delivery never took place and the watches were forgotten in a warehouse. Rediscovered only decades later, these watches remained unused and are spectacular witnesses to the history of Panerai.
The present watch is believed to be from this group of watches and impresses by its virtually new condition, still retaining the original Perpex crystal and the "onion" crown. Most likely opened for the first time on our premises for inspection, the movement has evidently not been touched since it has left the Rolex factory, underlined by the impeccable condition of the screw heads and the bridges, not showing any wear or scratches, as well as the overall cleanness. The highly attractive "California" dial has never been cosmetically enhanced, the luminous material to the numerals displays an uniform, ivory-coloured tone with only minor spotting, consistent with age. The case proportions are full, the sides to the screw back are unharmed.
The hand-stitched leather bracelet, although not by Panerai, is presumably from the same period as the watch. Its blackened claw buckle is stamped PRIMA, German manufacturer for buckles, buttons and other accessories, active in the first half of the 20th century.
Purchased by the father of the original owner over 30 years ago and carefully locked away, the present watch is an outstanding example of Panerai's celebrated "California dial reference 3646".
For a detailed description and various illustrations of the model see Vintage Panerai - Watches with History by Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann, pp. 10 - 25. Another example of a non-signed "California Dial" is described and illustrated on pp. 20 & 21.
From the beginning, watches with reference no. 3646 were made by Rolex for Panerai following strict technical requirements, notably a 47 mm. wide cushion-shaped case with soldered curved wire lugs, screw down "onion" crown, 12-sided case back and a Perspex crystal. The black dials were coated with half Arabic and half Roman luminous numerals on black lacquer background and only marked "SWISS MADE" below 6 o'clock. The outer railway minute divisions were printed in gilt, however not luminous. The particularity of the luminous blued steel hands is the small divider or separation in the center of the hour hand. The 16 lines caliber 618 Cortébert movements were finished by Rolex and decorated with the Geneva stripes.
The particularity of certain series of these early "Radiomir" watches, such as the present example, is the lack of any of Rolex signatures or hallmarks.
According to tradition, a small group of such "California" dial ref. 3646 watches were intended to be presented to high ranking Navy officials during a ceremony. However, likely due to the turmoil of the war, the delivery never took place and the watches were forgotten in a warehouse. Rediscovered only decades later, these watches remained unused and are spectacular witnesses to the history of Panerai.
The present watch is believed to be from this group of watches and impresses by its virtually new condition, still retaining the original Perpex crystal and the "onion" crown. Most likely opened for the first time on our premises for inspection, the movement has evidently not been touched since it has left the Rolex factory, underlined by the impeccable condition of the screw heads and the bridges, not showing any wear or scratches, as well as the overall cleanness. The highly attractive "California" dial has never been cosmetically enhanced, the luminous material to the numerals displays an uniform, ivory-coloured tone with only minor spotting, consistent with age. The case proportions are full, the sides to the screw back are unharmed.
The hand-stitched leather bracelet, although not by Panerai, is presumably from the same period as the watch. Its blackened claw buckle is stamped PRIMA, German manufacturer for buckles, buttons and other accessories, active in the first half of the 20th century.
Purchased by the father of the original owner over 30 years ago and carefully locked away, the present watch is an outstanding example of Panerai's celebrated "California dial reference 3646".
For a detailed description and various illustrations of the model see Vintage Panerai - Watches with History by Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann, pp. 10 - 25. Another example of a non-signed "California Dial" is described and illustrated on pp. 20 & 21.