Took a nice pic of the “Luminor Trittico”. All three pieces are powered by “Luminor Panerai”: the 16 m depth gauge, the Ref. 6152/1 Panerai watch and the compass. Both instruments, the compass and the depth gauge, have a case size of 70 x 90 mm.

You can find more information about Ref. 6152/1 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter IV, pages 202-255.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 6152/1
Dial: “Luminor Panerai” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 124537
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 4 

The 2nd pack of blueprints has been checked today. After some minor “cosmetical” corrections, imprimatur for the 420 pages of the book has been given.

The prototype for the choosen materials of the cover (leather and canvas – a hommage to the historical boxes and packages of Panerai products) and the embossing tools of the typographic elements received imprimatur as well.

The construction of the protecting slipcase for the new book “history1″, weighting 2.7 kilos, will follow up. The slipcase will be made with the same grey canvas as used on the cover of the book.

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

The text of our new book “Watches with History” / “history1″ has been completely cross-checked by our native speakers. The last of the four chapters will be transferred into the production pipeline today. The 2nd batch of blueprints will be produced as the next step before the print production will start.

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

On march 20th, 2012 Ralf Ehlers gave a lecture on his hobby collecting Vintage Panerai at the Lions Club Munster. The lecture took more than one hour in which Ralf spoke to the interested audience about collecting Panerai, the roots of the brand, its naval history and how he started to write books about his hobby five years ago. On the photo Ralf was wearing his Ref. 3646 / Type D “Kampfschwimmer”. Being a Lions Club member for years, he was invited to give a lecture on his hobby by the president of the Lions Club Munster, Mr. Frank Becht, who is also a Panerai collector.

Aside the presentation Ralf Ehlers brought some pieces of his collection for a little exhibition: four Vintage Panerai watches (Ref. 3646 / Type C “Kampfschwimmer”, Ref. 6154 “Egiziano Piccolo”, Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai” with Angelus movement and also a Ref. GPF 2/56 “Egiziano Grosso”), instruments (a Vintage Panerai depth gauge plus compass) and rare diving equipment from a german “Kampfschwimmer”, which received a lot attraction from the members of the Lions Club. 

[Photos courtesy of Dr. Roland Metzner, Lions Club Munster]

The first pack of blueprints was ready to pick up today. “Three chapters down, one to go”: 250 of 420 pages have been delivered to the prepress department after passing the final cross-check on all languages. 

The sold out version of “Watches with History” from 2007 (21 x 21 cm) can be seen on the left corner of the photo, placed on our book “The References” . The new “history1″ will have the same size as “The References” (26 x 26 cm). 

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

First chapters have been delivered to the printer after our italian native speaker provided some last cross check notes. Next step: blueprints!

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Rainy spring day here in Germany today, so I tried to catch the Panerai DNA in shape of the crown protecting device on the Ref. 6152/1 “Luminor Panerai”. It is without a doubt “the number 1 identifying feature” of Panerai watches from all production periods: vintage, PreVendome and actual models.

The patent was issued in july 1956 and described as “tight-seal device for the control knob of instruments, particularly for the setting and winding knob of watches”.

A 26 mm wide and 6.2 mm high area is milled out on the right edge of the polished case, to allow a lateral attachment of the protection device, which is fabricated from brushed stainless steel. The protection system, which is extending 8 mm above the right side of the case is fastened to the case with two screws. The L-shaped protective bar is 2.9 mm wide and pushes the crown down firmly to the case when closed. 

You can find more information about Ref. 6152/1 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References” in chapter IV, pages 202-255. About the crown protecting device you can find information on pages 225 to 233.

The english text of our new book “Watches with History” / “history1″ has been cross-checked by native speakers. This weekend we received the last corrections which have been already solved - german and english text is complete, italian text cross-check following soon. All 260 photos have been optimized for print too…

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

The four chapters of our new book “Watches with History” / “history1″ will hold – aside the extended research results on the four featured veterans – the latest extracts (as of march 1st, 2012) from our database of today existing vintage Panerai watches. Readers of our book “Vintage Panerai – The References” will find an interesting view of the grown total numbers and extended number groups.

Further details will be published soon. Thanks for being patient.
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

A local Panerai AD in Hesse state’s capital city Wiesbaden, Juwelier Stoess (www.stoess.eu), is having a special Panerai exhibition for two weeks (february 25th to march 10th) with a completely “Panerai corporate designed shop window” which is getting a lot attraction in Wiesbaden’s famous shopping area Wilhelmsstrasse – close to the well known Kurhaus / Casino.

There are special and rare Panerai models in the display, also some Vintage Panerai instruments are placed. Beside a battery powered light gun, a so called Elettrosegnalatore GPF 1/58, two parts of Arillo’s “Trittico” in their wooden storage box are in the spot: a Luminor depth gauge (16 meters) and a Luminor compass.