Collecting is a passion of mine. I collect old Malt Whisky, I have an old Mercedes W113 Pagoda from 1967, and my heart beats so much for watches, so I have a small collection. I am also a passionated diver, and it is natural that I like divers watches. It interests me only the past, the rare and that which has contributed to the development in diving watch segment.

It all started with a meeting of a friend from the army, which is now in the german navy seals in Eckernförde. He told me about the watches, which had received the unit. However, his stories were only up in the late sixties. I have a Fifty Fathoms Blancpain Bund, IWC Ocean Bund, Rolex DRSD MK II thin case, Rolex 1665 Comex rail dial and other watches. All my watches have a story and it was inevitable that I had to find the way to vintage Panerai.

At a meeting two years ago I met Ralf Ehlers and I was fascinated by his passion and enthusiasm. He showed us his Panerai watches and accessories. Soon later I began to read all about vintage Panerai.

I got my 3646 in september 2010, only a few months later I got my 6152/1. These two watches are for me the most beautiful and interesting watches I own. They tell a story, they have a magic effect for me. It is hard to describe it, if you do not feel it. Collecting watches brings people together with whom one can share his passion. I’ve met many great people from around the world and it gives me something, that you can’t buy with money.

Panerai watches entered my life in the spring of 1998 while on holiday in Florence. Little did I know, how much my life was going to change. The simple design and the rich military history had me scouring the internet to find out more and more about this special time piece that I couldn’t even pronounce correctly.

Over the years of collecting and researching, it always seems to brings you back to the beginning of it all… Vintage Panerai.

In 2006, after about a year of looking for the right one, an opportunity opened up for me to get a Radiomir Panerai, 3646 / Type C. With the help of a friend, the dream came true. 60 years of history was now a reality. With it’s clean dial and simplicity of the case with the Rolex movement, the 3646 says it all.

I suppose that I have always been a “collector” of things, starting with bottle caps, baseball cards and comic books when I was a child to Oktoberfest steins as an Adult. My interest in watches came rather late. I started with simple watches, but very quickly became interested in older timepieces. This lead me to pocket watches and of course eventually Panerai.

I never really thought that I would have the chance to own a vintage Panerai so I purchased many modern pieces. Eventually, the opportunity to buy an original 3646 “Kampfschwimmer” with complete provenance was placed in front of me. I did not hestitate to sell many pieces that took me years to collect in order to buy it.

My connection to Panerai is simple. The deep history is endless and the people that I have met along the way are priceless and will be friends forever. Everytime I stare at the patina on the dial, I see that that watch is still alive. It has many stories to tell and will have many more even after I am gone. I am fortunate that I have been given the opportunity to preserve the watch for the next generation.

From being a little boy I was always interested in old, especially mechanical things. I was repairing, collecting and reserving everything I got in my hands, sometime my family wasn’t very happy with. The final bug bites me when I saw a friend’s collection of vintage mechanical watches, more than a decade ago. I couldn’t buy only one at that time but I realized in a flash that all vintage mechanical watches are among the very finest pieces from the times long ago. They’re still alive, have heartbeats and in some special cases they tell stories from that days and what is the best, they’re wearable daily – so you can keep them alive and feel their soul.

When I saw my first Panerai I was fallen in love because of the plainness and simultaneous powerful design. From this first impression it took years until I saw my first vintage Panerai in real on the wrist of one of the makers of this place. Consequently the hunt began again and as many collectors out there I enjoy the hunt until today the same way like having the pieces finally.

Vintage Panerai watches, instruments and further stuff means much to me because of all the histories and military heritage. But what is at least of the same importance to me is the community of collectors here – sometimes I feel it’s a sworn crew like the first owners of our watches.

Although I had collected Panerai for several years, my jaw dropped when I was first able to see in person a vintage Panerai wristwatch. Thinking about the events it had ’seen’ was thrilling to me, but equally as much was knowing its role as the inspiration for the modern watches that we all know today.

Among the vintage models, the 3646 always held a special place for me. It was the first production Panerai watch and what helped the small Italian company to become a leading supplier of military wristwatches and precision instruments for many decades to come. I always said to myself should I be fortunate enough to own a vintage, that it would be my first choice. Only recently, after many months of searching (and some sleepless nights), my dream was achieved.

While I also appreciate the contemporary watches of today’s Panerai, the differences found in every vintage piece makes each uniquely special. Learning about the technical differences and historical background of each watch is something I can take part in for many years to come.

As a friend commented to me when I first acquired my 3646, ‘these watches drip history’.  
I could not have said it better myself.

How I came to own a 3646 “Kampfschwimmer”.

In late 1945 Dad was stationed in Arnsberg Germany. A German trader offered a watch for 10 cigarettes, the trader said, “It’s a German Frogman’s watch.” Deal done, the balance & crown broken, he had the watch repaired in Arnsberg, paid for in cigarettes.

He cut the strap off and wore it as a pocket watch for the next 50 years, he took great pride in his Rolex, a great timekeeper. He gave me the watch several years ago and it lay in the drawer for 2 years. I did some searching on the Internet and came across Volkers site, sent some pictures of the watch, rest is history.

Sadly, Dad never knew the connection between Panerai and Rolex. A great watch to wear with a strange feeling, seems to have a soul.

I do love Panerai watches, but none more so than the Vintage Pieces.

The Best of all for me is the GPF 2/56, The “Egiziano Grosso” with that massive 60mm case for legibility both under water and above and a second hand register for checking operations to the second. No doubt  it is the best of the bunch for craftsmanship and with every piece containing the beautiful and distinctive Angelus movement which provided eight days of power reserve.

The modern “Luminor Submersible” is homage to the vintage GPF 2/56, using similar design elements such as the rotating bezel, but in a smaller case size (44 mm).

Having collected Panerai watches for several years before I knew the significance of their storied history I love them more every year and will probably take them to my grave.

“Timeless design” is what comes to mind when I think about Panerai and it was indeed this feature that first drew me to this brand.

When one realizes that this design was conceived some 60 years ago for the making of a military diving tool, the admiration only deepens. The history and ingenuity of these timepieces enrich and enlighten historians and collectors alike.

If there is one vintage timepiece that best represents the modern Panerai icon – it has to be the 6152/1. It is the ancestor of the contemporary “Panerai Luminor” line, first made available to the public in 1993. From the massive oversized case to the clean uncluttered dial and of  course, the ultimate Panerai signature – the legendary Crown guard.

 The 6152/1 will always remain the pinnacle of any vintage watch collection, mine included.

 It was 1999 when by accident I stumbled onto what was formerly a military secret, “Panerai Watches”. as a collector of both vintage and military watches most of my life and with a deep affinity for the sea, the attraction was instant for these grand “Bella’s”, and so the love affair began! 

In 2001 I saw a Vintage Panerai that encaptured such beauty as I had never seen before, the reference 6154, also known as the “Egiziano Piccolo” created specially for the Egyptian Navy in the year 1954. As specified in the order, the watch was to be fitted with the famous Panerai Radiomir Dial, Big Crown & Unique Case, a very different watch to the existing ref’s 6152 and 6152/1 and whilst this reference was not my first vintage dream, a 6152/1 (the foundation of the Panerai crown guard) I always lusted deeply after a 6154. 

 Another accident in 2006 changed my life completely and forever but my Love for Panerai got me through the darkest times and kept my mind smiling when my body could not.

“The Hunt” – From collecting comic books as a kid, to cars and ultimately watches, the allure of finding that hidden treasure is the ultimate thrill. The rich history behind the Panerai brand led to my interest in collecting vintage watches and eventually the quest to find my ultimate grail watch. The 3646 “Kampfschwimmer”.

I’ve always had an affinity for the minimalist look and design of the 3646. The cushion shaped case, domed Plexiglas crystal and anonymous dial was a winning combination for me.

 I was fortunate to come across a watch that had been tucked away in a drawer years before finally being discovered in late 2006. With the power of the internet and help of my friends, my quest for the 3646 was finally realized.

 The hunt, the chase, and the friends involved that helped make all this a reality, is why this watch is and always will be special to me. “So much more than just a watch…”