Vintage Panerai

“History1″ on the run

Volker — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:07:29 +0000

Today further production steps have been made: “the wedding” between inside pages and hardcover took progress. After many months it was an exciting moment to hold the first finished book in hands… See also the production slideshow for further photos of today’s production here.

Our thanks goes out to our patient customers who already placed their pre-order. Your books are definately the first to be shipped out very soon!

The arrival of the slipcases for protecting the books, all hand made, is set for next week. Aside the book and the slipcase we have constructed a new cardboard box for shipping which will give the book the best possible protection during shipping. These cardboard boxes are also in production and should arrive at the same time as the slipcases, in which the books will be put in.

Further photos can be found in our bookstore’s gallery.
The four chapters of our book “History1″ are introduced below:
Chapter I / Chapter II / Chapter III / Chapter IV
[Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

Another 3646 / Type C watch surfaced

Volker — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:55:55 +0000

Recently we have added another yet unknown watch into our database – another piece of the puzzle surfaced. The owner asked us to keep details confidential, such as publishing the (complete) case number. The watch has been shown to us in all details and matching our database criteria.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type C
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, anonymous)
Case number: 10103XX
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

You can read and see more about the different versions of Ref. 3646 watches in our 2nd book “Vintage Panerai – The References”. Find the illustrations of ref. 3646 / Type A – C casebacks here.

Vintage 6152/1 featured in “Chronos” magazine 03.2012

Volker — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:26:24 +0000

A vintage Ref. 6152/1 with Rolex movement and “Luminor Panerai”dial is featured in a test report on PAM 372 (“Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days 47 mm”) in the actual issue 03.2012 of watch magazine “Chronos” (Germany). The report shows the historical roots of the “simple and beautiful” PAM 372, written by Jens Koch with photos by Marcus Krüger.

XII Meeting Club Panerai 2012

Volker — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:35:47 +0000

Joined the XII Meeting Club Panerai in Viareggio/Italy, hosted by www.clubpanerai.com
Another great weekend in Tuscany with many Panerai collectors and friends.

Find my detailled reports posted in the public forum at www.paneristi.com below:
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

Thanks to Piero and his crew for making another great meeting in Italy, home of Panerai!
[Volker Wiegmann]

Dornsiepen’s 3646 to be auctioned on saturday

Volker — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:35:30 +0000

A very interesting 3646 / Type D watch will be auctioned at Auktionen Dr. H. Crott on their 85th auction on may 12th, 2012. The watch is matching in all details with our database.

Features of the watch:
Reference: 3646 / Type D
Dial: “Kampfschwimmer” (sandwich, engraved)
Case number: 260437
Movement: Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1

The caseback bears a rare engraving (“Marine Kampf-Schwimmer 1945″) with the initials “BD” of the german frogmen instructor Bernhard Dornsiepen. He has been mentioned by veteran Karl-Heinz Kiefer during an interview, which was held in december 2011, of which extracts will be published in our new book “History1″. He mentioned Dornsiepen as one of the instructors at Lehrkommando 700 (“Weisskoppel”) for indoor training several times and underlined his diving skills.

Similar watches can be found in chapter I.IV of our book “Vintage Panerai – The References”. We hope it will find a good new home!

XII Meeting Club Panerai: countdown T-5 days

Volker — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:39:35 +0000

Still a few days to go, but already “in the mood” for the XII Meeting Club Panerai in Viareggio/Italy, meeting collectors and passionated friends from Italy, Europe and Overseas. Piero Lapiana and his friends will prepare another great event for sure. Radiomirs and Luminors at its best! A presto!

The photo report of last year can be found here. Enjoy!
Wishing all attendees safe travels and a great time – a presto!
[Volker Wiegmann]

“History1″ – the slipcase master arrived

Volker — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 07:45:11 +0000

During the folding process of all printed sheets we received the master sample of the slipsheet which has been constructed for a perfect fit onto the book prototype dimensions in its function to protect the hardcover book and keep it in perfect shape when stored in a bookshelf upright. Both together, the hardcover book with 420 pages and the slipsheet, are weighing more than 3 kilos.

Further photos of the slipcase and an overview of the production steps can be found here and in our bookstore’s gallery.

“History1 – making of”

Volker — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 06:49:51 +0000

Some random photos taken during the production process of the new book “History1″ at Druckhaus Becker, Germany.

the 420 inside pages on their way to meet the hardcover...

◄ Zurueck

Vor ►

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Following steps of the production will be published soon. [Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann]

“History1″ shortlist

Volker — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:36:24 +0000

The four new chapters of our book “History1″ are introduced here:
Chapter I / Chapter II / Chapter III / Chapter IV

Also you can see further comparing photos and read more about here.

The production period – time for some reflections…

Volker — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:57:57 +0000

…and time to take keyboard and mouse away from the desktop to place some objects which have been our companions for the last months. These objects existed for decades already in physical form. During our research for our new book they have been transformed into digital media. Now – when its just a matter of hours – these objects will transformed back from digital to physical – something to hold in hands, conserved for the future.

What drives us? Its the hunt for answers, the will to learn, the wish to find out more about those brave men who used our beloved brand’s watches and tools in their dangerous missions. At the beginning of our research there was nearly nothing: Here a diary, there some documents, here some photos… there a few notes written down – beside the watches. These simple but so fascinating watches, which asked us “discover my story, go, find the answers to your questions!” And so we did. Every little piece of the puzzle added, let our excitement grow that something was found and put together to give us an answer to what we were hunting for. To tell the story. As complete as possible. The story of the watch, and: the story of its owner!

The pieces of the puzzles were spread all over. Some were hard to find, some easy. And some were given to us even by its owner himself or his relatives. What a gesture of trust. And what a priceless moment for us to see and feel the pleasure of a veteran who notice someone in the age of his grandson sitting next to him, interested in what he went thru nearly 70 years ago. Yes, they can tell a story - they tell their story…! Stories you won’t find in one of these official books. But they are not less interesting for us. Some of them – quite a lot – can’t speak anymore as they are passed away. But even those can tell us their story today in different ways. With the help of their relatives or with the help of archives. Many traces helped us to find answers. It was a long way with many obstacles. But it was worth to go this way… thats what we see right now when keyboard and mouse make a space for these companions…