ROLEX PANERAI

ROLEX / OFFICINE PANERAI MILITARY DIVER’S WRISTWATCH, REFERENCE 3646, TYPE C, STEEL
A fine and rare , manual winding stainless steel military diver’s wristwatch with screwed case-back, black dial; made for the Italian market.
Brand: Rolex Panerai, Officine Panerai, Firenze / Rolex, Geneva
Model: military PANERAI diver’s wristwatch
Reference: 3646, type C
Year: circa 1943-1944
Case: 260556
Caliber: 618, 16’’’ (by Rolex, Geneva)
Material: steel
Buckle: stainless steel buckle
Diameter: 47mm.
Dimensions: 46.7 x 46.7 mm.
Signature: case and movement

Grading System: AAA (Excellent)
Case: 3-8 (Good , Slightly scratched)
Dial: 3-06-01-05 (Good , HANDS Partially replaced , HANDS Original , HANDS Luminous material reapplied)
Movement: 3* (Good , Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense)

EUR: 41,100 - 83,000
CHF: 40,000 - 80,000
USD: 44,600 - 90,000

Rolex / Officine Panerai, Reference 3646

According to research made by some authors, 211 examples of reference 3646 appear to have been created; their production having begun in April 1940, including “Type D” model, of which only 79 examples are known.

In order to meet the military needs of the Royal Italian Navy, which had already been supplied for several years with high precision instruments, Officine Panerai created “Radiomir”, a radium-based powder that gives luminosity to the dials of sighting instruments and devices. Reference to the name “Radiomir” is documented in the supplement to the patent fled in France on March 23, 1916.

Circa 1936, the Royal Italian Navy asked Panerai to design a watch resistant to extreme underwater conditions while respecting the exact time. The prototype (now known as “Radiomir”) was submitted to the First Submarine Group Command. A further order was made and watches were supplied to the Italian naval forces as of 1938 (Regia Marina, later becoming the Marina Militare after World War II) and later on to the German Navy (Kriegsmarine).

The reference 2533, the first prototype for the “Radiomir” was produced beginning in 1936 in extremely small numbers. The second to be produced was reference 3646, in production until the 1950’s and produced in various versions classified “Type A” to “Type G”, each bearing unique aesthetics.

Reference 3646 was made by Rolex for Panerai – between 1943 to 1944 – following strict technical requirements, notably a 47 mm. wide (for underwater legibility) cushion-shaped case with soldered curved wire lugs, screw down “onion” crown, 12-sided case-back and a “Perspex” crystal.

Biography
Bibliography Ehlers, Ralf, & Wiegmann, Volker, “Vintage Panerai – The References”.http://www.vintagepanerai.com