90th Auction
2014/11/15
Lot 79
Officine Panerai Brevetee "Radiomir", Rolex SA-Genève, Suisse, 31 Victoires, Haute Precision, Case No. 260418, Ref. 3646 / Type D, Rolex Cal. 618 / Type 1, 46 x 46 mm, circa 1944
A diver’s important Germany navy watch, family owned. The watch bears the initials of German navy diver Valentin Kohmann "VK". With original compass, photographs and detailed documentation. So far only 60 existing watches of this type are known to exist.
Case: steel, lead joint, screw back with military engraving: "11. Einsatzgruppe Meereskämpfer VK 1944". Dial: black, "sandwich" type, luminous Arabic numerals/indexes, luminous baton hands. Movm.: bridge movement, nickel-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, chatoned, 17 jewels, monometallic screw balance.
Radiomir Panerai
Because of the 1914 invention of the luminous material "Radiomir" - a mix of zinc sulfide and radium bromide - the Panerai dials could be read well at night and in deep water. Panerai made use of this advantage in his watches and was commissioned to produce the first diver's wristwatches, called "Radiomir". The first prototypes were still produced at Rolex, the later watches and their cases were produced at Panerai according to Oyster standards. In 1936 the Panerai Radiomir became a part of the secret naval equipment.
Source: "Armbanduhren Klassik Katalog", Koenigswinter 2005, page 146.
With the kind support of Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann, www.vintagepanerai.com, the highly recommended website for vintage Panerai watches.
A diver’s important Germany navy watch, family owned. The watch bears the initials of German navy diver Valentin Kohmann "VK". With original compass, photographs and detailed documentation. So far only 60 existing watches of this type are known to exist.
Case: steel, lead joint, screw back with military engraving: "11. Einsatzgruppe Meereskämpfer VK 1944". Dial: black, "sandwich" type, luminous Arabic numerals/indexes, luminous baton hands. Movm.: bridge movement, nickel-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, chatoned, 17 jewels, monometallic screw balance.
Radiomir Panerai
Because of the 1914 invention of the luminous material "Radiomir" - a mix of zinc sulfide and radium bromide - the Panerai dials could be read well at night and in deep water. Panerai made use of this advantage in his watches and was commissioned to produce the first diver's wristwatches, called "Radiomir". The first prototypes were still produced at Rolex, the later watches and their cases were produced at Panerai according to Oyster standards. In 1936 the Panerai Radiomir became a part of the secret naval equipment.
Source: "Armbanduhren Klassik Katalog", Koenigswinter 2005, page 146.
With the kind support of Ralf Ehlers & Volker Wiegmann, www.vintagepanerai.com, the highly recommended website for vintage Panerai watches.
Sold
estimated
120.000—140.000 €
Price realized
66.000 €