(Login Cheekyguille) from IP address 68.106.220.249
I've been completely engrossed in "The References" book learning about the Vintage Panerai and tying this onto my prior knowledge of the Brand.
I had many loose ends, one of them pertaining to the legend of the Brand. To anyone that has read Valerio Borghese's Sea Devil's, or The Black Prince, the heroic memories of the XMas exploits occurred all during World War II. The diving watches and compasses, plus other instrumentos were all Panerai. Forgetting about who's side on the war they were, these men performed heroic feats remembered and honored till this day. It is interesting to learn now that the only Panerai watch model to see action on the WWII was the 3646. The 6152 was not developed until 1954 and the 6152/1 with the crown protector developed until 1956 (11 years after WWII ended).
Upon learning this I feel differently about Panerai's Radiomir's models. I feel a greater sense of meaningful connection to the heroic frogmen thru this model. I too feel a little different about the 6152/1s, perhaps the work on the innovative crown protector device more akin to the work that Comex does with Rolex. Not any less important, but still much less heroic.
There are so many loose ends with the story of Panerai, however they are as close as one wants to understand and learn. The legend of this Brand, the Durand De La Penne, the Maiale the Frogmen missions in Gibraltar......is all about the 3646.
Everything else has its place, just not the same place.
