Panerai

The Royal Italian Navy began commissioning pieces from Panerai in the mid 1930s. The company utilised Rolex movements for these watches, as Rolex had already perfected the waterproof wristwatch with their Rolex Oyster. 

The present watch appears to be a most interesting example of a "Fuzzy brass dial". These pieces have a fascinating history. Before the liberation of Florence in August 1944, the German troops seized stock from Panerai and sent it to Arturo Junghans SA in Venice. As they found the California dial was not satisfactory, they replaced them with Fuzzy brass dials, which is the third type of anonymous dial. When Rolex realized what the German troops did, they removed all Rolex hallmarks and signature. This allowed them to continue to supply watches to Giuseppe Panerai in order to save him of being accused of sabotage. Therefore, the present lot has a E case back, only bearing a serial number. The crown is signed Brevet with a cross and the movement is rightly unsigned.

Interestingly, this watch comes to us from a tank driver of the British army. His descendant shared with us more details about the provenance:

Richard was a 'tank driver' with the 'Desert Rats' in North Africa. I remember him distinctly telling of this time up and down the desert fighting Rommel and his troops. He joked about how 'he was the fastest tank driver in reverse'! I remember also, as a young lad, being amazed at how he described them frying breakfast on the tanks, they were so hot! Today, I can only imagine the heat actually inside the tank during this time.

Privately, after this conversation, my mother told me he had received a medal for his bravery, he had gone into a very difficult situation and got some of his comrades out of danger. Richard never spoke about the medal and rarely spoke of his time in the War.

From North Africa his unit went into Italy and from there they returned to England for a period of time. After this break they went into Normandy the day after D Day and fought through Europe until the War was over.

My mother died young following a short illness. A few weeks later, Richard gave me a box containing my mother's jewellery. In the box also, was the World War II watch, which he had gifted to my mother and he now wishes me to have as was her wish also.

The lot is an important horological and historical testimony. It has been preserved in very original condition and comes with fascinating provenance, making it particularly attractive for a demanding collector.