Reading Time: < 1 minute
It’s a rare event that a watch like this hits the market. It’s even a rarer event to see it in person, check it out and admire it. The watch I am talking about is a very rare combat diver watch – Panerai Radiomir Deutsche Kriegsmarine.
This specimen comes from private ownership, the owner is the direct descendant of the initial owner and is offered with the very rare original band and the original clasp.
To date, only about 70 watches of this type are known. Panerai Radiomir has his name from the radioactive luminescent “Radiomir” invented in 1916 – a mixture of zinc sulphate and radium bromide – the Panerai dials treated with this substance were particularly good for reading time at night and deep underwater.
Because of this advantage, Panerai was commissioned with the production of the first watch for combat divers – the Radiomir. The first prototypes were manufactured directly at Rolex, later the watches were manufactured by Panerai with an in-house developed case, according to the principle of the Oyster.
In 1936 the Panerai Radiomir became the secret equipment of the German Navy.
This watch was sold last year, on 2 April 2016, by the Eppli Auction House for 80900 Euro.
I would like to thank Eppli Auction House for the images and information.