Historical Military Watches
From Battlefield to Everyday: Experience the Legacy of Military Timekeeping.
A Watch Enthusiast’s Brand
Passionate about precision timekeeping? Our commitment to quality ensures exceptional performance at an attainable price. Each watch offers:
- Superior movements: Built for reliability and lasting durability.
- Unwavering accuracy: Expect +/- 7 seconds per day timekeeping.
- Depth defying: Dive-ready construction ensures water resistance up to 300 meters.
- Crystal clear performance: Sapphire crystals safeguard against scratches and maintain clarity.
- Historically accurate watches: Embrace a legacy of timeless aesthetics.
Built-To-Order
Craft your perfect timepiece: Our built-to-order approach puts you in control. Choose your ideal dial, hands, and movement to create a watch that reflects your unique style.
Unmatched Quality, Built for You: We don’t engage in mass production. Unlike other brands, our watches are meticulously assembled to your specifications, ensuring exceptional attention to detail in every timepiece. This commitment to quality is reflected in our industry-leading low return rate of less than 1%.
LESSONS IN HISTORY
Remembering Our Military Roots
Beyond the Battlefield: Honoring All Who Served
Recreating an iconic military watch presents a unique challenge. It’s not just about the timepiece itself, but also about the stories of the soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen who wore it. Units like Italy’s Decima MAS and Germany’s Kampfschwimmers were pioneers in underwater warfare, paving the way for today’s elite combat divers. Their perilous missions demanded specialized tactics and equipment, including the development of the first reliable, water-resistant combat dive watches. These timepieces transcended mere functionality, becoming symbols of resilience and innovation forged in the crucible of war.
The First Combat Dive Watch
The Ref. 3646 holds a special place in dive watch history. It was the first watch specifically designed for the harsh environment of underwater combat. Oversized for maximum legibility, its radium dial ensured divers could read the time even in the inky blackness of the ocean depths.
Innovation was at the heart of the Ref. 3646. It utilized the revolutionary Rolex Oyster case, guaranteeing water resistance – a critical feature for any diving watch. Typically paired with a sewn-on leather strap, the watch could be worn comfortably over thick diving suits. But the functionality didn’t stop there. This oversized timepiece somehow managed to retain a sense of style, allowing the “frogmen” to transition seamlessly from duty to everyday wear.
Service with the Kreigsmarine
During World War II, the Italian Navy’s Decima MAS unit pioneered tactics and equipment that revolutionized underwater warfare. Their success spurred the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) to form their own elite combat swimmers, the Kampfschwimmers.
These elite troops were equipped with the groundbreaking Panerai Ref. 3646 diving watch. Initially, these watches came in both unbranded (“sterile”) and printed dial versions. However, as the war intensified, both Rolex and Panerai removed their markings from timepieces issued to Axis forces, creating the now-coveted “Anonymous” dial Ref. 3646. Interestingly, some resourceful Kampfschwimmers personalized their watches with unique engravings on the case back, adding a personal touch to these historic tools.
Ref. 3646 is a Rolex?
Yes, early Panerai watches had a close connection to Rolex. Panerai used Rolex’s robust Oyster watch cases and the reliable Rolex 618 movement (originally made by Cortebert). It’s important to remember that collaboration between watchmakers was common back then, with in-house production being less prevalent.
While the 618 wasn’t a Rolex-designed movement, it found a home in many Panerai and Rolex timepieces. Unfortunately, after Richemont Group acquired Panerai, the brand’s history was sometimes presented without fully acknowledging Rolex’s early contributions.
Modernizing a Legend
The legendary Ref. 3646 is a watch enthusiast’s grail, but its rarity and price make it nearly unattainable. We believe great timekeeping should be accessible, so we’ve crafted a modern homage that captures the essence of the Ref. 3646.
Our meticulously recreated design features a robust single-piece case to ensure better water resistance. For everyday wearability, we’ve incorporated a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a significant upgrade for protecting your watch against everyday bumps.
