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PANERAI / ROLEX RADIOMIR KAMPFSCHWIMMER – Ref. 3646 Typ D – Vintage WWII Diver – Original Rolex Case & Movement – Documented History – Exceptional Condition

We are more than proud to present one of the most historically significant and best-preserved vintage military dive watches we have encountered in over three decades of collecting: the Panerai / Rolex Radiomir Kampfschwimmer Ref. 3646 Typ D, accompanied by extensive documentation and provenance.

This extraordinary example features the original Rolex-signed case and movement, developed during the Second World War for German naval divers—known as Kampfschwimmer. As one of the very first true professional military dive watches, the Ref. 3646 stands as a cornerstone of both Panerai and Rolex heritage.

Key Highlights:

- Original Rolex 47mm cushion-shaped case

- Manual-winding Rolex movement, produced for Panerai

- Authentic radium-filled hands – rare and untouched

- Period-correct plexiglass crystal

- Fitted with a vintage leather strap and matching buckle

- Ref. 3646 Typ D case, used exclusively in wartime production

- Historical engravings connected to known Kampfschwimmer operatives

This particular piece is linked to the names Köneke/Keller/Burnus, whose stories and personal accounts are richly documented in Ralf Ehlers and Volker Wiegmann's authoritative book Vintage Panerai – Uhren mit Geschichte, featured in-depth across pages 441 to 547.

Included with this watch is a comprehensive archive of historically significant material:

- Letters and personal correspondence between Joachim Burnus and Volker Wiegmann

- Vintage photographs

- Historical dossiers relating to wartime Kampfschwimmer missions

- Extensive written documentation and scholarly references

- Copy of the referenced Vintage Panerai publication

- German WWII maps around Berlin

A watch of this rarity and historical weight is seldom seen on the open market. Its originality, condition, and the depth of its provenance make it worthy of museum exhibition and a true holy grail for vintage military collectors.

“This is, without doubt, one of the finest and most complete Kampfschwimmer Ref. 3646 watches ever offered. An irreplaceable piece of WWII horological history.”

The Watch Experts – Established 1991 – Trusted Buyers & Sellers of Exceptional Timepieces

— All watches listed are in stock and available for immediate viewing —

— We welcome serious inquiries regarding the sale or consignment of individual watches or entire collections —