Officine Panerai

Ciao Paneristis!

Trust you all are having a great start to the week! I know I did!

Well, I need some help ( or loads of it!) from you pros and experts here, on knowing more about the all elusive Ref. 2533 from Panerai. Or as I would call it, "Bars and Dots"!

This Panerai, is ULTIMATELY my MOST FAVOURITE Panerai of all time, and is the vintage model of which I am waiting for OP to do a re-edition of hopefully one day.

But the unfortunate thing is, there doesn't seem to be much info on this piece. I only heard and read from place to place that there exists only 1 Unique piece in the world, which belongs to a Signore Francesco Ferreti of Montegattini , Italy. But not too long ago, apparently Asi ( or was it someone else? ) who met a friend who had the dial of the 2533, but in a 3646 case. ( Which is guess the primary difference is the crown? So even a different crown would signify a different model? )

But ok, I just want to know more about the Original 2533. Is this REALLY the 1st Panerai ever made? I thought the Panerai with the Cali dial was the 1st? ( As they call it the "Prototype", plus the year of manufacture is 1936, one year before the 2533. In the strictest sense of the English word, "Prototype" means VERY FIRST) And apparently from sources the 2533 was made in 1937, which makes it 2nd in line after the 3646 with the Cali? And if that is indeed the case, why do I still hear people keep on saying that the 2533 is the 1st? 1st in what sense? What's up with this watch? I really am totally in love with this 2533 so very much, but am made confused by all the info that I have tried but in vain to gather.

And to put salt on top of injury, even the BEST resources on the net, or in printed form ( such as the latest "Vintage Panerai" book from Ralf, or "The Panerai in Florence" by Dino Zei   fails to even give a mention of this piece. I wonder why? Is it that elusive that it is so damn hard to get just one tinsy weensy info on this piece? Or what is the truth behind it?

I would appreciate it if all the pros , Asi, Nico, Anths and well you know you who are, would kindly educate this highly curious, but poor in knowledge Paneristi about his most favourite ( and which I personally humbly believe SHOULD be the personal most favourite of all Paneristis) Panerai watch in existence.

I would highly appreciate any contribution, whether small or large, with or without photos, whatever you know, just pour it out, and let's debate about this piece which I find ( at least here on the forums, of course you guys could  actually be talking about it all day long in reality and I am the one left in the dark ) is highly under-rated. Even if the fact(s) that you thought you knew is correct, but turns out to be wrong, well let's let the pro Paneristis here correct us so that we may get to know the DIE HARD TRUTH of this " Bars and Dots"!

I wil start by posting this photo, which is credited to www.clubpanerai.com

 

 

Alright guys, I will be leaving for a business trip starting this Thursday, I hope that when I return, or maybe even as soon as I wake up tomorrow morning, there will be LOADS AND TONS of discussions about this MOST ELUSIVE RADIOMIR FROM PANERAI!

Ciao ciao!

Stephen

This message has been edited by BluNotte on 2009-06-01 04:24:27 This message has been edited by BluNotte on 2009-06-01 04:24:57

Very little is known about the ref. 2533 and I wouldn't expect a multitude of answers here. Volker and Ralf's book is based on closely inspecting many vintage watches from each reference. Combining this information and cross-referencing it with more data resulted in quite a comprehensive document. Having only one 2533 reference to examine, you cannot conclude much, especially if there is no other data in existence. Perhaps that is the best explanation why this reference is not in the book.

I have seen only 2 watches with reference 2533 and another watch with a 'batton' dial but with reference 3646.

 

Here are the 2 references 2533, one with a 'batton' dial.

 

 

Here are 2 'batton' dials, one ref. 2533 and one 3646.

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Asi

 

 

Thanks 1st of all for those photos! Rare and special as always!

But what I still don't understand is, in this case, what makes a Ref. 2533 a "2533"? ( In other words, what is the definition of a 2533 case? seeing that it does not seem to be defined by dial type)

From your 1st shot of which you say that both pieces have the Ref. 2533 but are of different dials, I seem to notice that even their crowns I different. ( e.g. the one with the "batton" dial ( which I always thought I knew is the only  real 2533) has a more upright crown while the one with the normal dial seems to be an onion crown). Isn'a reference actually defined by case thickness/ shape/ crown?

And in your 2nd photo example, where both have the "batton" dials but one of them is the 3646, I see the difference primarily in case finish and crowns. ( Possibly thickness as well? But can't be seen from this angle)

Also slightly OT from this 2533 talk though, do you happen to know ( because i seem to have remembered to read this somewhere but can't remember exactly where it was) if any vintage models had the wordings on their dials e.g. Radiomir Panerai coated in Radiomir or Luminor before in the past, such that these words itself glowed in the dark like street shops neon advertising signs?

Thanks in advance Asi, now I see how little really is known about my holy Grail watch, cause if even you only know this much, what more to say about the rest!

Ciao!

Stephen

is quite simple=the reference stamped......

 

 

 

 

 

By displaying the differences you mention, you demonstrate how difficult it is when you have one specimen and you want to draw conclusions. Add another one and you are in a much better position providing it is identical to the first,,,,not the case here  With other prototypes (like the 1000M from the 80's) we can talk to the people that were at Panerai and learn about the project. Obviously here, no such possibility.

Hope this helps,

 

Asi

 

 

Yep, we don't have in depth infos about this reference, indeed.

I made searches some years ago, and didn't find nothing.

Except the pics of the " 2 " Ref 233 side by side, but I think that at this time, you were the one who posted this pic.

Best,

Nicolas

Asi, the pics are really a plus.  This is a very fine watch indeed.  I don't see a lot of reference on this one and that is intriguing.  Question on the case back you show here; is it original along with the markings?  I want to keep it in my files for reference in the future.

Thanks

Scott

to make the 3646 with Cali dial.  So, batton dials are a possible quest at the onset to make obvious the watch was not Rolex.  It could be the prototype of prototypes that had no legs so it was scrapped at the onset.

Scott