Some kind of magic

Jun 10, 2008,07:25 AM
 


Well, I guess you all know this strange feeling that falls on us some day....

The feeling that all is perfect, surprisingly perfect, when virtuallity meets reality.

The last week end was one of these moments.

While I was in austria, to attend to a soccer game, at 1500 kilometers from home, in a small city, we took a bus to go to the stadium...

We were 4, and picked some other guys to go to see the game...

There were around 20 seats in this bus...

5 other guys came in the bus, and one of them take a seat just close to me.

Well, you know me, I had a glance to his wrist....

And I saw this:

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So I moved my eyes to the guy's face, a bit tortured...Who can wear such a rare Panerai Vintage, a Small Egytiano???

And while looking at him, a bit surprised, ( this is my Vintage Panerai Dream Watch ), I was saying to myself: " I know him, I know him, but Where did I meet him before "???

This guy, This Monsieur is, ( on the left ):

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Ralf EHLERS!!!

Ralf wrote with Volker Wiegmann a very interesting Book " Vintage Panerai ", and both made a great work with this opus...

But, can you imagine my surprise, while seeing that Ralph was in the same bus than me, to attend to the same event, and just sat close to me, with such a treasure on his wrist???

You can imagine that we spoke a lot, about Panerai, the modern production, the pre V, and these Vintages... It was a²wonderful talk!

Now, let's speak about this watch:

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This is not a Radiomir, this is not a Luminor, this is simply a special 47mm case, whose proportions are just perfect, in terms o thickness, and diameter.

The Small Egytiano has a very special dial, which wasn't painted, and "attacked by the radium, hence this very sexy color.

You can see it under every angles, this watch has a pure balance, a magnificient purity and esthetic...

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As you can see on the pics, the whole watch is in an amazing condition, and Ralph wears it very often!

Even the plexy is in very good condition for a watch that is more than 50 years old...All is original!

And this plexy achieves to give to the Small Egytiano a very sexy and warm, not to say HOT look, with this gorgeous distorsion.

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As previoulsy said on some Vintage posts, the relations between Panerai and Rolex are very very close...

The Crown of this 6154 bears the Rolex signature, as the case back, and the ..movement ( Rolex Cortebert )...

I was so crazy that I began to take some pics in the Bus...LOL

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To wear it is an unforgettable experience...The watch perfectly sits on the wrist, even if the strap is too long for me, but hey, This is not ( already ) my watch...LOL

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You understood it, this is not the fact that only something around 30 Small Egytianos were made, this is because this watch is terrific, fascinating, gorgeous, that I love it...

Much more than a Cali, or another Rad, or all the Luminors...This Watch is unique, and represents in the niecest possible way what Panerai was able to do, at this moment.

You don't believe me?

I kept the best pic for the end...

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Thanks, Ralph, to have let me play with your watch, meeting you was a great pleasure, Mate!


Hope you enjoy!


Best.
Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-06-10 07:27:21 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-06-12 07:46:47


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FANTASTIC story and Very Impressive Vintage Watch

 
 By: patrickh : June 10th, 2008-07:55
Thanks for sharing, Nicolas. Great WE. I hope you stayed concentrated on the game after that wonderful date in the bus. The last pic would be placed in Masthead one day, for sure. Patrickh

Wow!

 
 By: ALEPOS : June 10th, 2008-08:21
I guess Ralph must have made your day Nicolas! What else would you want in a bus but somebody sitting next to you that shares the same passion, love and the virus as you! Lucky you that you had the chance meeting and sharing panerai info with Ralph and al... 

Ralph is indeed a great guy, and

 
 By: amanico : June 10th, 2008-11:25
Having met him in the flesh was one big, great, and excellent moment... The funny thing was to see his face when I said to him: " Hey, what a beautiful 6154 "...LOL Can't wait for his 2d book! Nicolas

That must've been

 
 By: d.m : June 10th, 2008-16:02
an unbelievable moment for you both, Nicolas. As I read your initial post, I kept wondering how your conversation began. I just wish there were security cam footage of that moment so we could all see it! Must've been priceless. I'm curious to know why the... 

Small Egiziano

 
 By: Asimut : June 10th, 2008-22:29
the reference 6154 is nicknamed 'small Egiziano' in comparison to the later model, 2/56 which is called (no surprises) 'big Egiziano'. The 2/56 is 60mm and was made (as his younger brother) for the Egyptian Navy in 1956. It was the model that inspired the...  

Funny, Asi, the " Big " looks good

 
 By: amanico : June 10th, 2008-22:36
On your wrist, my friend. The Big is a nice watch too, maybe not as pure as the Small, but nice, and as you said it perfectly, the ancester of the Panerai Submersibles... This Vintage wolrd is wonderful, my friend, wonderful. Best. Nicolas

it's about the right time

 
 By: Asimut : June 10th, 2008-22:52
that you take the plunge, my friend. And my advice, do not let go of the Logo. It is PANERAI pure history.... The 2/56 wrist shot is a bit misleading because of the angle of photography. It is definitely not a watch you can actually wear. It is very signi... 

awesome post and pics

 
 By: michaelmc : June 10th, 2008-17:45
thanks for sharing. lucky guy. regards, m

Thanks, Michael! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : June 10th, 2008-21:59

Nice review and marvelous pics!! Thank you Nico!! ...

 
 By: Fred.N : June 10th, 2008-08:29
... You are always in the place to be

very cool meeting

 
 By: SteveH : June 10th, 2008-09:25
I rarely meet anyone with an interesting watch on his wrist, but when I do it is always fun.

'Simply gold'....

 
 By: pplater : June 10th, 2008-09:32
Felicitations, Nicolas! Cheers, pplater.

Thanks, Kevin

 
 By: amanico : June 10th, 2008-11:40
Can you imagine how beautiful it would be if Panerai decides to make a " remake " of this Small Egytiano, with exactly the same case, the same dial, and a vintage honey brown Luminova, and a nice ETA movement, or an inhouse, but basic movement??? Wowowow,... 

2010 arrives soon

 
 By: patrickh : June 10th, 2008-11:49
for 150th anniversary .... Why not? Patrickh

I sadly think that Panerai won't go

 
 By: amanico : June 10th, 2008-13:50
As soon on this way... But who knows??? I'm full of hope... Best. Nicolas

new masterhead pics LOL

 
 By: Pau : June 10th, 2008-10:51
simply stunning story. what a lucky day to meet him

Ralf is a perfect gentleman

 
 By: Asimut : June 10th, 2008-11:19
and although he isn't fluent in English, we have always succeeded to understand each other when topic was watches. I know that 6154 so very well and was also lucky to see it in person. I am glad that you managed to meet so unexpectedly. At least the outco... 

We make the pair, Asi

 
 By: amanico : June 10th, 2008-13:47

Some people just have all the luck in the world

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : June 10th, 2008-12:54
This message has been edited by Ares501 on 2008-06-10 12:55:28

Awesome watch & post!

 
 By: Peter  : June 10th, 2008-17:02
Thks for sharing

Thanks, Peter! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : June 10th, 2008-21:59

Breathtaking watch!

 
 By: palmasea : June 10th, 2008-18:47
Nicolas, you need to pull some strings at Richemond to have Panerai reedition this watch....and I thought the cali was magical... I'm BREATHLESS!! Thanks for the great story and pictures, regards, palmasea

Well..well..well Nicolas, I hope I'm not disappointed you by saying...

 
 By: Krieng : June 10th, 2008-23:57
...that when I first get into your post and saw the first pic, I've just scrolled down your post to virtualise all the pics of this gorgeous radium attacked dial of this small Egytiano....and this made me forgot to read all your write up of a wonderful mo... 

This was indeed a magic moment, Krieng

 
 By: amanico : June 11th, 2008-04:51
And I was like a crazy child taking pics while the bus was in movement... All the people in the bus, except Ralf, was a bit amazed by the situation...LOL As for my poor litterature, I don't know if it's worth reading it... Borat. LOL

LoL...

 
 By: Krieng : June 11th, 2008-23:02

The moral of the story is ..........

 
 By: fernando : June 11th, 2008-00:25
Treasures are all around us - if only you know where to look. Good one Nicolas! Cheers Fernando

Thanks a lot, BHK9!

 
 By: amanico : June 11th, 2008-04:52

Nice post!

 
 By: Exupery : June 11th, 2008-04:58
Very nice post and even nicer watch!

Nicolas

 
 By: Quan : June 11th, 2008-06:58
you are a lucky guy and thanks for the thorough pictures report

Now that's a pretty hard story to top, Nicolas . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 11th, 2008-07:18
. . . I shared a one-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard with Eric Clapton a few years ago while we were both stuck in traffic, but he didn't pull out his guitar and play a few riffs for me ;-) . . . cordially, Art

LOL, Art,

 
 By: amanico : June 11th, 2008-07:54
Eric didn't show you his fantastic Rolex Collection? Great Moment, I guess! Best, my friend. Nicolas

No tunes, no watches, no nada, Nicolas . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 11th, 2008-09:06
. . . just the memory of driving side-by-side with God for a minute or two ;-) . . . warm regards, Art

Wow, Art, fantastic!

 
 By: amanico : June 11th, 2008-10:41

Great story,

 
 By: papillonwatchman : June 11th, 2008-13:09
Nicolas, love story's like that, the best part of collecting something special, are the people we meet Cheers, Michel

Great story Nicolas

 
 By: arif : June 11th, 2008-23:44
And amazing pics... you sure those were taken on bus? I think your skill is far more than football players to hold that steady! Ralf and Volker wrote amazing book. I found so much things to learn there... a must have to every Panerai collector. Albeit I k... 

Wow! what a watch....

 
 By: ed : June 12th, 2008-04:06
You are so lucky, Nicolas

Yep, Ed, you're right

 
 By: amanico : June 12th, 2008-07:40

Thanks

 
 By: Keller3646 : June 12th, 2008-22:33
Hallo Nicolas, thanks for you posting and the nice discussions about Panerai. Now the watchis back at my place.....;-) Best Ralf...  

Dear Nicolas, what do you mean...

 
 By: Tassos : June 14th, 2008-09:40
attacked by radium? About the dial's color... Tassos

I mean that

 
 By: amanico : June 14th, 2008-10:23
Radium used in the indexes and numbers just dig some curves, if you have a closer look...And added to the fact that the dials weren't pai,ted, all this contributes to give to this watch this special aspect... Best, my friend... Nicolas

But Nicolas...

 
 By: Tassos : June 15th, 2008-13:46
Has someone put a Geiger meter near those watches??? Is not radium...well...radioactive??? Tassos

Yep, Tassos, still radioactive

 
 By: amanico : June 15th, 2008-13:48
I remember a post Asi did , measuring a Tritium watch and a Radium one, and the difference was important... But, in the same time, this radioactivity is weak, and you can wear this watch without danger. Ask to Asi... Best. Nicolas

Radium vs Tritium..

 
 By: Tassos : June 15th, 2008-14:16

Original dial color?

 
 By: aaronm : June 15th, 2008-08:31