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Rolex. A rare stainless steel cushion shape military divers wristwatch made for the German NavyRef:3646, Case No.260739, Circa 1940
Sold for £38,450 inc. premium
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Rolex. A rare stainless steel cushion shape military divers wristwatch made for the German Navy
17-jewel Cortebert nickel plated lever movement, matt black dial with luminous baton markers and quarter Arabic numerals with closed 6 and 9, luminous baton hands, water-resistant type patented case with later crown, case back stamped 3646, 260739, polished wire lugs, case and movement signed 47mm.
Footnotes
This watch is known as the "Kampfschwimmer" as the German military divers used them during activities in the Second World War. The Ref:3646 was produced in various versions from 1938 until the 1950's. It is not documented exactly how many of these watches were delivered to the German "Kriegsmarine" (Navy). The Ref:3646 initially utilised a Rolex dial, also called the "California Dial" which had one half with Arabic indices and the other half with Roman. Panerai later replaced these dials and began using the self-illuminating dials with Radiomir/later Luminor material.
Provenance: This watch was given to the current vendor's father by a German prisoner of war in Italy in 1944, while serving in the Royal Engineers bomb disposal unit.
























