Panerai's history began in Florence in 1860 as a watchmaking workshop and school, but it found its true identity when the company became a supplier to the Royal Navy. During those years, it developed precision instruments and underwater equipment, laying the foundations for the first watches intended for special forces.
The Radiomir was born out of necessity: a timepiece that could be read at sea depths, yet was robust and reliable. The collaboration with Rolex, which supplied the cases and movements, allowed the creation of a watch capable of meeting the most stringent requirements of underwater missions. The models in the 3646 series embody this pioneering period, combining Florentine expertise in military instrumentation with Swiss precision.
After the war, these watches—once reserved instruments—took on historical and collectible value, becoming testimonies of an era in which function guided every design choice. Panerai's subsequent rebirth on the civilian market transformed that technical legacy into a recognizable aesthetic, keeping the original spirit of the Radiomir alive.
The Panerai 3646 Type B occupies a rare and evocative place in the history of military watchmaking. Produced in the early 1940s for the Royal Navy's frogmen, it represents the transition from the early, almost experimental Radiomir configurations to more standardized references. As with all Panerai models of the period, the case was produced by Rolex, creating an unprecedented fusion of Florentine instrumentation and Swiss precision—a union that still gives these timepieces a unique historical resonance today.
The 47 mm cushion-shaped steel case with wire lugs and soft lines embodies the Radiomir's most primitive aesthetic. Despite its substantial size, it retains an essential elegance: a design born from operational necessity, not stylistic intent. The screwed case back and oversized conical crown reveal its tool-like nature, designed to withstand the hostile environments in which these instruments were required to operate.
The dialType Bis a key element in the taxonomy of the 3646. Its constructionsandwich—a luminescent layer beneath a perforated top plate—ensures nighttime legibility, essential for the "Gamma Men" missions. The typography is pared down to the essentials: large Arabic numerals at the cardinal points and bar indices elsewhere. The warm patina that time has carved into the surface adds depth, authenticity, and a unique sense of lived-in quality.
Inside beats the manual caliberRolex 618, derived from a pocket watch movement and celebrated for its reliability and clean, robust construction. A reminder that, even in the midst of war, precision and durability remained essential requirements.
The Panerai 3646 Type B is more than just a watch: it's a piece of history. Its appeal lies in the purity of its lines and the honesty of its purpose—a window into the origins of the Panerai language and the elite military operations of the 1940s. For collectors, it represents one of the brand's founding chapters, an object in which form follows function with absolute rigor.
