Hammer & Volker Visit Panerai's new Factory in Neuchatel, Switzerland

Hammer & Volker

Visit Panerai's new Factory in Neuchatel, Switzerland

Hammer (sitting below) and Volker (standing below) are best not only best pals, or should I say, great M8TES (Mates), but they are two of the most iconic personalities in the Paneristi world. Both recently attended P-Day in Italy, and also had the opportunity to take a tour of the brand-new Panerai factory located in Neuchatel, Switzerland.

Volker published a great overview of the time he and Hammer spent together in Italy called, Hammertime in Europe. Volker is one of the worlds leading authorities on all things Vintage Panerai, and co-authored many definitive Panerai history books. You can learn much more about Volker on his excellent VintagePanerai.com website.

You can learn much more about Hammer by checking out this story I wrote about him named Hammer Strength. Hammer is one of the leading, if not the leading vintage Panerai collectors in the world, and he owns what is arguably the most beautiful Panerai in existence, which is the Reference 6154, as seen below on the left, next to his Reference 6152 on the right.

While at the new Panerai factory, Volker took the photo of the all-new Panerai PAM 587 Marina Militare pictured below.

Nad & Hammer: World's Two Leading Panerai Fanatics

...Panerai Memories...

Nad & Hammer

World's Two Leading Panerai Fanatics

I wanted to publish this photo of Nad & Hammer hanging out together back in 2010. Nad & Hammer are two of the worlds top Panerai fanatics, and I love this photo because we see them hanging-out together.

Two Panerai Legends Finally Meet After 15 Year Freindship

I originally published the story below on October 19, 2013. Wei Koh from Revolution Magazine just published an amazing story about Hammer, which I very, very, very highly recommend you read if you are interested in understanding what makes Panerai tick. 

Hammer (Alan) mentioned to me, in a personal conversation, that after spending some personal time with Angelo Bonati, he was in awe. Hammer said "Angelo Bonati is really the most amazing man I've ever met. To be able to achieve so much and keep going so strong for 2 decades? He's truly a champion!"

The above mentioned Panerai brotherhood story is an incredibly inspirational story, while being extremely heartwarming, as well as offering tremendous insight into the spiritual power of humanity, and I hope as we all begin this new year, it inspires you as deeply as it inspired me. Happy 2014 to Hammer, and all my fellow Paneristi readers!!! It's going to be a great ride!!!!

...Panerai Super Coolness...

Two Panerai Legends

Finally Meet After 15 Year Freindship

Two of the worlds Panerai's greatest experts met in person for the first time on October 4th in Singapore, right before a huge Singaporean GTG. This first photo appears courtesey of Revolution Magazine, and it features Angelo Bonati, CEO of Panerai, pictured on the left, with leading Panerai Collector, Alan Bloore, best known by his online handle of HAMMER. Angelo Bonati and HAMMER have corresponded over the internet for the last decade and a half, and they just met in person for the first time.

Note: If you look closely, you can see that Mr. Bonati and HAMMER are both wearing Historic Radiomir Panerai 1940 cases. It appears Mr. Bonati is wearing the PAM 514 and HAMMER is wearing a PAM 532. It appears that Panerai is really focusing energy on models with the 1940 Historic case, which is awesome in my opinion. Why? The 1940 Historic case is based on the vintage Panerai Radiomir Reference 6154, which has the most beautiful watch case/body ever made.

Yeu Huan took this next photo of HAMMER and Mr. Bonati  discussing a Panerai watch. HAMMER is a complete, dyed-in-the-wool, knock-down, drag-out Panerai FANATIC of the highest order. He has one of the most amazing vintage and Panerai watch collections on earth, and owns what is likely the most beautiful vintage Panerai watch ever made, which is a Reference 6154, Small Egiziano. 

HAMMER's heartwarming Panerai story is like no other. He was originally a big Rolex collector, and still is, but when he discovered vintage Panerai watches, he fell madly in love with the brand, and was mesmerized by their timeless masculine design and stunning beauty.

HAMMER was in a serious Jet Skiing accident in 2006, which caused him to be paralyzed from the chest down. HAMMER said that Panerai saved his life, and gave him a reason to live after he had almost given up on life after his terrible accident. He said his great fellow Paneristi pals gave him so much love and caring that they inspired him to want to live and heal, and be the best he could be. The image above appears courtesy of Revolution Magazine, and they have a great article with more detail and photos on their website.

Angelo Bonati, on behalf of the entire Panerai community gave his pal HAMMER a gift of a very special Panerai "0000" prototype, of the all new PAM00532, which features the "PANERISTI FOREVER" designation on the back.

Volker Wiegmann is great pals with Hammer, and he was on hand to take the amazing shot below that compares HAMMER's new PAM 532 with an HAMMER's vintage Reference 6154, and it is remarkable how great and similar side-by-side.

Volker Wiegmann is from Austria and Hammer is from Australia, and they are pictured below, and as I mentioned, they are great pals. Volker is another absolute Panerai fanatic and leading world expert on Vintage Panerai. Volker and his research partner, Ralf Ehlers have written several amazing vintage Panerai books, which you can find at www.VintagePanerai.com.

Panerai 6154 Small Egiziano

Note: I am currently working on this story, and there is much more to come. When this story is complete I will remove this notice.

The Most Beautiful Vintage Panerai In The World

It's Hammer Time!!!

The Story Of How A Panerai Changed A Man's Life Forever

Radiomir Panerai 6154 Small Egiziano

I have to let you know up front, that this story is a preview. Why? Because this is a story I have wanted to tell for a long time, but it is so detailed, it is going to take me some time to put it together. 

This watch changed a man from Australia's life, and his name is Hammer. In the future I plan to share more of his amazing story. In the meantime let's take a look at this absolutely stunning beauty.

So what makes this watch so crazy, over-the-top beautiful? Obviously, the unbelievable patina on the dial and hands, coupled with the amazingly timeless lines of the Panerai 6154–not to mention the classic Rolex Brevet winding crown. The side profile of the 6154 is without equal, with its streamline art-deco lines. 

In the future, I plan to write an article which details the difference between the case shape of the 6152 that lacks the half-crescent  and the 6154, which at first glance look remarkable similar. In my option, the 6154 has a much better body geometry. In particular, the 6154 has the distinct horizontal line running through the middle of the case (as seen below) whereas the 6152 lacks the distinct line, an has more of a simple convex shape. Also, the 6152 has a much side profile because its crystal stands up much more vertically, where the 6154 crystal is much more domed and streamlined.

To the best of my knowledge, Hammer only owns and wears two vintage Panerai watches. He used to have a larger watch collection of ten watches, but he sold it to purchase his beloved 6154 with the brown dial. He also owns an original Reference 6152 with the black dial that has the Luminor Panerai designation. 

In the photo above and below, we see Hammer's brown dialed Radiomir Panerai 6154, next to his Luminor Panerai 6152, which has the now trademark half-crescent crown guard. I argue that Hammer is an extremely fortunate man because his two beautiful vintage Panerai watches–both made in the middle of the 1950s–represent the ultimate grail/pinnacle vintage Panerai collection.

The photo below shows Hammer's Panerai 6154 between two other Radiomir Panerai models that show the full spectrum of dial color that exists in the world.