1954 Cream Dial Small Egiziano

A Stunning Bleach Blond Beauty

1954 Cream Dial Panerai Small Egiziano

Auctioned for $326,000

47MM Reference 6154 

Earlier today, Christies Auction house auctioned a very rare stainless steel Cushion-shaped Small Egiziano, which was made in 1954 for the Egyptian Navy. This Rolex made vintage Panerai is unusual because it has a bleach blonde dial. Ironically this dial was once white, but the Radium on the markers literally bleached the dial to a blonde color over the last 57 years, which makes this watch a highly sought after watch. 

The Small Egiziano is arguably the most beautiful vintage Panerai model ever made, based upon its amazing simplicity, and hopefully the modern Panerai company will have the wisdom to bring this beauty back to life, just like they did with the Reference PAM00372. I think Panerai should offer it with an antiqued cream dial like this one, as well an antique brown one, modeled after Hammer's stunning 6154 example, as well as a standard antiqued black dial version with a dial like the PAM 00372.

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.