996PaneraiRef. GPF 2/56 An extremely rare, attractive and oversized stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with small seconds, “tropical” brown dial and crown guard沛納海，「Radiomir 8 Giorni Brevettato, Egiziano」型號GPF 2/56，極度罕有及超大尺寸，精鋼腕錶備「Tropical」棕色錶盤，約1956年製Circa 1956 60mm diameter Case, dial and movement signed Estimate HK$380,000 - 780,000 €41,800-85,700 $48,700-100,000 Place Advance BidContact Specialist Thomas Perazzi Head of Watches, Asia +852 2318 2031 WatchesHK@phillips.com
Condition ReportSign UporLog InDescriptionOur Buyer's Premium has been updated. View our Conditions of Sale.Manufacturer: Panerai Year: Circa 1956 Reference No: GPF 2/56 Case No: Matr. N.E. 019 Model Name: Radiomir 8 Giorni Brevettato, “Egiziano” Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, Angelus 240 cal. 12.55, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 60mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Catalogue EssayThe GPF 2/56 was the first serially produced Panerai watch completely developed and manufactured in-house by G. Panerai & Figlio in Florence. All dive watches distributed by Panerai prior to the GPF 2/56 were Rolex Oyster watches which Panerai equipped with their own dials. GPF refers to Guido Panerai & Figlio (Guido Panerai & Son) while 2/56 was a code for second product development in 1956. The history of the GPF 2/56 goes back to the proclamation of the State of Israel in May 1948. The Arab League led by Egypt vehemently opposed a Jewish state in Palestine. One day after the proclamation, a massive Arab invasion force entered Palestine launching the first Arab-Israeli conflict. Egypt knew that in order to significantly weaken Israel, the Arabs needed to cut off Israel’s supply lines through the Mediterranean Sea. Thus was born the idea for an Egyptian frogman unit based on the famous Italian Decima Flottiglia MAS from World War II. In June 1948, an Egyptian delegation led by the secretary of King Farouk of Egypt, Amin Fahim, travelled to Italy in search for a Decima MAS veteran willing to go to Egypt and help create the first Egyptian frogman school. Ex Gruppo Gamma frogman Ferdinando Pacciolla accepted the challenge and was quickly sent to Alexandria with the help of the Italian secret service. Around the same time, another Decima Flottiglia MAS veteran named Fiorenzo Capriotti went to Israel and helped establish the famous Shayetet 13 (Flottiglia 13) unit. As an explosive motorboat pilot, Capriotti participated in a failed attack on the British Naval Base of Malta in July 1941. Badly injured, Capriotti was captured by the British and held captive until 1946. Pacciolla remained in his position until July 1954 and trained up to 300 recruits. For his services, King Farouk awarded him the title “Knight of the Order of the Nile 5th Class”. In 1952, Pacciolla accompanied Egyptian Navy officers to Italy in order to acquire desperately needed professional underwater equipment from companies likes Salvas, Pirelli and Galeazzi. In Pacciolla’s memoirs there is no mentioning of a visit of G. Panerai & Figlio in Florence. The Egyptian frogman unit named “Al ferka al sierra” (the secret team) was led by Commander Fawzi Abdel Rahman Fahmy. In 1955, Fawzi was invited to train with the Italians at the Varignano Fortress in La Spezia, Italy. During the six months long course, Fawzi came in contact with G. Panerai & Figlio instruments and watches which were exclusive to the Italian Navy. To be able to acquire Panerai products, the Egyptian High Command needed permission from the Italian Navy. After approval, the Egyptians learned that the watches were subject to an exclusivity agreement between Panerai and Rolex which forbid Panerai to supply Rolex-made watches to foreign countries. If they wanted a watch from Panerai it needed to be developed from scratch. This is how the idea for the GPF 2/56 was born. During the Suez Crisis in late 1956, the Egyptians and Israelis clashed once again. The Israelis were in a secret alliance with Britain and France with the goal to take back control of the Suez Canal. It is possible that during this conflict, Egyptian frogmen used early examples of the GPF 2/56 for the first time. To render the Suez Canal useless, Egypt blocked the canal by sinking a number of ships at the entrance. After the ceasefire, the important waterway was cleared with the assistance of the United Nations. Pacciolla, who was an established expert in clearing operations, ret
996PaneraiRef. GPF 2/56 An extremely rare, attractive and oversized stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with small seconds, “tropical” brown dial and crown guard沛納海，「Radiomir 8 Giorni Brevettato, Egiziano」型號GPF 2/56，極度罕有及超大尺寸，精鋼腕錶備「Tropical」棕色錶盤，約1956年製Circa 1956 60mm diameter Case, dial and movement signed Estimate HK$380,000 - 780,000 €41,800-85,700 $48,700-100,000 Place Advance BidContact Specialist Thomas Perazzi Head of Watches, Asia +852 2318 2031 WatchesHK@phillips.com
Condition ReportSign UporLog InDescriptionOur Buyer's Premium has been updated. View our Conditions of Sale.Manufacturer: Panerai Year: Circa 1956 Reference No: GPF 2/56 Case No: Matr. N.E. 019 Model Name: Radiomir 8 Giorni Brevettato, “Egiziano” Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, Angelus 240 cal. 12.55, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 60mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Catalogue EssayThe GPF 2/56 was the first serially produced Panerai watch completely developed and manufactured in-house by G. Panerai & Figlio in Florence. All dive watches distributed by Panerai prior to the GPF 2/56 were Rolex Oyster watches which Panerai equipped with their own dials. GPF refers to Guido Panerai & Figlio (Guido Panerai & Son) while 2/56 was a code for second product development in 1956. The history of the GPF 2/56 goes back to the proclamation of the State of Israel in May 1948. The Arab League led by Egypt vehemently opposed a Jewish state in Palestine. One day after the proclamation, a massive Arab invasion force entered Palestine launching the first Arab-Israeli conflict. Egypt knew that in order to significantly weaken Israel, the Arabs needed to cut off Israel’s supply lines through the Mediterranean Sea. Thus was born the idea for an Egyptian frogman unit based on the famous Italian Decima Flottiglia MAS from World War II. In June 1948, an Egyptian delegation led by the secretary of King Farouk of Egypt, Amin Fahim, travelled to Italy in search for a Decima MAS veteran willing to go to Egypt and help create the first Egyptian frogman school. Ex Gruppo Gamma frogman Ferdinando Pacciolla accepted the challenge and was quickly sent to Alexandria with the help of the Italian secret service. Around the same time, another Decima Flottiglia MAS veteran named Fiorenzo Capriotti went to Israel and helped establish the famous Shayetet 13 (Flottiglia 13) unit. As an explosive motorboat pilot, Capriotti participated in a failed attack on the British Naval Base of Malta in July 1941. Badly injured, Capriotti was captured by the British and held captive until 1946. Pacciolla remained in his position until July 1954 and trained up to 300 recruits. For his services, King Farouk awarded him the title “Knight of the Order of the Nile 5th Class”. In 1952, Pacciolla accompanied Egyptian Navy officers to Italy in order to acquire desperately needed professional underwater equipment from companies likes Salvas, Pirelli and Galeazzi. In Pacciolla’s memoirs there is no mentioning of a visit of G. Panerai & Figlio in Florence. The Egyptian frogman unit named “Al ferka al sierra” (the secret team) was led by Commander Fawzi Abdel Rahman Fahmy. In 1955, Fawzi was invited to train with the Italians at the Varignano Fortress in La Spezia, Italy. During the six months long course, Fawzi came in contact with G. Panerai & Figlio instruments and watches which were exclusive to the Italian Navy. To be able to acquire Panerai products, the Egyptian High Command needed permission from the Italian Navy. After approval, the Egyptians learned that the watches were subject to an exclusivity agreement between Panerai and Rolex which forbid Panerai to supply Rolex-made watches to foreign countries. If they wanted a watch from Panerai it needed to be developed from scratch. This is how the idea for the GPF 2/56 was born. During the Suez Crisis in late 1956, the Egyptians and Israelis clashed once again. The Israelis were in a secret alliance with Britain and France with the goal to take back control of the Suez Canal. It is possible that during this conflict, Egyptian frogmen used early examples of the GPF 2/56 for the first time. To render the Suez Canal useless, Egypt blocked the canal by sinking a number of ships at the entrance. After the ceasefire, the important waterway was cleared with the assistance of the United Nations. Pacciolla, who was an established expert in clearing operations, ret
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
