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Lot 326 The "Egiziano" reference GPF 2/56
Following a request of Commander Fawzi of the Egyptian Navy who attended the Commando School of the Italian Navy, Panerai developed the legendary reference GPF 2/56, its internal code derived from the month and year of its projection, February 1956.
Nicknamed the "Egiziano" (Italian for "Egyptian") this model is the largest of all Panerai wristwatches ever made with an impressive diameter of 60 mm. It furthermore featured a revolving bezel graduated for 5 minutes. Most notably it was fitted with the well-known Angelus 8-day movement which already found use in a small number of reference 6152 (see lot 324). Earlier examples of GPF 2/56 were equipped with the "Radiomir" dial, later models had the "Luminor" version.
Regrettably, no documentation survived in regards to the precise number of "Egiziani" produced. Scholarship however stipulates that no more than 50 watches were supplied to the Egyptian Forces and that few other examples were made as prototypes.
Following a request of Commander Fawzi of the Egyptian Navy who attended the Commando School of the Italian Navy, Panerai developed the legendary reference GPF 2/56, its internal code derived from the month and year of its projection, February 1956.
Nicknamed the "Egiziano" (Italian for "Egyptian") this model is the largest of all Panerai wristwatches ever made with an impressive diameter of 60 mm. It furthermore featured a revolving bezel graduated for 5 minutes. Most notably it was fitted with the well-known Angelus 8-day movement which already found use in a small number of reference 6152 (see lot 324). Earlier examples of GPF 2/56 were equipped with the "Radiomir" dial, later models had the "Luminor" version.
Regrettably, no documentation survived in regards to the precise number of "Egiziani" produced. Scholarship however stipulates that no more than 50 watches were supplied to the Egyptian Forces and that few other examples were made as prototypes.
Panerai. An extremely rare and oversized stainless steel water-resistant diver's wristwatch with 8-day movement, revolving bezel and brown-coloured dial, made for the Egyptian Navy
SIGNED RADIOMIR PANERAI, 8 GIORNI BREVETTATO, REF. GPF 2/56, EGIZIANO MODEL, CASE NUMBERED N.E. 032, MOVEMENT SIGNED ANGELUS, MANUFACTURED IN 1956
Closed12 November 2007
Price Realised
CHF 133,000
More Information
Specialist note
The present watch is a very well preserved example of the celebrated "Egiziano" reference GPF 2/56. It is an important witness of the development of professional divers' watches, reflected by its charismatically aged dial which turned from black to tones of warm hazelnut-brown. Such dials with nearly perfect patina are also referred to as "tropical" dials.
The "Egiziano" reference GPF 2/56 is described and illustrated in The Panerai in Florence by Dino Zei, p. 66.
The "Egiziano" reference GPF 2/56 is described and illustrated in The Panerai in Florence by Dino Zei, p. 66.