Worn by: Pierre Cressoy as Commander Silvani
Reference: Panerai Radiomir
Brand: Panerai
Commander Silvani leads Italian Navy frogmen in daring operations against British forces, including the attack on HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Valiant in Alexandria's naval base using manned torpedoes. Silvani is based on real Navy diver Luigi Durand de la Penne. The Rolex-Panerai reference 3646 represents the authentic equipment issued to Italy's elite Decima Flottiglia MAS frogmen during World War II. These References Featured cases manufactured by Rolex with dials produced by Panerai in Florence, creating a unique collaboration between Swiss precision and Italian military specifications. The 47mm cushion case with distinctive wire lugs soldered to the body provided the oversized legibility required for underwater operations in low-visibility conditions. The watch used in the film shows period-accurate updates—by 1953 when filming occurred, many wartime 3646 watches had received new dials and hands because the original radium luminous material deteriorated after 3-5 years due to zinc sulfide breakdown from radioactivity. The film features dramatic close-ups of the 3646 as Silvani checks the time while imprisoned aboard the battleship he's sabotaged, knowing the explosive timer is counting down. This early 1950s Italian production used actual Marina Militare personnel and genuine military equipment, making it an authentic document of the watches that equipped Italy's legendary combat divers.
Source: https://perezcope.com/2022/02/04/vintage-rolex-panerai-on-the-big-screen/