JohnG 41 Posted October 21, 2009 The "Dien Bien Phu" (DBP) Combat Luminor was a Panerai Luminor model produced for the French Army from 1949 to 1954. It was issued to commanders of the armored units of the Groupements Mobiles serving in South-East Asia at the time. The watch receives it's nickname from the role it played during the battle of Dien Bien Phu in March of 1953, where it was famously worn by Squadron Commander Capitaine Yves Hervouet. The Escadron de Marche du 1er RCC was comprised of three platoons of three tanks each, and one headquarters tank commanded by Hervouet himself. Capitan Hervouet was photographed during late engagements of the battle wearing the Panerai issued to him two years earlier in Tongkin. During the battle the squadron of tanks was subject to intense artillery fire from the Viet Minh. In one photograph he appears in his Amercian M24 Chaffee tank with both arms in plaster casts after having been wounded, still wearing his Army issue Combat Luminor. The pictures below are of the only DBP Combat Luminor still known to exist, currently undergoing light restoration. Though provenance has not been conclusively established, based on engravings on the case back (not pictured) it is possible that this is the very watch worn by Hervouet during his service in the The First Indochina War. Uncaptioned photographs of ongoing restoration: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 21, 2009 Nice patina to the case. Interesting... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeyB 0 Posted October 21, 2009 In one photograph he appears in his Amercian M24 Chaffee tank with both arms in plaster casts after having been wounded, still wearing his Army issue Combat Luminor. The pictures below are of the only DBP Combat Luminor still known to exist, currently undergoing light restoration. Though provenance has not been conclusively established, based on engravings on the case back (not pictured) it is possible that this is the very watch worn by Hervouet during his service in the The First Indochina War. So, that was all that was left of Hervouet and the Pam after the battle? Hell of a find. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jameo210369 0 Posted October 21, 2009 I'll give the $25 for the case, Great find JG, thanks for sharing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted October 21, 2009 Tat was trading homage Pam cases in the 50's? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnG 41 Posted October 22, 2009 Capitan Yves Hervouet, Escadron de Marche du 1er RCC: DBP Combat Luminor Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jameo210369 0 Posted October 22, 2009 Capitan Yves Hervouet is Tat's father, love the pics of the DBP combat luminor JG; great lume. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KinCaidk 0 Posted October 22, 2009 John, I haven't seen anything from you that I didn't like. Will you build me one if I come and help you with your house? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 23, 2009 That looks fantastic, John - great work! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted October 23, 2009 With a history like that, what would you get for it on e-bay/the geek John? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 23, 2009 At least $8k on the Geek... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted October 23, 2009 Oh my gosh... I need this watch!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
graman 2 Posted October 24, 2009 Sensational. I love it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KBH 7 Posted October 24, 2009 Call me dense but I don't understand. Are those pictures the real watch or one that John built? If it's John's I say Damn, that's nice! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trailboss99 994 Posted October 24, 2009 John's KBH. There is no real watch. John is just creating a nice little back story. Mind you, if he plays his cards right and starts a rumor of a rare Pam anything is possible Col. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ferret 0 Posted October 24, 2009 This is an awesome custom job Not a huge fan of the strap, but it works well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KBH 7 Posted October 24, 2009 Sucked me in....... I love that dial. From Getat or Jackson Tse? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trailboss99 994 Posted October 24, 2009 It's actualy a Uboat dial trimmed down to 44mm. Not bad hey? Col. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KBH 7 Posted October 24, 2009 Nice. Too much lume for a 1950's era watch though. Let's see the movement, John..... It needs an old 3601 Molnija. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnG 41 Posted October 24, 2009 Nice. Too much lume for a 1950's era watch though. Let's see the movement, John..... It needs an old 3601 Molnija. The lume isn't finished - I want to bake the dial and hands and slightly brown the lume and my understanding is that will also weaken the lume.... The caseback will be solid (I have to order one) and it will be engraved with something about the Escadron de Marche du 1er RCC and then vintagized and partially obliterated.... so the movement won't matter. This is a budget job - case was a throw away given to me by a member at RG, the donor u-boat homage cost me $42 on eBay, the strap was roughly $30 (got the strap AND a radiomir case for $55 shipped) - so even with the caseback included this should come in under $100.... and a LOT of work. But I would rather put in work than money and then have something really unique... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trailboss99 994 Posted October 24, 2009 A lot of work and well worth every minute of it John. It's a stunner, realy. Col. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted October 24, 2009 Sucked me in....... lol +1 I love it though, really does look great, and the U-Boat/PAM conflict messes with your (and any PAM geek's :paddy_beer:) head I need to start building things!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jameo210369 0 Posted October 24, 2009 Keep us posting on your progress JG, she is totally stunning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnG 41 Posted October 26, 2009 I put some photos up in the image gallery at WUS - under "Vintage Combat Luminor, First Indochina War" - with no comments. It is in affordables section with all the text explanation, but I am curious what people will make of it when there is no explanation..... The lume is kind of a givaway, after I age the lume I will post it at TZ, no text, see what happens.... http://forums.watchuseek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=78 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
