Zenith - The Geneva Watch Auction: FIVE Geneva Friday, May 12, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Zenith
    Year: circa 1970
    Model Name: "Cairelli CP-2"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 146DP, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle
    Dimensions: 43mm. Diameter
    Signed: Dial and movement signed, Caseback further engraved “Cronometro Tipo CP-2 A. Cairelli-Roma"

  • Catalogue Essay

    In the past few years the Zenith "A. Cairelli" Tipo CP-2 (Cronometro da Polsa Type 2) has garnered a quasi iconic stature.

    Measuring a substantial 43mm in diameter, it is understood that Zenith in the 1960s and 70s produced approximately 2,500 examples of the reference for the Italian Air Force, the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI).

    They were all supplied through A. Cairelli, the prominent Roman retailer of watches, clocks, and mechanical instrumentation. Designed for AMI’s pilots for mission use, many were not issued due to an abrupt cancellation by the AMI. A. Cairelli sold the remaining stock – all with no military inscriptions on their casebacks – privately to civilians.

    The present lot is part of the unissued pieces and as such is in spectacular condition. The large counters and luminous Arabic numerals give the black dial great equilibrium.
    In 2016 Zenith reissued a limited edition Cronometro Tipo CP 2 as a tribute to the present watch.

    Housing a high grade, hand-wound caliber 146, this historically significant chronograph combines masculine presence with good looks and will surely speak to the savvy collector.

  • Artist Biography

    Zenith

    Swiss • 1865

    Since Zenith's beginnings, founder George Favre-Jacot sought to manufacture precision timepieces, realizing quality control was best maintained when production was housed under one roof. Zenith remains one of the few Swiss manufacturers to produce their own in-house movements to this day.

    Today, the brand is best known for the "El Primero," the firm's most successful automatic chronograph movement. In an interesting twist of fate, the company that owned Zenith during the 1970s decided to move on to quartz movements and therefore sought to destroy the parts and tools necessary to make mechanical movements. One watchmaker realized this folly and hid the tools and parts before they were destroyed. In 1984, he returned them to Zenith so they could once again make the El Primero movement.

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63

A very rare, oversized and attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with matte black dial, rotating bezel, luminous Arabic hour markers, made for A. Cairelli Roma

circa 1970
43mm. Diameter
Dial and movement signed, Caseback further engraved “Cronometro Tipo CP-2 A. Cairelli-Roma"

Estimate
CHF10,000 - 20,000 
€9,300-18,500
$9,900-19,800

Sold for CHF13,750

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

The Geneva Watch Auction: FIVE

Geneva Auctions 13 – 14 May 2017