63
Zenith
"Cairelli CP-2"
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
- Estimate
- CHF10,000 - 20,000€9,300 - 18,500$9,900 - 19,800
CHF13,750
Lot Details
- 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"
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
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.
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.
Zenith
Swiss | 1865Since 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.
Browse MakerToday, 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.