Zenith - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII Hong Kong Friday, May 24, 2024 | Phillips

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  • Condition Report

  • Description

    View our Conditions of Sale.

  • Manufacturer: Zenith
    Year: Circa 1970
    Case No: M.M. 201’390
    Model Name: Cronometro Tipo CP-2, "Cairelli"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 146DP, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel unsigned pin buckle
    Dimensions: 43mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed; dial further signed by retailer
    Accessories: Accompanied by A. Cairelli Roma fitted presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    During the 1960s to 1970s, the Italian Air Force known as the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) commissioned Zenith to produce a special wristwatch for its pilots to be used during missions. The Zenith "A. Cairelli" Tipo CP-2 (Cronometro da Polso Tipo 2), meaning wristwatch type 2, quickly became an important and highly sought-after vintage chronograph. With its large 43mm case size and black dial, the watch exudes a rugged and robust aesthetic. It is believed that approximately 2,500 examples were manufactured, however, the contract was terminated prematurely, leading to the remaining watches being sold through A. Cairelli in Rome to civilians without military issue numbers engraved on their casebacks.

    Consequently, the present watch represents a rare military-issued version, as evidenced by the engraving on its caseback, which reads "A.M.I. CRONOMETRO TIPO CP-2 M.M. 201390". The dial is characterized by its large, bold, luminous Arabic numerals, with the A. Cairelli signature located at the 6 o'clock position. Considering that the present Zenith Tipo CP-2 is a military-issued timepiece, its exceptional state of preservation is truly impressive. The dial is clean, and the luminous indexes have aged gracefully and uniformly to a subtle ivory color, which complements the hands. This particular example is one of the finest to be offered at auction and even comes with the original A. Cairelli Roma presentation box, further enhancing its desirability.

  • 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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1057

A very rare and well-preserved stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with luminous black dial, revolving bezel and presentation box, retailed by A. Cairelli Roma and made for the Italian Air Force

Circa 1970
43mm diameter
Case, dial and movement signed; dial further signed by retailer

Estimate
HK$55,000 - 85,000 
€6,600-10,200
$7,100-10,900

Place Advance Bid
Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2031
WatchesHK@phillips.com
 

Gertrude Wong
Head of Sale, Hong Kong
+ 852 2318 2045
gertrudewong@phillips.com
 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII

Hong Kong Auction 24 - 25 May 2024