123
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 - 15,000€8,600 - 12,900$10,300 - 15,500
CHF17,500
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
With its large 43mm. case size, black dial with large Arabic numerals and military background, not to mention its overall good looks, the Zenith "A. Cairelli" Tipo CP-2 (Cronometro da Polsa Tipo 2) has become a highly coveted chronograph.
From the 1960s to 1970s the Italian Air Force, the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) commissioned Zenith to make a special wristwatch for its members. It is believed that approximately 2,500 examples were made.
The Tipo CP-2 were all supplied through A. Cairelli, the prominent Roman retailer of watches, clocks, and mechanical instruments. 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 without military issue numbers on their casebacks – privately to civilians.
The present watch is part of the unissued batch 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.
From the 1960s to 1970s the Italian Air Force, the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) commissioned Zenith to make a special wristwatch for its members. It is believed that approximately 2,500 examples were made.
The Tipo CP-2 were all supplied through A. Cairelli, the prominent Roman retailer of watches, clocks, and mechanical instruments. 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 without military issue numbers on their casebacks – privately to civilians.
The present watch is part of the unissued batch 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.