1960s Zenith Black Chronograph Cal. 146 HP 38mm AH2711
Ref: AH2711
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and, therefore, comes with no original Zenith box or original Zenith paperwork. It comes paired with a well-suited 20mm leather strap and pin buckle. The watch is from Circa. 1960s and is in worn, vintage condition, as you can see from the photos, with signs of wear throughout and a subtle patina to the watch. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T8CDYFgMdjhBiA4ZiZhajsRcOGJ51mf2?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 10:53 - https://youtu.be/ni-4KPv5KMc
The Watch
Here we have a classic 1960s Zenith Black Chronograph Cal. 146 HP AH2711 with a 38mm stainless steel case that sits comfortably on your wrist thanks to the tapered lugs, and its curved flanks lead to a lug-to-lug length of 44.5mm and a case thickness of 13mm. Down the right side, we have the piston chronograph pushers and a signed coin-edged crown in the centre. A smooth, bevelled-edged bezel holds a domed crystal above a reverse panda dial. An outer Tachymeter scale surrounds a precisely executed minute track; applied steel baton indexes mark the hours, the chronograph consists of three white recessed registers, a 30-minute, 12-hour and small seconds, steel hands filled with Tritium are complemented by a tapered chronograph hand, at 12 o’clock we have the Zenith motif, completing this dynamic vintage chronograph. On the reverse, a solid case back with the embossed Zenith motif in the centre, inside a manually wound Zenith Cal. 146 HP, one of the last manually wound chronograph movements Zenith made. The "HP'' stood for the three register chronograph designation. "DP" was a 2-register chronograph of the same calibre. The excellent chronograph calibre 146-HP was built from the same Martel components as Universal Genève movements of the 60s. By 1960, Zenith had purchased Martel outright, along with its production facility in Pont de Martel, Switzerland. The very same facility wherein, in 1965, the first prototypes of the El Primero were produced. It comes paired with a well-suited 20mm leather strap and pin buckle.
Personal Note
Vintage Zenith is what drew me into vintage watches so I am undoubtedly bias towards how great they are, but thankfully it seems everyone is in agreement that they are some of the best value for money vintage you can still buy today. This incredible 1960s Zenith Chronograph features one of the last manually wound chronograph movements that Zenith manufactured, the calibre 146 HP. It also comes in an impressive 38mm steel case that wears perfectly on the wrist and features a deep black glossy dial with subtle patina throughout. This is a real gem to appreciate in the metal, so do not hesitate to book an appointment to see it for yourself!
The Brand
Zenith was founded in 1865 by 22-year-old watchmaker Georges Favre-Jacot. Their manufacturing was based in Le Locle, Switzerland. Famous Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who was the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911 and the North Pole in 1926, wore Zenith watches on his expeditions. In 1999, Zenith was purchased by LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), joining brands like TAG and Hublot. Zenith is one of the only Swiss manufacturers to still produce their own in-house movements. Their most recognised movement is the El Primero; it was released in 1969, went into production in 1975 and was re-issued in 1986.