103rd Auction
2020/11/7
Lot 373
Zenith / A. Cairelli, Roma "A.M.I. Cronometro Tipo CP-2", Inventory No. M.M. 201358, Cal. 146DP, 43 mm, circa 1970
An aviator's legendary, extremely rare vintage wrist chronograph of the Italian Air Force, delivered by the Italian concessionaire A. Cairelli, Rome
Case: steel, screw back with military engraving, bidirectional rotating bezel with 60 minutes division, movement protection cap. Dial: black.
A. Cairelli in Rome was a retailer established in 1932, selling wristwatches, board watches and other mechanical instruments to the Italian Air Force, the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI). He signed the dials of the instruments and watches with his own name. The design of the Cronometro TIPO CP-2 (Cronometro da Polsa Type 2) was not done by Zenith but followed the extremely detailed specifications of the military. Altogether about 2,500 watches were produced in the 1960s and 1970s, but not all of them were delivered to the military. Cairelli kept about 500 watches back on standby and as replacements; he sold them later on the civil market.
This watch is a rare military-issued version of the model, which is obvious from the engraving "A.M.I. CRONOMETRO TIPO CP-2 M.M.201358" on the case back. The letters "MM" stand for Matricola Militare, which roughly translates as inventory number. It is the number the military gives to every watch to list it in their records. It features a beautiful matt black dial with luminous Arabic numerals and two subsidiary dials. The Zenith calibre 146 DP driving the watch is Zenith’s first proprietary chronograph calibre and based on the Martel calibre 749; calibre 146 DP is famous for its extreme reliability and accuracy.
This historically significant chronograph has magnificently aged after many hours in the sky and is in superb, authentic condition.
An aviator's legendary, extremely rare vintage wrist chronograph of the Italian Air Force, delivered by the Italian concessionaire A. Cairelli, Rome
Case: steel, screw back with military engraving, bidirectional rotating bezel with 60 minutes division, movement protection cap. Dial: black.
A. Cairelli in Rome was a retailer established in 1932, selling wristwatches, board watches and other mechanical instruments to the Italian Air Force, the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI). He signed the dials of the instruments and watches with his own name. The design of the Cronometro TIPO CP-2 (Cronometro da Polsa Type 2) was not done by Zenith but followed the extremely detailed specifications of the military. Altogether about 2,500 watches were produced in the 1960s and 1970s, but not all of them were delivered to the military. Cairelli kept about 500 watches back on standby and as replacements; he sold them later on the civil market.
This watch is a rare military-issued version of the model, which is obvious from the engraving "A.M.I. CRONOMETRO TIPO CP-2 M.M.201358" on the case back. The letters "MM" stand for Matricola Militare, which roughly translates as inventory number. It is the number the military gives to every watch to list it in their records. It features a beautiful matt black dial with luminous Arabic numerals and two subsidiary dials. The Zenith calibre 146 DP driving the watch is Zenith’s first proprietary chronograph calibre and based on the Martel calibre 749; calibre 146 DP is famous for its extreme reliability and accuracy.
This historically significant chronograph has magnificently aged after many hours in the sky and is in superb, authentic condition.
estimated
12.500—14.000 €
Price realized
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