Original vintage Zenith Cairelli CP-2 chronograph.

This vintage Zenith Cairelli CP-2 Cronograph has been part of my collection since 1985.

The overall conditions are excellent, showing only some minor superficial marks clearly depicted in the photographs.

The manual winding movement works perfectly, just as the start/ stop/ reset buttons and mechanism.

The story behind this particular Zenith chronograph lends to how it has become one of the most hotly contested vintage chronograph pieces on the market. From having been estimated at a sale price of around CHF 6,000 to CHF 7,000 last year, it is astonishing that this year during Geneva Auction week at the “Start, Stop, Reset” auction by Phillips it went under the hammer at more than CHF 62,500, well over the initial estimate of CHF 20,000.

Developed by Zenith in the 1970s when a number of Swiss brands created chronographs for the Italian army, the CP-2 was designed for AMI ‘Aeronautica Militare Italiana’ pilots and supplied through A.Cairelli – the Roman retailer of watches and clocks.

It is one of the most beautifully crafted Zenith chronographs in existence, housing the 146 DP movement originally created by Martel Watch Co which was taken over by Zenith in 1959.

Having now become some of the world’s most sought-after collector’s items, TIPO CP-2 chronographs – often identified by collectors under the name of the distributor “A. Cairelli” – are universally acknowledged as being among the most iconic timepieces in military history.

This is an original, perfectly working vintage example, not to be confused the recent re-edition.

Higher resolution photographs are available on request. 

Due to the high value of this item I will post the watch only via currier. Insurance value to be agreed with buyer after purchase.