Finally I can officially write and show you the Zenith Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2. Until today Zenith kept this watch strictly under lock. Those who follow me on Instagram of course did see the new and the old CP2 much earlier this year.
There it is! The Zenith Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2 is here. In my eyes one of the coolest and best watch novelty of the year 2016. A must have! I already saw the watch in Basel in March and I took pictures you will be able to discover here on page 2.
I also have pictures from the original watch I will show you right underneath and I have the today officially distributed pictures from Zenith.
From the early 1960s onwards, the Italian military chose Zenith among other Swiss brands like Breitling, Leonidas, Universal Genève and Rolex to equip the pilots of its Navy and Air Force.
The Rome-based distributor “A. Cairelli” handled delivery of the 2,500 Zenith chronographs and also for some of the other brands. The zenith chronograph was still being worn by pilots of the U.S. Lockheed F104 Starfighter aircraft in the late 1970s to the Marina Militare and the Aeronautica Militare Italiana.
The military chronograph code-named TIPO CP-2 featured two counters in its initial version and its 43 mm diameter ensured a degree of legibility that was essential for pilots. The Zenith Calibre DP 146 – a calibre that was developed by Martel Watch Co, taken over by Zenith in 1959 – powered this military instrument.
This is the original Zenith Cronometro TIPO CP-2 from the 1960s
The Manufacture delivered 2,500 units to its Italian distributor, some of which were kept in reserve and never actually used. That explains the fact that some of these watches do not bear the letters MM (Marina Militare) or AMI (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) engraved alongside a serial number and the TIPO CP-2 reference on the back of the timepieces that were taken aboard planes.
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.
Zenith Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2
The new Zenith Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2 looks almost identical as the historic CP-2. Only the calibre changed: Now the watch of course is powered by the “El Primero”-calibre and no longer by the calibre DP 146. That might be the only blemish for some of the hardcore collectors. In my eyes it is more an advantage then a disadvantage since with the “El Primero” calibre you now have a modern and absolute reliable automatic calibre powering the watch.
There we go this is the new one:
MOVEMENT
El Primero 4069, Automatic Calibre 131⁄4“` (Diameter: 30 mm)
Movement thickness : 6.60 mm
Components : 254
Jewels: 35
Frequency: 36,000 A/h (= 5 Hz)
Power-reserve: Min. 50 hours
Finishes: Oscillating weight with “Côtes de Genève” motif
FUNCTIONS
Hours and minutes in the centre Small seconds at 9 o’clock Chronograph:
– Central chronograph hand
– 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock
CASE, DIAL & HANDS
Material: Stainless steel
Diameter: 43 mm
Diameter opening: 32.5 mm
Thickness: 12.85 mm
Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-re ective treatment on both sides Case-back: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-re ective treatment on both sides Water-resistance: 10 ATM
Dial: Black
Hour-markers: Arabic numerals in SuperLuminova SLN C1
Hands: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1
STRAPS & BUCkLES
Black calfskin leather strap with protective rubber lining
Stainless steel triple folding clasp
Limited Edition of 1000 units
Price: 7900 Euro including 20 % VAT here in Austria / 7900 CHF including 8 % VAT in Switzerland
Reference: 03.2240.4069/21.C774
>>> I invite you on page 2 to discover the pictures I took from the chronograph during Baselworld 2016 in March >>>
Not only does this new Zenith chronograph look great, I am certain it is quite accurate like all other Zenith timepieces, yet it does not cost an arm and a leg.
I have been a fan of Zenith watches for more than 50 years, as Zenith have always created fabulous yet accurate watches, which were affordable.
A highly desirable re-creation except for the crystal which looks more stepped and convex than properly domed (like the original). And I wonder if the El Primero movement looks as lovely as the DP-146.