Vintage Zenith watches are another great opportunity for the Vintage watch collector on a budget. Zenith is a top tier Swiss watch brand, but they are a brand that still can be bought at affordable prices. I can honestly say Zenith are one of my firm favourites in vintage watches, they have in-house movements that are innovative and superb in quality and detail.
They are many inferior brands out there that sell for much more money, Vintage Zenith watches seem to fly just under the radar of many of collectors, but for the discerning collector they are true treasures. I can wholeheartedly recommend buying Zenith vintage watches, you will not be sorry you did and there are many varied watches and genres to choose from. I do not think this will always be the case, as the interest in vintages watches has grown so have the prices.
Zenith have a wonderful history full of recognition and accolades.
1865
Georges Favre-Jacot founds the Zenith manufacture, combining all the elements of luxury watchmaking under one roof for the first time.
1899
Zenith’s first pocket chronograph is unveiled.
1900
Zenith is awarded a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris.
1909
Air pioneer Louis Bleriot becomes the first person to fly across the English Channel – he wears a Zenith for the duration of the flight.
1911
The Zenith name is officially incorporated.
1925
Zenith’s manufacture is employing 1,000 workers.
1948
The Calibre 135, a wristwatch chronometer featuring small seconds, is premiered. It will go on to win more than 230 prizes for accuracy and design.
1960
Zenith unveils Calibre 5011K, a movement whose accuracy will see it installed in marine chronometers and pocket watches.
1966
Indira Nehru becomes India’s Prime Minister. During her term of office, she will give Mahatma Gandhi a Zenith pocket watch. The peaceful revolutionary uses the timepiece to mark his prayers for the rest of his life.
The world’s first automatic chronograph calibre, The Zenith El Primero
1969
A legend is born: Zenith releases the world’s first automatic chronograph calibre, El Primero. El Primero will go on to become the world’s most precise movement made in series, and is destined to sit at the heart of the brand’s most sought-after luxury watches. This calibre was used for many years in the Rolex Daytona.
In the same year, Zenith becomes a part of the Mondia-Zenith-Movado group.
1975
A Zenith watchmaker, Charles Vermot, takes the unusual step of concealing all tools, plans and parts needed for the manufacture of mechanical movements. This will protect Zenith from the long-term effects of the quartz revolution.
Zenith’s parent company is preparing to destroy all mechanical luxury watch technology in favour of all-quartz production: Vermot’s audacious act will ensure the brand lives to see a new age of haute horlogerie.
1984
With mechanical timepieces resurgent, Charles Vermot reveals the hiding-place of his tools, plans and parts. Zenith begins to manufacture the El Primero movement again. It will be incorporated not just into Zenith watches, but timepieces made by many prestige brands as they fight to regain their positions in the luxury watch market.
Thank God for Charles Vermot and the rest as they say is history!
Happy hunting and remember the fun is always in the chase!
Please check out the Sub menu for my Vintage Zenith Watches, or click the links below:
Cheers Martin
https://martinzx.com/zenith-respirator/
