THE TALE OF ZENITH’S A. CAIRELLI CHRONOGRAPH
Last year, when Zenith reissued the legendary “A. Cairelli” CP-2 chronograph, collectors – appropriately – offered thanks to the heavens. The stunning re-edition reminded them of a rarely recalled chapter in the history of military watches, well-known in Italy but less so beyond the core (or should that be corps?) of military watch enthusiasts.
While seasoned military watch aficionados might reel at describing the CP-2 as “rarely recalled,” the reasons for this categorisation are quite specific. For one thing, it was – in A. Cairelli-signed form – issued only to the Italian forces, so its fame and its original fan base are, or were, restricted solely to the home market. For a second, only 2,500 were produced, with one estimate suggesting that 2,000 were issued to the military and 500 sold to the public. Another source has intimated a 50/50 split.
According to Zenith’s official history, it was confirmed thusly: “The Italian army ordered more than it distributed, so a rather large number of them are on the market, within the limit of the 2,500 pieces that were made. Those with the military markings are in the most demand.”
Although the CP-2 instantly seduces both chronograph and military watch buffs, its rarity has mitigated
