Zenith Cal. 146 Chronograph 18k 1960s

Name: Zenith Cal. 146 Chronograph 18k 1960s
Brand: Zenith
SKU: #1322
Price: 4400.00 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock

€4.400

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Description
BRAND HISTORY

A rare manual Zenith with roots in Universal Genève and Martel.

Before Zenith revolutionized watchmaking with the El Primero, they were already creating top-tier chronographs—and this piece proves it. Housed in a warm 18k yellow gold case, this 1960s Zenith chronograph features the Caliber 146, a manual-wind movement born from the legendary Martel manufacture—also known for supplying Universal Genève.

The silver sunburst dial, untouched and flawless, reflects the light with subtle grace. Paired with elegant sub-dials, original hands, and a sharp case from Pierre-A. Nardin, this chronograph balances refinement with function in perfect proportion.

Collectors will appreciate the column-wheel chronograph movement, a testament to the high-quality engineering that defined Zenith even before their most famous caliber.

This is not just a chronograph—it’s a reminder that timeless style and mechanical mastery aren’t exclusive to El Primero.

- wrist size in our picture is 18cm circumference -

DIAL:

original never touched silver sunburst dial in flawless condition
original hands & crown

STRAP & BUCKLE:

original black Zenith leather strap fitting up to 20 cm wrist size / 2 mm thick
original gold plated Zenith buckle

CASE:

excellent overall condition, showing minor trace of use
3- body 18k yellow gold case with snap-on case back from case maker Pierre-A. Nardin
35 mm (without crown) / 42 mm (lug-to-lug) / 18 mm (between lugs) / 12.5 mm thick
Year: 1960s
total weight: 42 g

MOVEMENT:

Zenith Cal. 146 - manual wound
17 jewels, 18000 A/h, 44 hours power reserve
professionally serviced 12/2025
+3 sec/d / 310°

BOX & PAPERS:

GOLDAMMER certificate of authenticity & service documentation card
GOLDAMMER box

GOLDAMMER REFERENCE: #1322

Zenith

To understand Zenith is to understand the thrill of precision. Founded in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot — who united all aspects of watchmaking under one roof for the first time — Zenith was born with a singular mission: to master time, down to the smallest fraction of a second.

Among vintage watch collectors, Zenith holds a special kind of reverence. Not just for its designs — which range from classically restrained to boldly avant-garde — but for its legendary movements. Most famous of all: the El Primero, introduced in 1969, one of the first automatic chronograph calibers ever made, and still one of the most accurate, beating at a high-frequency 36,000 vibrations per hour.

Vintage Zenith watches — from the groundbreaking A386 El Primero to the sleek Defy series — carry a spirit of innovation that was never just for show. They were built with purpose, crafted with precision, and always infused with daring.

But Zenith has never needed to be loud to be respected. Its vintage watches reward those who dig a little deeper, who appreciate the engineering beneath the surface, the balance between modernism and timelessness.

To wear a vintage Zenith is to wear the pulse of horological history. It’s for the collector who seeks out stories others overlook. Someone who doesn’t follow the crowd — but who finds greatness in the brands that have quietly shaped the craft from behind the scenes.

Zenith doesn’t just make watches. It captures the essence of forward momentum — in chronographs that defied convention, in designs that felt ahead of their time, and in a heritage that continues to inspire watchmakers and collectors alike.

Because sometimes, the most meaningful ticks aren’t the loudest.

They’re the ones beating just a little faster.