Wristwatch by Zenith, early 1960s — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Wristwatch by Zenith, early 1960s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Zenith (maker)
Date: early 1960s
Historical period: Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dealer: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Stock no.: Product 993889025
Credit line: Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (product 993889025)
Catalogue title (original): Zenith Pilot (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number Product 993889025), this is a wristwatch by Zenith, made in Switzerland, dated early 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

When you stare at vintage watches all day, you tend to see past the glitz and the glam of the oft-heralded 'icons' and begin to appreciate the understated timepieces that are generally passed over. Take the Zenith Pilot, for example. While many enthusiasts are familiar with contemporary examples of the Pilot line from the Swiss manufacture, the early executions are largely overlooked. Zenith has long been acknowledged for producing many, if not all, of their watches in-house - a tradition that persists today. This Pilot, dating from the early 1960s, is a perfect example of the brand's commitment to quality production and formidable design. With a manually-wound, 17-jewel Zenith movement housed in a svelte stainless case and topped with a gorgeous dark champagne-colored dial with subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock and a signed crown, this watch is an extraordinary vintage piece that fits into any collection. Whether dressed up with an exotic, or down with a hearty leather, this gem is an excellent daily wearer at a tremendous value.

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

Atlas type guide

Military, pilot and travel watches

The wristwatch owes much of its adoption by men to warfare and aviation. Wristlets — small pocket watches soldered with lugs and worn on a strap — were used in colonial campaigns and became standard equipment in the First World War, with protective grilles over the crystal ('shrapnel guards'). Louis Cartier's Santos (1904), designed for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, is often cited as an early purpose-made pilot's watch.

In the Second World War governments specified watches in detail: the German B-Uhr observation watches, the American A-11, and the British 'W.W.W.' (the 'Dirty Dozen' set of 1945). After the war, jet travel brought GMT and world-time watches, which show two or more time zones at once — Louis Cottier's world-time mechanism and the Rolex GMT-Master (1955) are examples.

What to look for

Military markings on the case back: broad arrow, issue numbers, 'W.W.W.', 'A.T.P.'
High-legibility black dials with luminous Arabic numerals; oversized crowns for gloved hands.
24-hour hands and rotating 24-hour bezels or city rings on GMT/world-time watches.
Wire lugs on early wristlets converted from pocket watches.

Dating clues

Wire-lug wristlets: c. 1900–1925.
Military specifications of the Second World War: 1939–1945.
GMT and world-time wristwatches: mainly after 1950.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Mechanisms mentioned

Jewel bearings — Component

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Analog/Shift — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Wristwatch by Zenith, early 1960s." Analog/Shift (dealer), New York, Product 993889025. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/wristwatch-by-zenith-early-1960s-723f36.