Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Zenith A 271 Chronograph, 1960s
- Maker / attribution
- Zenith (maker)
- Date
- 1960s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 37 mm
- Stock no.
- Product 4686684520535
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, S.Song Watches (product 4686684520535)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Zenith A 271 Chronograph (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle (stock number Product 4686684520535), this is a wristwatch by Zenith, made in Switzerland, dated 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 37 mm. 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 — S.Song Watches
I really think that Zenith dress chronographs are hugely underrated. They have so many things going for it, yet they remain largely underappreciated. Just take a look at this Zenith A 271 and you’ll see what I mean. This Zenith A 271 was made in the 60’s and it is a true dress cross sports chronograph. It is stainless steel and sized at what would be considered an oversized 37mm, very large for its time. This means that despite its relatively understated design, it still has enough presence on the wrist while remaining discreet and elegant enough to slide under the cuff. Zenith achieved this by keeping the profile of the case quite thin. Moving on to the dial design, this is truly a lesson in simplicity and restraint. Unlike modern-day brands where they are constantly trying to get their logo as big as possible on the dial, this A 271 keeps things proportionate with a small Zenith logo and applied star. Even the chronograph subdial font maintains this proportionality and the addition of a crosshair on the 9 o’clock subdial results in a very classic and easy to like look. Flip the watch over and it is just as impressive. Powered by an in-house Zenith calibre 146 DP, it is a high quality, column wheel movement that was created by Martel and used by Universal Geneve before Zenith bought the rights. The Zenith A 271 is one of the most versatile watches out there and paired with this beautiful Molequin Hunter Green Grained Calf Strap, it works just as well for casual wear as it does for dressier occasions.
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 timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
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.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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