This antique Zenith solid silver pocket watch, manufactured in Switzerland between 1905 and 1910, is one of those pieces that captivate from the very first moment due to the harmony between design, history and state of preservation. Its clean lines, its highly pure enamel dial and its magnificent solid silver 0.800 case make it a perfect example of the technical and aesthetic refinement that characterised Zenith during the Belle Époque. The proportions of the watch, with its 49 mm diameter, allow full appreciation of all its details without becoming excessive, maintaining that highly appreciated balance between presence and comfortable handling.
The white enamel dial, in exceptional condition, displays the characteristic elegance of Zenith at the beginning of the twentieth century. The stylised Arabic numerals create an exquisite visual rhythm. The small seconds at six o’clock adds symmetry and dynamism, while the intact enamel surface reveals the care this piece has received throughout its life. It is a watch that has reached us with an admirable aesthetic preservation.
The silver 0.800 case appears solid, uniform and perfectly preserved. Inside, we find well-defined hallmarks, including the Swiss silver mark and the engraved Zenith stamp, both proof of authenticity and original manufacture. The exterior combines elegant vertical fluting with a delicate lower cartouche, a detail that adds character without overloading the design. All covers close with precision, something especially appreciated by collectors.
Upon opening the dust cover, one of the jewels of the watch appears: the magnificent engraving featuring the historical medals of the house and the inscription “GRAND PRIX PARIS 1900”. This seal was used by Zenith during the decade following its victory at the Paris Universal Exposition, a symbol of technical and industrial prestige. The engraving is deep and well defined, demonstrating the quality of execution that distinguishes the finest pieces of the manufacture.
The Zenith movement, completely original and matching in number with the case, confirms the integrity of the watch. Its solid construction, with finely finished bridges and a reliable Swiss lever escapement, embodies the mechanical excellence of the brand during its golden age. The mechanism appears clean, fully functional and running with a smoothness that reveals the care with which it has been maintained. It is a watch that not only remains well preserved but continues to perform as a true precision instrument.
An ideal piece to enrich a collection of historical watchmaking thanks to its timeless beauty and the serene personality it transmits from the first glance. This watch not only radiates elegance and authenticity but establishes an intimate link with an era in which mechanical precision was an art and every creation was conceived to last for generations. Its magnificent state of preservation, the historical coherence confirmed by matching numbers and medals, and the emotional magnetism awakened by a true work of the Belle Époque make it a rare find. It is a piece that speaks, that recalls technical achievements and conveys an aesthetic sensitivity that no longer exists. For all these reasons, it is also an exceptional gift for anyone who values fine craftsmanship and the living history encapsulated in a watch that deserves to continue being admired and cared for for many years to come.
Measurements: 49 mm.
History of Zenith and Its Early Twentieth-Century Watches
The Zenith manufacture, founded in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot in Le Locle, Switzerland, revolutionised the watch industry by integrating all crafts under a single factory for the first time. This approach allowed total production control and laid the foundations for the prestige the house would achieve in the following decades. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Zenith had already developed high-quality and precise movements, participating actively in chronometry contests and international fairs. One of the most important milestones of its early history was the Grand Prize at the Paris Universal Exposition in 1900, where the brand received the recognition that would mark its identity for many years. This distinction was so influential that Zenith incorporated its iconography into the dust covers of its watches for more than a decade as an unmistakable symbol of excellence.
It was in this context that watches like the example described here emerged: robust and elegant pocket watches with movements designed to last. The calibres of the period, particularly those produced between 1900 and 1915, stand out for their solidity and ease of maintenance, characteristics that made them highly popular not only in Switzerland but throughout Europe and America. Zenith became recognised as a brand appreciated both by everyday users and by professionals who required reliable precision, from railway workers to engineers.
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