Zenith has created a modern version of the TIPO CP-2, of which 2,500 units were produced for the Italian armed forces in the 1960s and fetch huge prices on the vintage market.
The Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2 is the latest addition to the Heritage collection, and aims to stay in tune with the spirit and design of the original TIPO CP-2, which it regards as a historical treasure of the Manufacture in Le Locle.
The watch is limited to 1,000 pieces and features the Zenith El Primero movement with 36,000 vibrations per hour. Zenith said the new timepiece is entirely respectful of its predecessor’s spirit and characteritistics but brings the convenience of automatic winding and a 50-hour power reserve.
The watch manufacturer said nothing is missing from the piece’s range of assets. Its hands have been designed to ensure readability, even in tough conditions, and its bezel to enable reliable and accurate handling. It also has easily accessible and responsive pushers, which, according to Zenith, testify to impeccable compliance with the drastic set of technical specifications imposed by the military.
The original military chronograph, TIPO CP-2, featured two counters in its initial version and its 43 mm diameter was designed to ensure a degree of legibility that was essential for pilots. The Zenith Calibre DP 146 powering the instrument proved a determining factor in the precision of the missions on which it served, according to Zenith.
