Description

 Zenith Marine Chronometer, Caliber 260, Le Locle, Switzerland:  This is a two day, boxed, rim wind and set lever chronometer with gilt 19 jewel, 3/4 plate movement with large two armed monometallic balance with screws, Breguet overcoil balance spring with terminal curves, micrometric adjustment for regulator pin spacing and “fausses côtes” and “oeil-de-perdrix” decoration.  The Arabic numeral silvered dial is marked “Chronometre Zenith”, with constant seconds and wind indicator, blued steel hands, contained in a brass bowl with gimbals, the whole mounted in a two-body with brass protected corners locking mahogany box, the inside of the lid with brass Chronometre Zenith plaque, serial #32655.  Bowl 90 mm., box 15 x 15 x 11 cm.  Circa 1955-65.

Zenith Chronometre history

Zenith’s caliber 26x range was produced from 1920 to 1968 and was developed from an 8-day car clock with bezel winding and setting. This series was the mainstay of Zenith’s reputation for observatory accuracy for 40 years.

The Zenith Marine chronometer, Caliber 260, was retailed as a marine chronometer, gimbal-mounted in a wooden box. Like its predecessor, it is wound and set via the bezel. The gimbals, of course, kept the timepiece horizontal despite what position the ship might be taking.  The unit winds and runs well.

Zenith Marine chronometers were produced in small numbers and were expensive at the time of production.