Jumbo steel Zenith 135 Chronometre!

mama mia!

Congrats to buyer and seller. I've come back to the thread to admire it about a zillion times today.

Maybe questions were asked via PM?

https://omegaforums.net/threads/ple...s-rules-for-all-listings-inc-parts-wtb.54177/


You can ask these questions in PM or respectfully in the open forum, however, the listing itself is not the place to do so.

@vujen

FYI to the best of my knowledge that is a 36 mm screwback case 135 , the 36.5 mm jumbo was a captain cased were its 36.5 measured from 12 to 6 .... it due to the tapper case construction between the lugs....


Congrats to the new owner

Good Hunting
Bill

Hi again....

i post this back on Timezone 9/18/2001

all the image links are broken ... but I am pasting it in here for everyone info....

the seller case ref is

Zenith Chronometre in a steel screwback case 36 mm
-Produced: 24.05.1957. ( the one I had , i dont have the s/n anymore so cant help).
- Series of 200 pieces

Back of steel case 36 mm Normally the caseback of the Zeniths just had a stamped number, but in this specific example the case is signed "Zenith Chronometre Shock and Water protected "



from TZ back in 2001 when i was a moderator there...
At some point I will try to find the photos on my backup drive.

Watch at a Glance... Zenith Caliber 135 Tue, 18 September 2001 15:15

Hi Cris

i personally like Steel waterproof cases.. So I try to collect steel cased Zenith 135s. go figure..

I orginally posted this about a year ago on watchnet.

Welcome to Watch at a Glance....
Subject: Zenith Chronometre caliber 135

Ok... lets take a closer look at one of the best manual wind chronometer grade movements made in the 1940s ( this is my opinion and not that of the rest of the TZ/ WN staff) . Zenith released the caliber 135 in 1948. Total production of the Zenith caliber 135 totaled 11,000 units. I have seen some in gold, some in steel and very few in steel with gold cap. The ratio was approx. 50% gold, 45% steel, 5% gold cap. Zenith cased the 135 in 34.5 mm (snapback) , 35 (snapback, screwback), 36 mm (screwback/ Water protected) and 36.5 mm (screwback/ Water protected) ( very uncommon ) and 37 mm snapback.

Some examples:
Zenith Chronometre in a steel snapback 35 mm case
- Produced : 07.06.1955
- Series of 100 pieces
- Calibre 135
- Reference 2/3046




Zenith Chronometre in a steel screwback case 36 mm
-Produced: 24.05.1957
- Series of 200 pieces




Back of steel case 36 mm Normally the caseback of the Zeniths just had a stamped number, but in this specific example the case is signed "Zenith Chronometre Shock and Water protected "




Zenith Chronometre in a steel screwback case 36.5 mm "Captain" case..
- Produced : 02.09.1960
- Series of 50 pieces
- Calibre 135
- Reference 2/3200




So whats under the hood??
The movement was designed by Mr. Ephrem Jobin ( Zenith Engineer). From 1948 till approx. 1953 the movements were gilt and from 1953 to approx. 1962 (end of production) the movements were rhodium plated. The 135 has 19 jewels 13 "' movement, 18,000 beats. I have also heard of a few 135 with a higher beat rate of 21,600 but I have not had a chance to handle one in person ( it would be marked as such under the balance wheel) theses were never placed into production. What has always caught my eye was the size of the balance wheel at 14 mm while the movements diameter is 30 mm . Mr. Jobin accomplished this by off setting the minute wheel. Besides the 14 mm balance the spring barrel is also much larger ( will give longer power reserve). The regulator is a Zenith original and was used in Zenith pocket watches since the early 1900s. The one on the 135 has been miniaturized.

Zenith Caliber 135 movement:







As many of others on TZ and WN I rotate watches often. After writing this Watch at a glance... I am very tempted to go to the bank and get one of the Zeniths. I personally like wearing the 36.5 mm ... its silver dial with pink gold markers..... its so simple, it is smart!! It goes well with a suite or jeans. But right now on my wrist is a old Omega bumper chronometre that will be a subject of a future "watch at a glance"......

Good Hunting....
Bill Sohne

It’s a great uncommon watch .

best regards
Bill