ZENITH Besançon Observatory CERTIFIED CHRONOMETER with BULLETIN Antique Gold Pocket Watch

Good pocket chronometer by Zenith in original case.
Diameter is 48.5 mm, weight is 81 gram.

Watch is a quality piece and has beautiful dial in the Art Deco taste.
The case is unusual - it's consist of just two pieces, movement is accessible only via screwed bezel. There is paramagnetic steel screen inside of the case.
Case bears French hallmarks for 18k gold.

Watch comes with the extracts of Besançon observatory registers and with it's original box, equally mentioning chronometric certification.

Excellent example of French Zenith production from 1920-1930s.
In the beginning of XX century France trade barriers over watch market to protect French watch industry from strong Swiss competition.
That's why in 1921 Zenith installed factory in French watch capital Besançon, producing quality watches for demanding French clientele.


Movement is fully jewelled and features Besançon seal.
The Besançon seal was established in 1929 by the unions of manufacturers of Besançon and Doubs in order to reward the most beautiful timepieces. It certifies superior quality and is incidentally a way of creating a sort of controlled designation of origin.
It also confirms the origin and guarantees that the piece was assembled in Besançon.
It was a kind of French answer to Geneve hallmark.





Condition
The watch appears to be in excellent condition.
Movement functions as it should.
Dial seems to be in rare excellent condition.
Case has common period wear without significant flaws.

Very nice piece with box & papers in excellent condition.