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Recently I was offered this, which I couldn't refuse:
A rare first series cal. 135, all original, from its first owner!
A Zenith cal. 135 as such is not rare, but a first series is - the more so in all original condition.
This nicely aged, original dial, should make all other dials blush, as they look repainted in comparison (many are).
The solid but elegant steel case is typical for a cal. 135: the same steel case was still used for later editions.
The case looks unpolished, with chamfered edges on the lugs.
it is a case in three parts.
Caseback looks unpolished as well.
The crown has the correct logo for the period, although I think it was replaced at some point during service (possibly in 1963), as it doesn't look a perfect fit.
Original buckle:
This early cal. 135 has chromium plated hands and dial markers. What a contrast with later, more luxurious editions of cal. 135, when half of all cal. 135's were fitted with gold cases!
The lettering is also different from later editions. The emphasis here is on the 'chronometre', which has a thicker font than the 'Zenith' name, whereas in later examples the Zenith name appears bigger than the 'chronometre'.
But all its beauty is on the inside ...
As you can see in this picture the balance is uncut, monometallic, whereas the original balance for a first series cal. 135 was a bimetallic, split balance : I'll explain more about this in the second part of this post. I conclude that the balance was replaced during service with a second series caliber 135 monometallic balance.
Caseback shows only one service date (1963).
Although I'm not worthy of it, I'm of course happy and grateful that I got this: a caliber 135 should be the cornerstone of any collection.
Hope you enjoyed this.

A rare first series cal. 135, all original, from its first owner!
A Zenith cal. 135 as such is not rare, but a first series is - the more so in all original condition.

This nicely aged, original dial, should make all other dials blush, as they look repainted in comparison (many are).

The solid but elegant steel case is typical for a cal. 135: the same steel case was still used for later editions.

The case looks unpolished, with chamfered edges on the lugs.
it is a case in three parts.

Caseback looks unpolished as well.

The crown has the correct logo for the period, although I think it was replaced at some point during service (possibly in 1963), as it doesn't look a perfect fit.

Original buckle:

This early cal. 135 has chromium plated hands and dial markers. What a contrast with later, more luxurious editions of cal. 135, when half of all cal. 135's were fitted with gold cases!

The lettering is also different from later editions. The emphasis here is on the 'chronometre', which has a thicker font than the 'Zenith' name, whereas in later examples the Zenith name appears bigger than the 'chronometre'.

But all its beauty is on the inside ...










As you can see in this picture the balance is uncut, monometallic, whereas the original balance for a first series cal. 135 was a bimetallic, split balance : I'll explain more about this in the second part of this post. I conclude that the balance was replaced during service with a second series caliber 135 monometallic balance.
Caseback shows only one service date (1963).

Although I'm not worthy of it, I'm of course happy and grateful that I got this: a caliber 135 should be the cornerstone of any collection.

Hope you enjoyed this.
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