{"product_id":"chronometre-zenith-seltenste-luxus-herren-taschenuhr-in-achat-gehause-ca-1900","title":"Zenith Chronometer Rarest Luxury Men's Pocket Watch in Agate Case circa 1900","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZenith Chronometer absolutely unique luxury men's pocket watch with hand-milled agate case, as produced by Zenith around 1900 for the Russian Tsar's court\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMen's pocket watch \"Zenith\", hand-milled agate case with gold-colored bezel, cream-colored dial (very slight hairline cracks, barely visible to the naked eye) with Arabic numerals, small seconds at 6 o'clock, elegant blued steel hands in Breguet style, mechanical movement, crown winding\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAI provides the following information about these watch models:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-role=\"assistant\" data-testid=\"message-assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat you are showing here \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eis indeed an original Zenith pocket watch with an agate case\u003c\/span\u003e – a very rare collector's item. It is a model similar to the Chronomètre Zenith with a \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003emonocoque case\u003c\/span\u003e (made from a single piece) of \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003ethree-colored, banded agate\u003c\/span\u003e, made around \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003e1900–1910\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuch a watch was indeed the subject of an auction by \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eKarl-Heinz Cortrie GmbH\u003c\/span\u003e in Hamburg:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe lot described this exact piece as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-streamdown=\"blockquote\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Pocket watch Chronometre Zenith, rare agate case, approx. Ø 52 mm, monocoque case made of stone, magnificent three-colored agate, bezel and pendant made of rose gold, lever movement in chronometer quality, enamel dial with Breguet hands, functional”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eDGC-Uhrenforum\u003c\/span\u003e this type of Zenith is also discussed, with indications that some examples \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003ewere originally made for the Russian Tsar's court\u003c\/span\u003e and only later went on general sale – making them among the most exclusive Zenith pocket watches ever  \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eFeatures of your example:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-streamdown=\"unordered-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-streamdown=\"list-item\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eCase:\u003c\/span\u003e Black, banded agate with white layers (probably onyx variant)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-streamdown=\"list-item\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eDial:\u003c\/span\u003e Enamel with blue Arabic numerals and small seconds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-streamdown=\"list-item\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eMovement:\u003c\/span\u003e High-quality Zenith hand-wound movement with lever escapement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-streamdown=\"list-item\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eSpecial feature:\u003c\/span\u003e Unique character, as each agate case has individual patterns.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThese pieces are \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eextremely rare\u003c\/span\u003e (significantly rarer than gold or silver Zenith pocket watches) and are highly sought after today, especially by collectors of precision mechanical and lapidary luxury objects. Prices vary greatly depending on condition, but are often in the \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003emid to upper four-figure range \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThese Zenith pocket watches with \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eagate cases\u003c\/span\u003e were indeed \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eseries products in very small editions\u003c\/span\u003e, not individual custom-made items. They are therefore \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eregular Zenith models from around 1900–1910\u003c\/span\u003e, but with an unusual case material that was rarely chosen.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccording to auction descriptions and contemporary sources, they were sold under the name \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003e“Chronomètre Zenith”\u003c\/span\u003e, mostly with a \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003emonocoque case made of banded agate\u003c\/span\u003e in various shades (black-white, brown, grey, red). Inside were high-quality \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003elever movements in chronometer quality\u003c\/span\u003e, and the movements corresponded to the brand's top calibers of the time. A documented example can be found, for example, in the auction archive of \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eKarl-Heinz Cortrie GmbH\u003c\/span\u003e, where a watch with 3-color agate, rose gold bezel and original box was offered \u003cbutton data-state=\"closed\"\u003e \u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-role=\"assistant\" data-testid=\"message-assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eDGC-Uhrenforum\u003c\/span\u003e confirms that these agate models were produced in small numbers and sold through regular Zenith dealers – not exclusively for the Russian market, even if some were originally intended for the Tsar's court \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThus, it can be said:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-streamdown=\"unordered-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-streamdown=\"list-item\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eYes, series production\u003c\/span\u003e, but \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eextremely small and elaborate\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-streamdown=\"list-item\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003eEach watch is unique\u003c\/span\u003e due to the individual agate structure.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-streamdown=\"list-item\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eToday \u003cspan data-streamdown=\"strong\"\u003ehighly sought-after collector's items\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis magnificent piece of military watch history is in good and well-maintained condition, unrestored dial has very slight hairline cracks, barely visible to the naked eye, watch starts and runs (accuracy not tested, but excellent in the first hours)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: 1 - 2 few discernible signs of age or wear, dial and hands immaculate, starts and runs \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Sammler-Uhren","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51747049308456,"sku":null,"price":1895.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/7628\/3176\/files\/chronometre-zenith-seltenste-luxus-herren-taschenuhr-in-achat-gehaeuse-ca-1900-2903636.jpg?v=1777613953","url":"https:\/\/sammler-uhren.com\/en\/products\/chronometre-zenith-seltenste-luxus-herren-taschenuhr-in-achat-gehause-ca-1900","provider":"Sammler-Uhren","version":"1.0","type":"link"}