WINDING UP
The vintage Zenith Heritage is
powered by the manual winding
movement, Caliber 146HP
BY LAURENT MARTINEZ
BUYING
How to approach a potentially collectible watch like a dealer.
I’D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A SNEAK PEEK ON HOW I SELECT
AND BUY TIMEPIECES SO YOU CAN APPROACH BUYING
VINTAGE WATCHES LIKE A WATCH DEALER. WE’LL USE
THE VINTAGE ZENITH HERITAGE 146 HP – A277, AN
ICONIC PIECE FROM THE LATE 1960S, AS AN EXAMPLE.
First off, buying a vintage watch is an emotional experience. Whether it’s the
brand, the design, the movement, or the story behind the watch, something
speaks to you to persuade you to buy it. Never buy a timepiece if something
about it bothers you, even if it’s a small detail like the style of the hands or the
pattern of the dial. What may seem like a minor inconvenience in the begin-
ning will eventually grow into a bigger nuisance in the long run.
The vintage watch market is large and varied so only settle on a timepiece
that you’re completely satisfied with. Be patient, do your homework, and
remember the age-old saying, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”
48 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SPRING 2018
This year Zenith revives
its 1960s Cairelli model with this
Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2.