197.
ZENITH – A fne and rare stainless steel pilot’s chronograph wristwatch with bracelet and original Lockheed cards, military medal, plaque and pin, retailed by Cairelli and issued to L. Ten. Gabriele Ingrosso, frst Italian pilot of Tornado aircrafts
Manufacturer
Zenith
Year
Circa 1972
Case No.
Italian army issue number: 201’146
Model Name
Cairelli CP-2
Material
Stainless steel
Calibre
Manual, cal. 146DP, 17 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Original stainless steel expandable bracelet
Dimensions
43mm Diameter
Signed
Case, dial and movement signed
Estimate CHF 10,000-15,000 $10,200-15,400 €8,800-13,200 Accessories Accompanied by L. Ten. Gabriele Ingrosso’s Order of Starfgthers membership card and Mach Deuce rating card, Riserva Diavoli Rossi marble plaque in Starfghter F-104 presentation box, 6 Stormo medal, Italian Navy pin and “Il 154 Gruppo Volo Diavoli Rossi” book with dedication to Gen. Gabriele Ingrosso. PROPERTY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER
The present wristwatch unquestionably embodies at its best the ethos of vintage military watches. The Zenith Cairelli was a pilot’s wristwatch supplied to the Italian Aeronautica Militare (and later available to the general public) through Rome-based retailer Cairelli during the 1970s. This example is ofered by its original owner, General Gabriele Ingrosso (at the time of issue, Luogotenente - Lieutenant) to whom it was assigned in 1973
from the Ghedi (Brescia) airbase. The collector will be delighted to know that the watch was issued in this exact condition, including the bracelet which was chosen for the ease with which it allowed the donning/un-donning of the piece. Gen. Ingrosso began his fying career at the age of 17 in early 1966 when he obtained the 1st degree piloting license. Thanks to a 250’000 lire scholarship, he went on to obtain the 2nd degree license, afer which he entered the Military Academy in 1968. In 1972, he began the military piloting school and in 1973 he was one of 10 cadets selected to fy the Lockheed F-104 “Starfghter”. It is at this point that he received his Zenith Cairelli. In 1982, he was the frst Italian pilot to attend the course to fy the at-the-time revolutionary multi-role combat aircraf Panavia “Tornado” in Great Britain, passing with the highest marks of the entire NATO unit thanks to his higher familiarity with high speed/low altitude fight. On August 27, 1982 he landed at the Ghedi Airstrip with the frst “Tornado” (M.M. 7006) delivered to the Italian Air Force and his Cairelli at the wrist. In 1985, he retired as Colonel and was conferred the honorifc title of General. According to General Ingrosso, the present watch was at his wrist for most if not all of his missions, totaling about 2700 hours of fight time, more than 1500 of these on F-104 “Starfghters”.
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