Silver Cuvette Struck Grand Prix Paris 1900, c.1918
Founded at Le Locle in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot, Zenith built its name on precision, producing its movements in-house at a time when most Swiss houses assembled bought-in parts. That approach was vindicated at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris, where Zenith was awarded a Grand Prix. The award mattered enough that Zenith struck it on the cuvettes of its pocket watches for years afterward, and this watch carries exactly that: the inner dust cover is signed GRAND PRIX PARIS 1900 around the cluster of prize medals, above the Zenith name.
This is an open-face example in 0.800 silver, dating to around 1918 on the movement serial (2162141). It is signed three times over: on the enamel dial, across the movement plate, and with the Zenith trademark punch struck inside the caseback. The movement is a 17-jewel keyless lever with a cut bimetallic compensation balance and blued Breguet-style hairspring, gilt-finished and running well.
The dial is the highlight. White enamel, clean, with no chips or spotting, laid out with bold black Arabic numerals, an outer minute track with bold five-minute bars, and a subsidiary seconds dial at six. The hands are gold, with scrolled openwork near the centre.
The case is 54.1mm across. The bezel, band and pendant are rose-gilt. The silver back is engine-turned in a fine guilloche pattern, with a hand-engraved monogram cartouche at the centre. Surface wear is consistent with age, with no dents and sharp detail retained. The crystal is original with light surface scratches only, and the fluted gilt crown is solid.
Mechanically the watch is sound: it winds smoothly, sets correctly, and runs well.
