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A superb, high-grade timepiece from World War 1, this 1918 military issued Zenith Signal Corps trench watch carries that wonderful sense of history and presents beautifully on the wrist accompanied by a period designed strap. After the Americans joined the war in 1917, these watches were issued to parts of the Signal Corps from which many aviators were recruited, although the Signal Corps also had there own flying wing. The original radium luminous appears to still be present in the hands as it glows bright green in black light then fades quickly. The luminous from the dial has been removed or fallen off somewhere along the way, but still looks wonderful with its red 12 and 24 hour markers. A superb, chronometer grade movement with micro-regulator is housed within, recently serviced by our watchmaker and running beautifully.
Circa: 1918
Style: Military, Early Wristwatch
Case: Solid nickel chrome case in superb condition with hinged lugs and original onion style crown. Measures 34.5mm in diameter excluding the crown and comes on a perfectly matched period style brown leather strap. Inside the back is correctly signed Zenith, Metal Blanc, Garanti.
Dial: Beautiful bright white original enamel dial with outer minute track, 1-12 hours in red and black, then 24 hours in red with sub-seconds at 6:00. Signed Signal Corps, Zenith. A few hairline cracks are present (no major chips or pieces missing) and the original radium luminous is missing from the dial, but the radium hands still glow bright under black light.
Movement: Chronometre grade in-house Zenith movement calibre NVS1 with 15 jewels and swan neck micro-regulator on the balance. Signed Zenith with a serial number dating the watch to 1918. Freshly serviced by our watchmaker and in excellent working condition.