Zenith has announced its collaboration with UK-Based authorized dealer, Watches of Switzerland, to release the Zenith Cronometro TIPO CP-2 Watches of Switzerland Limited Edition. In typical fashion for these types of authorized dealer/brand collaboration watches, the two have taken an existing model from the Zenith line-up, and dressed it in a new reverse-panda dial for the exclusive sale of 25 pieces through Watches of Switzerland.

The Zenith Cronometro TIPO CP-2 in its original form was introduced by Zenith in 2016, and takes inspiration from a Cairelli Chronograph from the 1960s. The Cronometro TIPO CP-2 sports a 43mm case, and clocks in at 13mm thick. The dimensions of the TIPO CP-2 are closely based on the vintage 1960s Cairelli Chronograph from which it takes inspiration. Beating inside the watch is an in-house El Primero automatic two-register chronograph movement, and keeping with the vintage inspiration for the watch, it does not have a date. While I generally appreciate the functionality of a date complication on any watch, I don’t see a place where Zenith could have implemented this function without disturbing the balance of the dial. The watch is also water-resistant to 100m, although I doubt many will be taking this watch with them for a casual swim or diving expedition.

The Watches of Switzerland Limited edition keeps the same main specifications of the Cronometro TIPO CP-2 (Hands-On here) but displays a unique colorway. This Limited Edition is designed with silver/white sub-registers contrasting against a black dial to create a nice reverse-panda dial, accented with red chronograph hands. Even though the term “Panda Dial” has become a buzzword in the watch community, it’s a style that has become increasingly popular, especially after the record-setting auction of Paul Newman’s Panda dial Daytona. Each of the 25 watches has an engraved caseback specifying its limited edition number, and the watch will come packaged with two leather straps.

While this release is more of a marketing opportunity for Watches of Switzerland than anything else, it is nice to see additional colorways of the TIPO CP-2, and it provides another option for the collector who was potentially on the fence about the model. If this Zenith Cronometro TIPO CP-2 Watches of Switzerland Limited Edition is your cup of tea, you can purchase one of the 25 through Watches of Switzerland directly at a price of £7,400. zenith-watches.com | watches-of-switzerland.co.uk