Zenith. A limited edition stainless steel automatic calendar flyback chronograph bracelet watch, the property of Colonel John Blashford-Snell


Model: El Primero Blashford, No.403/500Reference: 03.2062.405Date: Sold 10th October 2016Movement: 31-jewel Cal.405 automatic, No.348943Dial: Silvered, polished luminous filled baton hour markers, white outer minute track to black surround, raised outer telemeter scale, black subsidiary dials at 3, 6 and 9 for seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour recording, date aperture at 6, polished pointed baton hands with luminous inserts, red tipped chronograph handCase: Brushed and polished round, screw down exhibition back and crown, twin chronograph buttons, calibrated uni-directional bezel with black insert, No.220847Strap/Bracelet: Fitted brushed and polished steel linkBuckle/Clasp: Signed folding claspSigned: Case, dial & movement Size: 46mm Accompaniments: Zenith box, outer card, International warranty card, Certificate, Signed copy of John Blashford-Snell's autobiography, Instruction/information booklets
|The current lot is being offered on behalf of charity by the eminent explorer Colonel John Blashford-Snell. In the early 1970s Zenith sent six of its watches on the epic British Trans-Americas Expedition of 1971-72 that drove 17,000 miles from Alaska to Cape Horn and made the first vehicle crossing of the complete Darien Gap. Forty years later Zenith contacted the leader of the expedition, Colonel John Blashford-Snell to see how the watch he has worn ever since was going. They were delighted to discover that having circumnavigated the world several times and endured every type of terrain from the freezing Antarctic to the steamy jungle of the Darien Gap and the blistering heat of the Sahara as well as being worn underwater it was in good order. They asked Colonel John to help them design a new El Primero, fit for adventurers and explorers, thus 500 Zenith El Primero watches were made and rapidly sold out with proceeds going towards establishing a well in the Ticuna village of San Juan Del Soco in remote Colombia.The funds from the current lot will go to the Scientific Exploration Society (SES) which was founded in 1969 by the Colonel. SES is a charity that leads, funds and supports scientific discovery, research and conservation in remote parts of the world offering knowledge, education and community aid. Whilst few areas of the world remain undiscovered, there is still much to learn and to be done in promoting sustainable economies, saving endangered species and offering community welfare in less developed countries. The SES has provided opportunities for more than 40,000 people to explore remote parts of the world whilst conducting scientific research to better protect the environment and reduce the commercial exploitation of the world's precious resources.The watch will be sold with an autographed copy of John Blashford-Snell's autobiography and a certificate signed by him.