Zenith Calatrava Saurer Dial Stainless Steel circa 1950’s

Finding a SAURER signed dial on a relatively large Zenith from the 1950’s, is not an everyday practice. But first let’s dive into, what SAURER actually is. SAURER was a mechanical contractor which were known for making among others, engines for (fighter) aircraft. Having a branded collaboration between a watch brand and a mechanical contractor was very uncommon combination to see back then. On the contrary, collabs between brands (mostly in the fashion industry) is a common practice today. Sneaker brands for example, which design a shoe together with a renowned artist. When looking at the horological scene in 2023, it appears that even in these modern times, most of the the populair watch brands still have a too conservative character for funky collaborations.

So here we have it, one of the earliest branded collaborations between a very populair horological brand (Zenith), and a historically interesting mechanical contractor (SAURER). That in combination with the overal condition of this exquisite wristwatch, makes this a very cool collectors’ watch.

For more information about SAURER, have a read here!