Why This Watch Matters This beautiful Zenith chronograph has an inverse “panda” dial with faded bezel and killer “ladder” style bracelet. The Full Story Zenith introduced the A277 in the 1960s and had two versions. The first version featured a five-point star on the crown, a non-luminous seconds hand, and blued-steel subsidiary seconds hands. The second version, like the example here, has a four-point star on the crown, a luminous seconds hand, and gold-colored subsidiary hands. Also, the movements went from 146H in the first version to 146HP in the second variation. This example has aged quite nicely with the bezel fading and the dial developing a soft patina. Adding to the uniqueness of this watch is the funky Gay Frères “ladder” style bracelet marked “1 69” with “ZF” end links. Another great characteristic of this model is the lack of text on the dial; all it says is “Zenith” at the top and “Swiss Made” at the bottom, with no unnecessary writing crowding the design. Sometimes less is more, and Zenith got it very right with this one. The Fine Print Maker: Zenith Model: Chronograph Reference: A277 Year: Late 1960s Case No: 566D541Material: Stainless steel Dimensions: 40mm diameter; 14.5mm thickness Crystal: Plexiglass Lume: Yes, tritium Caliber: Manual-winding 146HP Bracelet/Strap: Zenith, made by Gay Frères, stainless-steel “ladder” style bracelet Lug Width: 22mmBox/Papers: No What we Love and What You Should Know The case and bracelet are both in good condition with light scratches. The caseback shows signs of being opened. The case appears to have been lightly polished, however the case number is still visible on the back. The dial has developed a light patina. The hands appear to have been color-corrected to match the lume on the dial. The bezel shows has a slight dent near one o’clock and some signs of general wear and fading. The movement shows some signs of wear. There are signs of pitting inside the caseback threading. The bracelet has some marks on the buckle and some stretch.
