Zenith · ref Cronometro Tipo CP-2 · 1960–early 1970s
In the 1960s the Italian Air Force wanted a proper pilot's chronograph, and the Rome firm A. Cairelli supplied one built by Zenith. About 2,500 of these Cronometro Tipo CP-2 watches were ordered between 1960 and the early 1970s. They're big for the time at 43mm, with a black dial, tritium numerals and hands, a chronograph hand shaped like a small airplane and a notched rotating bezel with a lume triangle at 12. Inside is the hand-wound Zenith cal. 146 DP, a two-register chronograph. Watches that went into service are marked on the back for the branch that got them, A.M.I. for the Air Force, R.A.M.I. for the Interior Ministry or P.S. for the police. Not every watch was delivered, and Cairelli sold the leftovers to civilians with only Cronometro Tipo CP-2 A. Cairelli-Roma on the back. Those are real Cairellis too, just without the service history. Leonidas also made a CP-2, and Zenith has reissued it with El Primero movements since 2016.
Tritium lume. The radioactive lume that replaced radium on Swiss dials during the 1960s and stayed in use until the late 1990s. Its half-life is about 12 years, so a vintage tritium dial now glows faintly, if at all, and has often aged to cream or brown. Swiss dials often carry a T beside SWISS MADE, and Omega's 861 Speedmaster dials did until about 1994.
The caliber
The cal. 146 family came to Zenith when it bought the movement maker Martel, around 1960 by most accounts. The D in 146 DP marks a two-register layout, while the three-register 146 H and HP went into watches like the A277. Zenith built the El Primero on the base of the 146, which is part of why the Cairelli matters so much to Zenith collectors.
Issued watches show their service, from scuffed cases to faded bezels, and that's normal. The bigger worries are replaced dials or hands, and modern reissues listed as vintage.
Buying guide
Only two Cairelli CP-2s are for sale, so the $14,575–18,200 band is just the gap between two asks, not a market read. We'd look hardest at the AMI-assigned Air Force watch at $12,799 delivered from the UK, since the A.M.I. marking is the issued history collectors want, and a faded ghost bezel like its own is normal on a watch that served. On either, ask for a clear caseback photo, a movement photo of the hand-wound cal. 146 DP and a dial that reads A. Cairelli, because 2023 reissues and Leonidas CP-2s get listed alongside these. Check the seller's feedback and return policy on the item page, since eBay's watch search doesn't show them, and allow for import duty from the UK or Italy.
$12,798.75delivered
Titled AMI assigned, an Air Force issue, at $12,799 with free shipping from the UK, under the band. Ask for photos of the caseback marking and the movement before you commit at this price.
Zenith A.Cairelli Roma Tipo CP-2 AMI Assigned Faded Ghost Bezel
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 6, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 6, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$12,798.75delivered
$12,798.75 · free shipping
Buy It Now$12,798.75
Good buy
AMI-assigned Air Force watch, faded ghost bezel. Ships from the UK.
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Used$20,000.00delivered
$20,000.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$20,000.00
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Our take
Titled military, 1970. No branch marking given. Ships from Italy.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 6, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA fresh strap, a set of spring bars and a spring-bar tool are the cheap part of making an old Zenith CP-2 Cairelli wearable again. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
Search straps & tools ↗Amazon search
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