WWII Zenith DH German Army Military Watch Steel 35mm 1940s

  

A rare and original Zenith military wristwatch dating from the Second World War. Its black dial features large luminous Arabic numerals and hands, a clearly legible outer minute track and a separate small-seconds subdial positioned at 6 o'clock.

Military marking on the case back indicates that the watch was issued as a service timepiece for the German Army, known as the Heer. Watches bearing the "DH" designation were supplied for military use, making surviving examples important historical and collectible timepieces from the Second World War. The watch features a fully stainless-steel case with an inner dust cover and a Zenith-signed Swiss manual-winding mechanical movement. The case measures 35 mm in diameter without the crown. It is fitted with an attractive period brown leather strap that complements its authentic military appearance. The history of Zenith began in 1865 in Le Locle, Switzerland, where Georges Favre-Jacot established his watchmaking workshop. In a pioneering approach for the period, he brought the various stages of watch production together under one roof, making Zenith one of the earliest modern Swiss manufactures. The company officially adopted the Zenith name in 1911 and became internationally renowned for its precision pocket watches, chronometers and military timepieces, followed later by the legendary El Primero automatic chronograph movement introduced in 1969. A distinctive collector's piece for enthusiasts of Zenith watches, historic military wristwatches and Second World War timepieces.