WW2 Royal Navy Issue Zenith Deck Watch

A near-mint Deck Watch by Zenith, c.1944.

This is a superb example of a WW2 Zenith Deck Watch. Having seen minimal use, this Zenith has been stored long-term at Herstmonceaux Castle, which was one of the Royal Navy's Chronometer Branch depots. As such, it is presented in a genuine MOD carton. Part of the work of the RN Chronometer Branch was to keep the navy's watches ready for immediate issue and as such, this chronometer would have been routinely inspected, serviced and timed. Throughout their life, these chronometers saw periodic issue to HM ships before being released from the RN in the 1980s.

A high-precision Deck Watch is offered in working order, marked with the broad arrow on the dial and movement, and similarly the stainless steel case, movement and dial are all maker-marked, "Zenith".

"Deck Watches" were carried by the ship's navigators, synchronised in their timekeeping to a master chronometer, which was stowed below deck in the middle of the ship. Navigators would then go up on deck where they performed their regular solar or celestial observations, logging their results against the time shown by their Deck Watch.

A Precision Deck Watch.

Code: 51457