JFK.
These three letters are known worldwide
and represent one of most know and charismatic
world leaders of modern history the 35th President of USA
the John Fitzgerald
"Jack" Kennedy
Born May 29, 1917 assassinated November 22, 1963.
His cowardly assassination is still one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all times.
Also, JFK was one of the icons of 20th century.
He was known as great speaker, just to name few legendary speeches,
the West Berlin
speech
and American University speech
and we watch lovers must thank him for
Space program
resulting among many other things in cult watch Omega Speedmaster
and also legendary speech Announcement to go to the moon.
But this story is story of another watch.
The volume of his brief presidency is best summoned by his wife also fashion icon of that time among other things Jacqueline:
“Don't let
it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief, shining moment that
was known as Camelot.
"There'll be great presidents again
... but there will never be another Camelot."
— Jacqueline Kennedy
JFK was also known as bon vivant and what more could be said after Marylin Monroe sing you Happy Birthday that way.
Now watch industry loves ambassadors and icons that can and are strongly connected with them.
One of such connections seems to be between Zenith and Kennedy
but what we do know for sure is that JFK wore Bulova, Omega and Cartier watch.
JFK wore Ultra-Thin Omega Ref. OT3980 at his inauguration in 1961
Watch was gift from his friend Florida senator Grant Stockdale.
Watch is now at the Omega Museum, in Bienne. Omega purchased it in
2005 on auction for 350 000 USD.
More about that particular watch you can read here
Second watch that was on wrist of JFK for sure is gift
from his wife Jackie for their fourth wedding anniversary in 1957.
It was and Cartier watch. Allegedly
JFK was wearing this watch when he was assassinated in 1963.
The jury is still out there if JFK ever wore and owned
Rolex Day-Date aka President
purportedly gifted to him by no other than Marylin Monroe…if we look at serial number of that watch
it was produced in 1965 so 2 years after JFK was murdered.
Let’s now take a closer look into Zenith since we all know about Vintage 1965 also known as Kennedy Zenith.
First thing that pops up ...again... is year, 1965 which is very strange since Kennedy was not alive that year.
If we speak about Zenith's model Respirator as "Kennedy",
then we are in trouble again cos that
series started its production in 1968, luckily Zenith made square watches long before 1960.
Actually, Respirator models are essentially the same
as the "Kennedy" square model with added water proof ability.
Here’s one old post with Repirators inside
and some more from master Nilo
So if we want to call some Zenith „Kennedy“ then we
have to IMO regarding correct age find:
- square model
- with date between 4 and 5
- production before 1963
The earliest appearance of square model with automatic movement (2532PC) and date between 4 and 5 o'clock is in 1963/64
so I think we should look even further in past before ill fated 1963. If we
go further, we find square Zenith watches that go in
line with above 3
mentioned requirements but we find hand-wound movement in them.
If we look at catalog of that time his name is Piccadilly.
I was lucky enough to find this fine specimen
Something that can be regarding age and looks
considered as the Zenith Kennedy
So let’s see what makes this little fellow tick
It is Zenith manual wind sweep second 2532C caliber
with excenter
regulator
Kif-Duofix combined settings for escapement wheel
19 jewels frquency
of 21600 A/h
and power reserve of 49h
In the end jury is still out there if Kennedy ever had Zenith but it he had one than it gotta be Picadilly
Of course, just my musings and I stand to be
corrected by all means
important is that Mr. Green is very happy with his
latest Zenith.
And presence on wrist is so 60ies.
Ah and yes
“No watch is complete without correct buckle”
– blomman aka Mr. Blue
Yours
D