Not too long ago, I wrote an article about my Zenith 143-6. Aside from the astonishing military provenance, I got the watch because of the EP caliber inside it. Lately, I’ve been increasingly involved in vintage Excelsior Park-powered chronographs. The Zenith 143-6 fit the bill, so I added it to my humble collection. I met Bosko through a different watch and another passion of mine — Angelus. It just so happened that he owned a Zenith like mine and was an expert on these things. He also wrote a Zenith 143-6 Yugoslavian Military Chronograph Collector’s Guide.

Bosko wrote the piece merely for himself. He was gracious enough to share it with me so that I could learn about my timepiece. Furthermore, we published a Fratello On Air podcast episode with him earlier this week. We are a community; if I benefit from something, I’d love my fellow watch lovers to benefit too. So I asked, and Bosko agreed to publish his Zenith 143-6 Yugoslavian Military Chronograph Collector’s Guide.

Zenith 143-6

Zenith 143-6

In my article about my Zenith 143-6, I didn’t go too deeply into the history of the watch on purpose. I wanted to leave it for the Zenith 143-6 Yugoslavian Military Chronograph Collector’s Guide. Most of the things I know about this watch come from that PDF anyway. Instead, what I tried to focus on was my story with the watch. As Bosko indicates in his guide, these watches came in a batch of 2,000 pieces. That seems to be a large number, and back in the ’50s, it was. In today’s world, though, where big brands pump out limited editions of thousands upon thousands of pieces, it’s not so substantial anymore. If we look at things from this perspective, the Zenith 143-6 should be an everyday watch. But about 70 years have passed, so finding one will be challenging. If you are lucky enough to come across one, Bosko’s guide might help you understand it better.

Zenith 143-6

Yugoslavian Military Chronograph Collector’s Guide

Writing a collector’s guide is not unchartered territory for me. I have done my fair share of guides in the past. First, I served as an advisor on some topics for the excellent Angelus Collector’s Guide by my good friend Mr. Christoph Öhm-Kühnle. Then came the Angelus Military Vintage Chronograph Collector’s Guide, a passion project for me. Funnily enough, that watch bears strong design similarities to the Zenith 143-6. They come from the same era and a similar geographical location too. However, Bosko’s work is more of a comprehensive overview of the history and technical understanding of the Zenith 143-6. He goes as far as to dwell on Excelsior Park’s past and the difference between this caliber and others. It is a must-read if you are interested in vintage chronographs or military pieces. Best of all, it is free for anyone to download.

Access and download Bosko’s Zenith 143-6 Collector’s Guide here.

Zenith 143-6 Yugoslavian Military

Is that all?

The Zenith 143-6 Yugoslavian Military Chronograph is a deep and intriguing topic. So is Bosko, the man behind the collector’s guide on it. You can imagine that someone who writes such a piece must be, for the lack of a better word, passionate about timepieces in general. That’s why it would be great to chat with him about watches, his Zenith, and whatever else comes up as a topic. If you haven’t already, check out my recent podcast interview with Bosko. That shows you the man behind this project and helps you understand where his drive comes from. Then read the Zenith 143-6 Yugoslavian Military Chronograph Collector’s Guide, enjoy it, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Also, every collector’s guide has yet to be finished. If you feel that some facts are missing or you have further info, please don’t hesitate to contact me, and I’ll connect you with Bosko. Happy reading.