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  1. Hijak Jan 2, 2015

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    Had a question about dating a Zenith via the case back number, don't think there is a serial number on the cal. 146DP...
    Zenith Pilot Chronograph Cal. 146DP, 9.JPG
    Any help greatly appreciated. Happy New Year all!
     
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  2. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Jan 2, 2015

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    The format xxxDxxx puts it in the late 60's. Not sure we can be more specific than that... though an extract from Zenith might tell you.
     
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  3. Rafal Kulesza Jan 2, 2015

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    About 1963 a combination of numbers and letters has been introduced: the letters A, D and E were used (e.g. 300 D 400). From 1964-1970 plus 1-2 yers the numberring system was changed to a letter number combination e.g. AH 277.
     
  4. HogWldFLTR Jan 2, 2015

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  5. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Jan 2, 2015

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  6. Hijak Jan 2, 2015

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    Thanks all for the feedback...This sounds like the best way to go!:thumbsup:
     
    Edited Jan 3, 2015
  7. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jan 2, 2015

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    R
    Rafal, you are conflating case number and reference number. The A, D and E with three numbers before and after are case numbers, the letter or letters followed by a 3, 4 or 5 digit numbers are model references. Zenith didn't use any case numbers after it ended the ###E### format, but stamped the caseback with the model number in the new all-number format (eg 01.0200.415) where the first 2 numbers refer to the case metal, the middle 4 to the model and the last 3 to the movement.
     
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  8. Darlinboy Pratts! Will I B******S!!! Jan 2, 2015

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    Dinner and a movie? :p
     
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  9. Hijak Jan 2, 2015

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    After I posted this I realized how it looked.:oops:
     
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  10. Rafal Kulesza Jan 2, 2015

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    This format xx.xxxx.xxx 9 numbers, was from 1970, plus 1-2 years.
     
  11. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jan 2, 2015

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    Right, but AH 277 is a model reference.
     
  12. Rafal Kulesza Jan 2, 2015

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    My information comes from the book "Zenith Swiss Watch Manufacture Since 1865" Manfred Rosller.
     
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  13. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jan 2, 2015

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    I know it well, but you are mixing up model references (described in Roessler pp 42-43) and case numbers, which are individual to each watch, described at the bottom of p.41. They are two different things.
     
  14. Rafal Kulesza Jan 2, 2015

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    I do not think. Page 41 refers only to 1963.
     
  15. HogWldFLTR Jan 2, 2015

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  16. Rafal Kulesza Jan 2, 2015

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    But watch discussed, this is not El Primero.
     
  17. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jan 2, 2015

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    From an 1970 catalog. Please note the model references.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Rafal Kulesza Jan 2, 2015

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    This confirms the information from the book that from 1964-1970 plus 1-2 yers the numberring system was changed to a letter-number combination eg 277 AH.
    The present watch no serial number but the reference number that identifies it to the year 1963.
    What's interesting is I have one of the watches shown AF / P 756D829 reference number, which means it was created before 1970 and particularly in 1969. I wrote about it on my forum:
    http://www.pasjonaciczasu.pl/topic/440-36000-wahniec-na-godzine-10-ruchow-na-sekunde-5hz/?hl=36000
    I'm sorry but it is in Polish. Maybe someone from the Polish reads and wants to explore their knowledge.
     
  19. HogWldFLTR Jan 2, 2015

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    Ya never know what information someone who is interested in collecting will have especially if it a parallel related topic. It doesn't hurt to enquire does it now.
     
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  20. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Jan 2, 2015

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    I'm going to check out the Polish forum. I think I would probably have an easier time with it. This jumbling of serial numbers and reference numbers is giving me a headache. In any event, all of the watches that I have seen with case serial numbers like this, i.e. xxxDxxx, have been from around 1968-1972. And the ones with numbers of the format xxxAxxx have been earlier, perhaps as early as 1963. This model is at least a few years later than 1963, IMO.
     
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