Forums Latest Members

Identifying a Zenith watch

  1. McLearen Apr 16, 2018

    Posts
    3
    Likes
    1
    My wife just received this beautiful watch that was originally her great-grandfathers. Does anybody recognize what era and model it might be? The band is a junky timex but the watch itself seems to be authentic and in very good shape.

    Thanks!
    75041E7B-F51F-40CA-9F60-CA240C0CC8F8.jpeg 0832EA81-26A6-4699-B0F6-70C0174BD036.jpeg 5A7D590D-CB5B-470F-B450-18B19605E29A.jpeg
     
    ELV web likes this.
  2. khmt2 Apr 16, 2018

    Posts
    1,625
    Likes
    14,494
    Lovely watch! Can't really tell the model but the 6 digit serial at the back and lack of "Swiss" or "Swiss Made" on the dial seems to suggest it came from the satellite factory in Bresancon, France. If so, case serial range dates it to ard 1960ish? If you have a competent watchmaker in town, get him/her to get the caseback off and take a few pictures of the movement and the inside of the caseback. That'll help in the sleuthing.

    And oh yes, Dibs!
     
    bardamu and ELV web like this.
  3. Stewart H Honorary NJ Resident Apr 16, 2018

    Posts
    3,070
    Likes
    3,510
    Six digit case number also applies to Swiss gold watches
     
  4. McLearen Apr 16, 2018

    Posts
    3
    Likes
    1
    I was thinking sixties or seventies myself. I should say that it does say “Swiss made” in very fine print at the bottom of the dial.
     
  5. khmt2 Apr 16, 2018

    Posts
    1,625
    Likes
    14,494
    In that case, not Besançon then. Case appears to have a snap back case, should be an easy job to have a look inside, but I would sill advise a visit to a watchmaker.
     
  6. McLearen Apr 16, 2018

    Posts
    3
    Likes
    1
    Thanks for your thoughts. I will drop by my local specialist and let you know what I find out.
     
  7. Syrte MWR Tech Support Dept Apr 24, 2018

    Posts
    7,383
    Likes
    20,738
    I don’t know much if anything about Zenith watches but :

    1/ case and dial design with pointy hands and faceted and pointy indexes clearly look 1950s to me, although who knows if some such watches survived into the 60s. Definitely not 1970s.

    2/ for a definite answer, one option is to seek an extract of archive from Zenith, on their website they have a form for it, but they will charge 120 swiss francs for an email extract and 150 for a paper version. Best to start with the suggestion above.

    Regards