That's how I got this watch - I made him an offer he couldn't refuse!

 

Wow! Even lacking a correct sweep second, having slight dial damage and having the diver's bezel instead of the pilot's bezel, this watch sold for $3,975.00!!

 

Wrong dial and hands in this sub !! Defy set, watch not in original condition !!

 

Probably Franken, but it seems that Zenith put together some strange divers in short production runs in the early to mid 70's. I haven't seen this configuration before, but the presence of a 2572PC places it in a time frame that I associate with some weird dive watches. I've seen at least one other Defy diver from that period with hour markers like these, which seem out of place on a deep diver because they appear to be free of lume. So yes, I agree it is unique and probably Franken, but I'm not 100% sure it's fake because of the high degree of variation among Zenith divers in that period. If there were a "stellina" on the dial and a 2552PC inside, I would say definite Franken.

 

The seller indicates the case measures 40mm across, so I will guess this is the smaller (38mm?) version that is more true to the original, yes?

 

This De Luca II is the same model I just bought for almost $800 more. It is reference 01.0300.400, model 01.0302.400; 335 pieces produced, 1990-1991. The one I bought was allegedly NOS, but anyone can slap some protective blue goo on the case. Hard to tell the condition of this one from the limited photos. http://www.ebay.com/itm/121098577533Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

That model is known as the "dredger" rather than the "diver".

 

Strange watch.
This serial was not limited to 169.
The hands are not the regular ones.
Another one like this with the same "irregularities" was sold on Chrono24 a few weeks ago.

 

Beware this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fav...654966385?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item48547a9a71Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network.

It may be a decent watch for all I know, but it has nothing to do with Zenith. When I asked the seller on what he based his claim that this was a "Favre-Leuba by Zenith", he responded that Favre-Leuba was to Zenith as Tudor is to Rolex. Complete rot; there was no such interconnection. Just a brief marketing relationship whereby Zenith added "Favre-Leuba" to the dials (along with "Zenith") of a few watches, most notably cal 135s, that it permitted F-L to market. Possibly the seller assumes that because the founder of Zenith was Georges Favre-Jacot, he must also have founded Favre-Leuba. Nope. Favre-Leuba was founded well before Georges Favre-Jacot came along, and he had nothing to do with the company.

 

It's the Movado-branded version of the El Primero Pilot, not from the 1960's, of course, but pretty firmly dated to 1975 by the markings on the inner case back (3-75... I think March 1975 rather than 3rd quarter 1975, but I may be wrong... note the PI reference number and the little diver head logo... the case was made by EPSA of Compressor fame) and the date on the bracelet (4475 = 44th week of 1975, not a reference number as seller states). It looks pretty complete, except the "Zenith" clasp is a replacement. Lume missing from hands, but they're correct (note white tip on blue paddle sweep second hand... specific to this model). The 31J Movado movement is a plus (compared to the 17J 3019 PHC frequently seen in Movado Primeros), but the price is mighty optimistic... something in the $2000-2500 range might be more realistic.