Thoughts about this Zenith 146DP

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hi everyone,

I've been dreaming of these two-subdial Zeniths since Mick Tock found his lovely speciment...

I found this Zenith on sale - with a 'panda' like dial. I don't have that much experience, so I compared it to other Zenith pictures available on the web.

Based on my limited knowledge, I think the dial is original and not a redial - there's some patina on it. I think the hour/min hands are also correct. Case looks reasonable; movement seems OK. But I still have a few doubts:
1. the subdial hands look golden, but in some other web pictures of other similar panda Zeniths they look dark brown/bronzed or black. What's the original color supposed to be? (I have no idea what the 'gold standard' is)
2. The zenith on sale has an unsigned crown, whereas the cal 146 examples that @LouS has shown in the past (here, here and here) all seem to have signed crowns. (BTW, the last link shows a Zenith on a GF bracelet that's guranteed to make you drool... 馃榾). I vote replacement crown for this watch on sale...

What are your opinions on this watch? Would love to hear the community's thoughts - thanks in advance!
 
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Ref. A 278. Not Zenith's best-finished piece. I think these were the last of Zenith's cal 146 movements, cased as inexpensively as possible to unload them at a time that Primero had replaced it as Zenith's chronograph engine.

From a 1969 catalog
Zenith1-8-1.jpg

Replacement crown as you say. The subdial hands are probably not original to this reference, but are Zenith parts, correct in shape.

Also available with a silver dial (ref A 279).
DSC_0019crop.jpg
 
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Cool, thanks very much for the quick reply Lou!
 
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Hi!
I麓m new in the Forum.
I came across this page, and I own the same watch.
I want to change the crown, (mine it麓s not original), i have found an ebay a seller who has a couple with the same logo of my back case, but he doesn麓t know if they fit.
Do exist any charts or website where I can found the size I need based on the movement? (146 DP). It麓s exactly like the one shown here.
Any help is welcome !
 
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I happen to like my A278 very much. It is one of the few Zeniths that I think wears very well with its bracelet (not pictured, sorry). For someone with a small wrist, it is a very nice watch to wear. I actually want the silver-dialled version, too. I normally prefer to have only one of a type or reference for any given watch, but I really like the A27x series.

 
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I have an ultra rare Zenith Golden Panda in pristine, one-owner condition, that bares a Portugal Government Import Stamp/Crimp on the top left lug (I had no idea about and how rare it made an already unique Zenith Golden Panda w/146HP movement) when I bought it from friend's dad who bought it new while on business there. The only flaw is a tiny pin sized hole in the second's hand tritium, but saw one go on line in a few minures in 2013 (I think) for $3400 on Hodinkee (which sells watches faster than I've ever seen...wow; please search for it so you can compare it to my watch) that was in super rough condition, tarnished, scuffed up dial/acrylic, zero tritium on the handset, and has none of those issues & came w/the origial black, Zenith branded buckle on the leather band clasp & is 100% authentic & very similar to these examples in this thread other than the gold color and dial and chrono colors (that are sweet in my opinion). I have not worn it in quite a long time so, when I pulled it out of the safe, I noticed it doesn't wind super smooth like it used to, but sill keeps excellent time chronos function as they sould, but it definitely needs an oiling/service by someone other than me, as the 146HP movement is far to nice for me to attempt & I'm no horologist; may just send it to my guy but was wondering if the one on Hodinkee's website brought $3,400 years ago, I was wondering what a piece like mine might be worth? Any input would be much appreciated? Thanks for your time to check it out & give me your opinion; it's not getting enough wrist time with my ever growing collection so I'm on the fence as what to do with her, but it being a Portugal Zenith Golden Panda means I know I'd be hard pressed to find another or replace it should I part w/it, oh but so goes our passion/hobbies, right? It's certainly spent more time in the safe that out on the town...which is a real shame; feel free to PM if you'd like some additional photos or have any questions for me; i hope to hear it's appreciated a lot like yalls Zeniths & every other one, so look forward to hearing your comments; Ciao...
 
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I have an ultra rare Zenith Golden Panda in pristine, one-owner condition, that bares a Portugal Government Import Stamp/Crimp on the top left lug (I had no idea about and how rare it made an already unique Zenith Golden Panda w/146HP movement) when I bought it from friend's dad who bought it new while on business there. The only flaw is a tiny pin sized hole in the second's hand tritium, but saw one go on line in a few minures in 2013 (I think) for $3400 on Hodinkee (which sells watches faster than I've ever seen...wow; please search for it so you can compare it to my watch) that was in super rough condition, tarnished, scuffed up dial/acrylic, zero tritium on the handset, and has none of those issues & came w/the origial black, Zenith branded buckle on the leather band clasp & is 100% authentic & very similar to these examples in this thread other than the gold color and dial and chrono colors (that are sweet in my opinion). I have not worn it in quite a long time so, when I pulled it out of the safe, I noticed it doesn't wind super smooth like it used to, but sill keeps excellent time chronos function as they sould, but it definitely needs an oiling/service by someone other than me, as the 146HP movement is far to nice for me to attempt & I'm no horologist; may just send it to my guy but was wondering if the one on Hodinkee's website brought $3,400 years ago, I was wondering what a piece like mine might be worth? Any input would be much appreciated? Thanks for your time to check it out & give me your opinion; it's not getting enough wrist time with my ever growing collection so I'm on the fence as what to do with her, but it being a Portugal Zenith Golden Panda means I know I'd be hard pressed to find another or replace it should I part w/it, oh but so goes our passion/hobbies, right? It's certainly spent more time in the safe that out on the town...which is a real shame; feel free to PM if you'd like some additional photos or have any questions for me; i hope to hear it's appreciated a lot like yalls Zeniths & every other one, so look forward to hearing your comments; Ciao...
The one sold on HODINKEE in Aug 2016 was mine. Nice gold panda u have.
 
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Oh no...please accept my earnest apology; I look at so many watches each day, I apparently got my dates mixed up but, more importantly, meant no disrespect to you. I have no idea how my pals dad kept his so clean, but please forgive me if I offended you in any way; not my intention whatsoever. Just my luck, I thought long and hard about even mentioning it (expecially the part about comparing it to mine & where I saw the only one in my years of looking, and now definately regret it. Please accept my apology & know it was not intended to be unkind or rude in ANY way; I guess the only thing I can say for myself is I look at a lot of watches every day, and it's the only other GP I have ever seen, but never meant to be unkind to it's onwner, should have realized someone in our "circle" probably owned it before a company, and gone w/my gut to not even mention it, but thank you for writing me...and teaching me a valuable lesson & hope you'll forgive me?. Congratulations on selling your watch to them. I don't know their secret, but any watch they sell, goes in seconds...pretty amazing. I'm sure the new owner just sent it to a skilled horologist and it is looking great; vintage watches need a little TLC sometimes, don't I know it. Pls know my only intention and since it was the only one I've ever see in extensive searching, was to give folks a go-by to chime in on what mine might be worth, hold or sell, etc., since there are so few around, not to be a know-it-all (I'm certainly not) or jerk (failed miserably at both). Thank you for taking it easy on me in your reply (I know I certainly deserved a much harsher reply, so I really appreciate it). If you don't hate me & accept my earnest apology & word it will not happen again & don't hate me, maybe you could PM? I'd really like to ask you one question privately? Totally understand if you'd rather not; either way, I'm so very sorry as I thought it was actually 2011 so had zero idea it's original owner would read this post hoping for info on mine since they're so rare, but I should have just left that out & could have accomplished the same goal w/o risking offending a nice person like you. Well, I at least know it's worth around $3,500 but didn't know if it had massive appreciation like several other Zeniths, but regardless, wish I had left out that part for the highly-unlikely event that this might happen? Anyway, hope u have a great weekend and pls know...I'm so embarrassed; congratulations again on selling your watch & being able to have a relationship with such a power-house of a company. You're obviously a kind person & I wish you the very best. My sincere apology again for messing up the dates & even mentioning it; I like to see nice folks like you w/a my shared passion for Swiss watches do super well! Sincerely
 
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Wow, you need not be so polite. I wasn鈥檛 offended at all. I sold the watch because it got no wrist time. In fact I sold 5 of them (watches I don鈥檛 really wear) via HODINKEE as I happened to be spending Jul in nyc in 2016. Your lugs and case condition is much better than what I had. What also makes this watch special is the size, it is close to 2mm larger than its rectangle pusher counter part. The only complain I would have had about this model is it is plated.
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