Nope, definitely black hands. Like the best eureka moments, discovered this black hand variation after bringing one home

Above example was taken from chrono24
https://www.chrono24.com/zenith/diver-a3630--id5951127.htm

Some other divers of the era also have the black broad arrow hands, A3646, black dial A3648 etc. Lends to the theory these would be a correct variation on the A3630.

Angled the phone to try and show the black hands best as possible.

 

Comforting to see that a lot of different hand options seem to be correct for this reference !

 

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket, but one or two examples are not remotely compelling enough to confirm that such styles were factory original.

 

Exactly, and since this watch is basically documented nowhere, I realize it is difficult to say what is or isn't original. This is a public discussion which could be used to evaluate the originality of an A3630, so I'd think it is best to state that we are in doubt concerning the hands.

On another note, I've read that the date should be set "quickly". I have tried the "9PM to 1AM" trick but the date doesn't change.
Is it normal for this caliber not to have the function, or should it be set in a different way maybe ?

 

I m a big fan of this quite rare and unknown watch and would like to share the information I have on my watch which has the original GF ladder bracelet.
ZENITH STAINLESS STEEL DIVERS’ MODEL, FROM 1968

• Ref. AH 3630
• Serial number: 216D XXX
• Would then belong to the AH 3630’s first production run, which first units were to be delivered for the 1968 Baselfair (in april 1968); this first production run in its whole was delivered between april and august 2018
• This divers’ model furthermore:
  • was fitted here with Zenith Caliber 2542 PC (automatic, with calendar)
  • is waterproof to 120 m, with a screwed-in back, a turning bezel, and luminescent hands and indexes (covered with tritium ‘with strong luminance’, contrasting against the dark dial)
  • appeared notably within Zenith Catalogue from 1969-1970, next to some other divers’ models, among which the famous divers’ version of the Defy (please see the illustration attached to this message, which should be labelled with ‘ZENITH HERITAGE’ as a source next to the picture, if used)
• 

 

Dibs

 

These Zenith divers (not just these honestly, but all Zenith divers) are deeply underestimated, IMO.

 

One of the best model among vintage divers!
Congrats

 

Not sure about the Rainbow's diving capabilities though. That's a weird watch, but I love it.

 

That is an amazing, amazing watch. I have a friend who collects Girard Perregaux divers and it shares a lot of design elements from the early GP Deep Divers. And I think, just like Zenith, GP wasn't the first choice for divers ...

 

Here is mine it possibly NOS

 

Another one is mine, still at safe because no more dressed in late years,
I love more the chronograph...

GIGI

 

Having recently acquired one of these and being new to Zenith watches I have a question regarding which is the correct crown. While everyone here is discussing which hands are correct from the photos posted there is no mention of the different crowns of which there seems to be at least 3. The one I purchased looks to have the same hands and crown as the one posted by divetime. Was it dependent on production run possibly. I have posted about the watch but here are the photos again

 

All I can say is wow...great retro style, contemporary size (well for some) and I'm a sucker for patina and think the bezel looks wonderful.

 

Hi everybody,
Someone could tell me the right diameter of the crown of this beatiful watch?
I own a zenith a3630 but unfortunately sito a service crown, please help me

 

Very attractive diver!

 

Hands are REPAINTED in black, no one set was sell in black color

GIGI

 

Hands are not repainted. Zenith made this handset in black for a variety of diver models.

Example, the Big Lemon:

 

That is not a compelling example. Not only is the watch a different reference, but it is obvious why such hands would be used with those very different style of dials.

Can you show any examples of A3630 reference material with black painted hands? Any mint or NOS examples?

 

Please read my post carefully. Not using that Big Lemon image as an example to back up black hands on an A3630. Just stating the the hands are not repainted as this handset was manufactured by Zenith in black colour for other divers.