I just bought a Zenith with caliber 133 (18.000 vph). The serial number on the movement is 3794167 and this should date the movement to 1948.
This is the first automatic made by Zenith, the first automatic whatch ever with center seconds.
This is a whatch designed by Ephrem Jobin.
I love this watch!
And here is the question: The dial seems original to me but I noticed that under the number six there is not the common “swiss made” string but just “swiss”. I cannot remember having seen a Zenith dial with this inscription. Is this a sign that the dial is not original?

 

In my opinion this dial is 100% original. I wouldn't care too much about the SWISS or SWISS MADE thing, they're both valid and you should compare it with more watches of the same ref.
To give you a term of paragon, 40s Movado could have "Swiss", "Swiss made" or "Switzerland". All correct.

 

Thank you for your answer. I just saw the picture of a cal 133 watch posted by MMMD on this forum with exactly the same "swiss" inscription.
His watch has the serial number 3794667, mine has 3794167, so my watch and his watch are just "500 watches away"... :-D

 

Totally legit. If you see one with nothing under the 6 it was probably made in their French location at Besancon just over the border

 

Speaking of watches made in Besancon, what do you think about a Zenith watch having a 6-digit serial number on the case, SWISS MADE on the dial and FAB. SUISSE on the movement?
Frankenzenith?

 

Probably not. I’ll look into it

 

Did a little research just to confirm. I wouldn’t worry about it. Look in the Rossler book there are examples with 6 digit case numbers. I didn’t see any fab Suisse but that wouldn’t bother me.

 

Thank you Captain for the little research.
I was aware that there are examples of 6 digit case numbers. More precisely a 6 digit case number identifies a watch that was manufactured in Besancon. So the question is: why should a watch that was produced in France (because of import duties on swiss watches) show SWISS MADE on the dial? I saw plenty of Besancon-watches without SWISS MADE, but none with this inscription.
Here you can find an interesting page (translated by Google) on the Besancon manufacture:
https://translate.google.com/transl...3/zenith-besancon-ovvero-gli-zenith-made.html

 

I read that. Interesting, I hadn’t heard that 6 digit cases were only Besancon. I knew there were serial numbers specific to the French factory. Like so many things, a lot of research needs to be done to satisfy collectors

 

Here’s a pic from the net showing a 133 with Suisse and Swiss. Guessing the French were very particular about spelling

 

Mr. Captain,
thank you for the reply but this doesn't solve the issue.
You got the picture from watchuseek were you can see also the back of the case: the serial number has 7 digits.
This watch was manufactured in Switzerland for the french market.
My question is: 6-digit on the case (Besancon) and SWISS MADE on the dial (Le Locle)

 

Wow, I found it !
A Captain Chronometre with SWISS MADE on the dial and 6-digit serial number on the case!
The Picture was in the same post!
I hardly can immagine that this beautiful watch isn't entirely original.
So, that's it... thank you for your precious help!

 

I don’t think you can make any assumptions about what companies did or didn’t do back then. Im always researching and find interesting things all the time. My point with that pic was that it says Swiss and also Importe de Suisse which is something you don’t see often.