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Zenith De Luca MKI 01.0040.400

Adri
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WillsA WillsA
Unmarked vs marked crowns. Possibly. I thought that too, but the average watch maker wouldn't have zenith crowns. If the watches were sent to zenith for service then I think the crown would have been left unmarked.

I am thinking of doing a bit of research into the large and small case back marking to see what variations that throws up?

To help, if anyone has a mk 1 could they post the crown type and case back symbol size please?

For me small Zenith sign on the case back and unmarked crown.
 
WillsA
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Adri Adri
For me small Zenith sign on the case back and unmarked crown.

Thanks for that.

Findings so far:

Small Zenith sign and unmarked crown.
4

Small Zenith sign and marked crown
1

Large Zenith sign and marked crown.
3

Large Zenith sign and unmarked crown
1

Marked crown (unable to see back)
3

Small sample taken from sales, chrono24 and google. Pretty sure I haven't double counted.

No obvious correlation between sign size and crown markings but if this very small sample is representative then it does show how many de Luca mk 1's there are out there with marked crowns!

Unmarked - 5
Marked - 7

Would they all be service replacements. No, IMO. Although I personally like the unmarked crown!

Equally as many with large signs as small signs but no link with crown type.
 
Mlafra
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315
Mine has the large logo on caseback and unsigned crown.
In Italy, where these were all originally sold, the widespread opinion is that the original crown is UNSIGNED.
I am speaking about MKI.
This is based on the fact that several NOS model have been found in the past few years, with box and papers and still sealed, and all had unsigned crowns.
It would be interesting to see if there is correlation between white vs silver subdials and big vs small caseback logo.
 
cell1010
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980
You have a great collection there. You clearly see the evolution of the design from the A277 to the MK1 de Luca. Personally I'd prefer the A277 and yours is a superb example.
 
B
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0
Small logo and unsigned crown, I have just recently purchased my Mk1 it needs a full service I'm thinking of sending to Zenith has anybody had any experience of servicing with Zenith? will they only replace the parts I ask them too?
 
panaitchrono
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152
Very nice watch, in my opinion Zenith compete with Omega watches very well. And for me, forgetting that the Rolex is more expensive, it's not so good looking as those.
 
Chronofan
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34
been following these since many years and it seems the last yer or so they become much more expensive. The first series was between 3500 and 4000 about 1-2 years ago.
Today They are 6000 - 7500

Such a rare and beautiful watch ... I think in the future they will become very hard to get and a lot more expensive
 
Jkuback
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665
Great Collection @Adri - wonderful!

Zenith is somehow addictive: Highest Quality, great movement, Individual design - for me a sort of „Swiss Army Knife“ of watches 😀

My De Luca II: Diver, Panda, Chrono, Automatic - El Primero = Full Score 😀
 
image.jpg
bikehomero
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2,135
Mine is a frankenwatch. Should be a MKI like to one from westmoth. But has the MKII Dail and a wrong hour hand. Small logo and marked crown.
Apparently there was a tinkering at this clock. Therefore, that is not meaningful.


DSC_0889.JPG DSC_0892 (2)_1.JPG
 
sweets
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94
I have just spotted this
Mine is Mk 1 small logo on the back, unmarked crown.

IMG_8161_ol.jpg

Given the stratospheric rise in some chronograph values recently (Heuers of all types and Lemania miitary ones for instance) I would also like to add that De Lucas still represent great value today. As of now there are 14 De Lucas on Chono24, 5 priced under £4k, and every one of them under £7k. By comparison there are over 120 Autavias priced above £7k, making them not only a lot more common, but also overvalued.
Dave
 
alam
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Adri Adri
What do you think?

In short, 🥰 and to paraphrase the Squirrel, NFW!
 
Fadershan
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31
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203
Heres my mk1. I hunted it for a couple of years and wanted one in great condition and also wanted the bracelet for it. thanx for cool and intresting thread of a really cool watch!

zenith de luca.jpeg zenith de luca2.jpg
 
bikehomero
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2,135
Got my De Luca back today from watchmaker. Zenith delivered NOS Tritium parts to get back the original state as 1 of 375:

DSC_1752.JPG DSC_1756_1.JPG
 
stigmata
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701
bikehomero bikehomero
Got my De Luca back today from watchmaker. Zenith delivered NOS Tritium parts to get back the original state as 1 of 375:

DSC_1752.JPG DSC_1756_1.JPG
what did you have done?
 
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