Zodiac Kingline 36000 Chronometer Wristwatch, legit?

gatorcpa

You should Google “Zodiac Kingline Chronometer” and view images. There are many similar watches for sale and sold.

Here is a typical example:

https://vintagewatchrestoration.com/products/zodw9000721

Zodiac is one of those brands that vintage watches are of pretty high quality, but have limited collectibility outside of a few iconic models (Astrographic, Sea Wolf, etc.). Prices are all over the place on them.

The fact that they are now owed by Fossil doesn’t help.
gatorcpa

HamDoctor

I would definitely have the glass replaced. A crystal is a "service item", not even the most hardcore of collectors will insist that it be original (unless there's an etched logo or something, but that should not be the case here).

The "Kingline" models were their top-of-the-line watches in the late 1960s / early 1970s. They are virtually unknown and not in much demand today, though.

The Ranfft database had the following info on the Zodiac 78 movement:
The family is based on the manual wind calibre AS 1687/1688.
The automatic mechanism is a joint development of Doxa, Eberhard, Favre-Leuba, Girard-Perregaux, and Zodiac.
(source: https://ranfft.org/caliber/10962-Zodiac-78)

So that would make this movement part of the "first family" of mass market high-beat (36.000 bph) movements, predating the Longines Ultra-Chron 430 family, and the Seiko 61 family of movements (even if not by much). That's interesting to me, by itself - I love the early high-beat movements.

The video you linked above should be interesting, I have watched several of the Chronoglide videos and found them to be very informative.

Your watch has the advantage of having an original bracelet; the dial looks good; the lume has deteriorated; the case is pretty worn, with spots of corrosion. Overall, I think you paid an okay price for it, not cheap, but okay. I don't think it will be in high demand, but it is an interesting watch that should wear well - watching a 36.000 bph seconds hand sweeping serenely across the dial is a pleasure by itself.

HamDoctor

The price in that advert is pure fiction. I am almost 100% sure (would bet money on it) that the seller is one of those individuals who find a listing inside Japan, copies all the info and then lists the item on eBay with a massive markup. Most Japanese sellers don't use eBay (they use Yahoo auctions in Japan). In the best case, if some unsuspecting foreigner buys the watch on eBay, the eBay-"seller" will buy the watch from the Japanese seller, and then ship it to the foreigner and pocket the difference.

Just try and put it on your watch list. I wouldn't be surprised if you get an offer for 50% savings (!! think of the savings !!), so ridiculous is the current price. And yes, that would still be way too much.

Always check "sold listings" on eBay. Only these provide any real information.

Vercingetorix

I had an 18K Zodiac Kingline. Realized I don’t like gold watches for the most part and this was too small and a little too plain for my tastes, so away it went.