Okay... even more info...

I have spoken to the seller, who is enormously reputable, and a hugely respected and well liked player in the vintage game, and he tells me he has seen this exact dial several times in his career, and that he is 99.9% certain the dial is original. (I'm not God, he laughed, but...) From the tone of his voice and reputation, I tend to believe him. He agreed that the seconds hand is not correct and agreed to have it changed, he also agreed to install a correct star crown.

At this point, it would be hard to argue against the watch's merits and authenticity, I think... but... still I'd like to hear your thoughts.

There seems to be zero doubt that Zenith did indeed manufacture 135's with black dials--they are much rarer than the silver, but absolutely were manufactured. The fact that the word zenith is elongated is quite possibly a style difference, as watchmakers are prone to do... as you can see from the FL version in above-post's photo, it appears that black dials were sometimes this way...

(I think no one can be 100% certain, do you? We try our best to answer these questions, but with a rare example, we just do our best from knowledge and past pictures.)

Does anyone have a Zenith history book?

I'm feeling very good about this watch. What do you think?

💰162 Marketplace Listings for Zenith›

OBSCURE KNOWLEDGE QUIZZER/ Zenith cal 135

By: Mostel : July 3rd, 2008-11:57

Hi guys, I have located what may possible be a stupefyingly rare zenith cal 135 with mint BLACK dial! But... did Zenith make them with black dials? I've only seen silver. Any info, minutia, encyclopedic Zenith knowledge? Zenith-savant, this is your time t...

Yes, usually with arrowhead hour index -nt-

By: SuitbertW : July 3rd, 2008-12:55

Thanks Suitbert

By: Mostel : July 3rd, 2008-13:44

do you happen to know if they always came with 'star' crown? the one I may get seems to have a blank crown.

That's a bit hard to say...

By: SuitbertW : July 3rd, 2008-15:09

yes, I know that watch

By: dotman : July 3rd, 2008-13:51

one of the best 135s to come up for sale in a while the dial does not seem suspicious, but I'd be wary of one of the hands in regards to the crown, I should think that without the "Z-star" it would be aftermarket Of the two 135's I have purchased, neither...

never seen a version with black dial that i'd trust...nt

By: Catherine. : July 3rd, 2008-14:02

you might be right

By: dotman : July 3rd, 2008-14:38

there might be some other fussy elements going on... I do not think the words 'Zenith' and 'Chronometre' should line up straight (on that variation, the word 'Chronometre' is much wider than 'Zenith') choices, choices... :P

WOW. Thanks everyone, I wish

By: Mostel : July 3rd, 2008-17:37

I could 'grab' photos from website but the site prevents that. I am going to PM you, Suitbert, and tell you the website, as I cannot link here. If anyone else would like to see the watch, pls PM me. (BTW, it is on hold for me, at the moment.)

Re: photo

By: dotman : July 3rd, 2008-19:26

is it this one? I'm actually kind of curious myself now, if only for the sake of curiosity! hope this does not conflict any rules...

Hi Mostel, I've not been tempted like that in a while! Congrats for getting it on hold. And like that you can send me the link so that I have a look! Cheers Dje

KEEP LOOKING! New PIC!

By: Mostel : July 4th, 2008-08:43

So i found here a pic of a watch sold by Christie's. It's not such a great pic but you can see the word Zenith appears to be the same 'length' as the word chronometre. Is it possible this is how black dials were done? Also, Dotman has noted that the secon...