Comments:
The 70's Zenith show ...
Few months back, I arrived late to a flea market and a dear friend "captured" two Zenith/Movado NOS.
He is a very "under the radar" guy and the watches literary vanished.
Recently I asked him to take some pics of his Zenith collection (without much hope) and yesterday he give to me a case with his 70's Zenith watches and the two ones were there.
Here are some pics that I took with a S90 and, as soon I have more time I plan to locate a good description of each one and take more pics using a better setup:
The next two pics shows an unusual case (notice the cuts) and the movement inside is the last one made by Zenith before switching to ETA during the "quartz crisis".
Enjoy,
Nilo
He is a very "under the radar" guy and the watches literary vanished.
Recently I asked him to take some pics of his Zenith collection (without much hope) and yesterday he give to me a case with his 70's Zenith watches and the two ones were there.
Here are some pics that I took with a S90 and, as soon I have more time I plan to locate a good description of each one and take more pics using a better setup:
The next two pics shows an unusual case (notice the cuts) and the movement inside is the last one made by Zenith before switching to ETA during the "quartz crisis".
Enjoy,
Nilo
Wow Nilo, what an impressive gathering.
I can't wait to learn more about them, especially the first and third ones!
Fx
Fx
Number 3 is a misterry that I'm trying to solve ...
Couldn't locate it on Manfred's book. There is one sort of identical but with a diving bezel.
I'm continuing my quest. Stay tuned.
Cheers,
Nilo
I'm continuing my quest. Stay tuned.
Cheers,
Nilo
Under the radar maybe, but what a cool collecton he has!
Thanks for the journey on a topic I know nothing or almost.
Very cool!
Best,
Nicolas
Outstanding !
What an outstanding array of vintage Zenith !
the 1st picture shows a very scarce ref A 3736 circa 1968, 146 HP Cal. powered, a ultimate Grail for many dive and Zenith watches collectors especially in such mint condition
The 3rd picture shows a 1975 no name Zenith dive watch, very few information are known about this watch,
it is quickly described in Manfred Rössler Zenith book as being water resistant up to 120 m,
credit : amazon.de
Getting all these rare and beautiful pieces altogether is a real achievement only the most discerning collectors can reach,
thanks for sharing !
Best,
Laurent
This message has been edited by Dr No on 2012-09-03 15:17:36
A warm thank you for the 146 HP info ...
This save me some time on my research for the full post (Yes, there will be one)..
In respect to the blue "GMT" one, I got no information besides the Manfred Rössler Zenith book, that does not show this bezel.
One point that I envy about this small set of Zenith watches is the overall conditions of all but one (There is one El Primero "vintage" that has a wrong set of hands). Normally those watches pops up from time to time but not in those conditions.
Cheers,
Nilo
In respect to the blue "GMT" one, I got no information besides the Manfred Rössler Zenith book, that does not show this bezel.
One point that I envy about this small set of Zenith watches is the overall conditions of all but one (There is one El Primero "vintage" that has a wrong set of hands). Normally those watches pops up from time to time but not in those conditions.
Cheers,
Nilo
Nice selection!
Some complementary information to what Laurent has offered
This message has been edited by LouS on 2012-09-03 17:20:37
This message has been edited by LouS on 2012-09-03 17:22:17 This message has been edited by LouS on 2012-09-03 17:23:36
Laurent is of course perfectly correct about the first of these, the A 3736, a grail if ever there was one. This one is a very nice example. Catalog shot:
The second is an A 279, also powered by a 146. It is among the last of the cal 146 chronographs, and was sold alongside the early Primeros, probably until the stock of 146 was exhausted. It is in my opinion a little bit of a makeshift design, an afterthought to update the handwound chronograph line and move them along in the shadow of the Primero. Image from a japanese catalog below
The third is an A 3634, powered by Zenith's line of workhorse three-hand automatics. A very nice find with the correct bracelet. Pic from a catalog in my possession...
The third is an A 385 with the wrong handset as has been mentioned.
The fourth is an A 7631 Defy, with the same or similar automatic inside one of four (!) versions of the super heavy duty Defy case. This one loks to be in enviable condition, not easy to find thus, as these watches were meant to be used hard. Some advertising featuring the model...
The fifth and sixth are interesting double branded watches from just before Zenith fell into the clutches of Zenith Electronics (cue hissing and booing) and its nadir as a watch manufacture. I am ignorant about these, although I think I've run across catalogs containing these models in the past
Nice eye your friend has, Nilo!
Wonderful explanation....
Lou,
Thank you for bringing your encyclopedic knowledge to us.
About the two Movado/Zenith they are true NOS pieces.
More and detailed pics this weekend.
Cheers,
Nilo
Thank you for bringing your encyclopedic knowledge to us.
About the two Movado/Zenith they are true NOS pieces.
More and detailed pics this weekend.
Cheers,
Nilo
*gasp* Absolutely stunning and rare pieces ...
... your friend definitely has a great collection! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Regards,
Marcus
Regards,
Marcus
Four of these - the A3736, the Defy, and . . .
. . . the two Movado Zeniths - are in such good condition that they might be new old stock. Your friend not only has an eye for Zenith, but a discerning one as well.
Thank you, NIlo, and extend our thanks to your friend as well. This was a great treat after a long holiday weekend!
Art
Thank you, NIlo, and extend our thanks to your friend as well. This was a great treat after a long holiday weekend!
Art
Always nice to be handed a case full
of someone else's watches.
What a lovely collection, as has been said already your friend has a great eye.
Any other boxes he might want to lend you to photograph?
What a lovely collection, as has been said already your friend has a great eye.
Any other boxes he might want to lend you to photograph?
Here is what I have on my processing queue ...
1) More Breitling than my poor hard drive can handle.
2) The full (I believe) set of Omega Speedmaster celebrating Michael Schumacher championships.
The challenge for those photo tasks is how fast I can take the pics, in order to return (same day, always) to each respective owner.
and, this will be the first post, more details related to this Zenith set.
Of course, I did some personal acquisitions that, I believe, deserves pictures and more information.
Thanks,
Nilo
2) The full (I believe) set of Omega Speedmaster celebrating Michael Schumacher championships.
The challenge for those photo tasks is how fast I can take the pics, in order to return (same day, always) to each respective owner.
and, this will be the first post, more details related to this Zenith set.
Of course, I did some personal acquisitions that, I believe, deserves pictures and more information.
Thanks,
Nilo
Well I am partial to Breitling
so look forward to seeing some of those in the future.
... and all those after the Heuers you've been showing.
Can I ask are all these collectors living in your country?
... and all those after the Heuers you've been showing.
Can I ask are all these collectors living in your country?
I know that you have a Breitling "soft spot" ...
Same here, even considering that I own only one Aviastar.
About the collectors, yes they live here.
Brazil was (notice the past, we are talking about 80's and 90's) a watch collector paradise before the advent of the Internet.
It as, just as an example, trivial to locate mechanical watches (Omega, Breitling etc.) being sold for. literally, a quid.
Now, with every dealer looking for prices first on the Internet, the paradise is ... lost.
Good for the old collectors that already filled their safes.
Cheers,
Nilo
About the collectors, yes they live here.
Brazil was (notice the past, we are talking about 80's and 90's) a watch collector paradise before the advent of the Internet.
It as, just as an example, trivial to locate mechanical watches (Omega, Breitling etc.) being sold for. literally, a quid.
Now, with every dealer looking for prices first on the Internet, the paradise is ... lost.
Good for the old collectors that already filled their safes.
Cheers,
Nilo
The costs of vintage watches
ten or twenty years ago makes us all cry, regardless of the country 
I guess what's fascinating to me is depth and quality of the vintage collections you've been showing.
It's interesting to me coming from a European sensibility to see just how passionate you guys are about vintage watches,
and a little scary - everyone talks about the Chinese driving up the vintage market, but actually I worry more about places
like Brazil and India, where there is a long tradition of appreciating quality watches.
Look forward to more great pics
I guess what's fascinating to me is depth and quality of the vintage collections you've been showing.
It's interesting to me coming from a European sensibility to see just how passionate you guys are about vintage watches,
and a little scary - everyone talks about the Chinese driving up the vintage market, but actually I worry more about places
like Brazil and India, where there is a long tradition of appreciating quality watches.
Look forward to more great pics