Zenith Pilot – Looking for opinions…

I’ve had my eyes on the Zenith Pilot for a while now, but am finally going to pull the trigger on buying one. I’ve read a few complaints here and on the web that these have had issues, movement wise. I know the El Primero is supposed to be a great movement, so how large should the grain of salt be?

This will be one of the last watches I purchase for a while until the Rolex AD calls me.

A pic below to the Pilot model I am referring to.

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An unexpected enthusiasm for a 33mm Zenith Elite wristwatch

As I often do, I scrolled through the listings of second-hand Zenith watches in the hope of finding an unusual pocket watch. An than, all of a sudden: “BANG” OMG they still can do!! I was completely flashed. A quite modern wrist watch Ref.03/16 1225 692. I’m don’t know the exactly production day but it seems to be around 2006. AS its not really a collectors ithem. Since it’s not really a collector’s watch, the blue overpainted hands don’t bother me too much, although I would certainly have…

An unexpected enthusiasm for a 33mm Zenith Elite wristwatch

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Help Me Chose a Strap

I recently purchased this Zenith de Luca. I’m not a huge bracelet guy so I want to pick up a leather strap instead.

The automatic go-to choice for a leather strap would be black with white stitching, but I was thinking maybe something in brown or tan.

Thoughts?

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Fluco Mountain Brown Bear Nubuck

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Help Me Chose a Strap

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Zenith Observatory Chronometers – what’s out there?

Hi all,

I’ve been digging into Zenith’s history a bit, especially their achievements in observatory trials at Kew and Neuchâtel. As many of you know, Zenith was among the manufacturers that scored high marks in these competitions—well before the wristwatch era.

I’m curious about a few things and hoping someone here might have some insights:

  • What kind of watches or movements did Zenith submit to these trials?
  • Are there any distinctive features to help identify these pieces…

Zenith Observatory Chronometers – what’s out there?

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Besancon Pocketwatch

Here is a typical pocket watch from Besancon.
Diameter without crown 48 mm and height with glass 12 mm.
Movement number 36027 – roughly from 1929?
Case number 506160 IMPORTÉ DE SUISSE.
Visible movement diameter 38 mm.
What sources do you have regarding the caliber?
I consider Rössler’s book only as a suggestion.
In purely mathematical terms, that would only be 17”’. However, the 18.28.3A, for example, is specified in the data sheet with 39.6 mm – measured behind the retaining ring – and…

Besancon Pocketwatch

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Zenith products other than watches

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This thread is about items (not newspaper advertisements) that are directly related to “Fabriques des Montres Zenith S.A.”, but definitely not watches. I’d be interested to know what all the things were and are available. From promotional gifts to precision instruments intended for sale. Of course, it’s assumed that promotional gifts weren’t manufactured by Zenith itself. However, some items state where they were produced and…

Zenith products other than watches

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Zenith watches with black dials

Hello everyone,
I’m starting a thread here exclusively about watches with black dials from Zenith (or Georges Favre-Jacot or Billodes, respectively).
The type of watch doesn’t matter. Pocket watches, wristwatches, on-board clocks, etc. are all welcome. I’m interested in all the exotic Zenith watches with black dials.
Incidentally, this also proves that not all watches with black dials were intended for the military, as is often assumed. I’ll start with the watches I’ve been able to…

Zenith watches with black dials

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Zenith Kennedy (Respirator) case dating

I have the watch with this case. Movement number matches 1969, there is engraving by some previous owner on the case back with 1972 and from the factory 212D085. I wonder if 7-68 inside the case means July 1968? I looked into some dating threads but couldn’t find the answer in 30 minutes so I thought I will ask here.

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