Zodiac Talk => General Zodiac Discussion => Topic started by: dz302 on July 10, 2019, 01:47:57 PM

Title: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 10, 2019, 01:47:57 PM
Hello.  I just joined this forum to seek information on a watch.
My mother recently passed away and while going through her estate I found this watch.
It is a Marine Life Professional 200 in the box with papers and looks to have never been worn.
I have searched online for information but have come up with nothing.
It is a quartz watch, I assume, as it doesn't wind.

Any information would be helpful.  My plan is to keep the watch and add it to my collection, as well as to wear it in rotation.

Thank you for any help.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: Butch on July 10, 2019, 03:26:13 PM
Nice watch! What are the numbers on the back?
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 10, 2019, 05:17:27 PM
Thank you.

The numbers are:   406.91.86
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: Butch on July 10, 2019, 05:44:37 PM
OK, just looked it up in the catalogs. That is a 90's model and it is quartz. Looks to be the men's model chronograph. Probably just needs a new batter.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 10, 2019, 05:54:53 PM
Thank you for that.  I took it to my jeweler and they installed a new battery and put some links in so it would fit me.

Do you know if the quartz movement is ETA or not?
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: Cobber on July 11, 2019, 10:24:27 AM
I don't know the movement but it may be of some interest to original poster; I believe this to be a re-badged Zenith El Primero Defy Chronograph from the '90s made for Zodiac.  Not conclusive but we know Zodiac under Monnier's direction had a written contract with Zenith to produce watches for Zodiac during the '90s and this is a near identical version of the model I just mentioned.

Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 11, 2019, 10:36:22 AM
Isn't the El Primero a mechanical watch?
I did a Google search but could not find a Zenith as you described that looked like the Zodiac.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: Ultra-Vintage on July 11, 2019, 11:03:34 AM
No, not a Zenith.  Yes is an ETA quartz movement, the same one that other Swiss companies used at the time (Tag is another).  You can still get replacement movements, but they are not cheap.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 11, 2019, 11:35:05 AM
Thanks to everyone for the replies.

It's a very nice watch and I had the links put in today and it fits well.
I'll have to get a wrist shot and post later.

Much appreciation.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: Cobber on July 11, 2019, 12:11:39 PM
Zenith offered both quartz and mechanical movements in their Defy series. 
I know virtually nothing about movements/calibers. 

I would have to defer to UV regarding movement but still wouldn't be surprised to find out Zenith was putting these together for Zodiac but using ETA movements.  The Marine life had chronograph and non-chronograph models and shared a close design language to Zenith's Defy line of watches as well as same water resistance.  At some point I had satisfied myself they were the same thing due to the agreement Monnier had with Zenith that seemed to carry through the Genender era up through the purchase of Zodiac by Fossil.  I remember seeing some indication in paper work from the sales agreement that the collaboration between Zenith and Zodiac in the early 2000s appeared to still exist.

Edit;
I just spent way to much time trying to find the missing link in my brain.  Closest I could come is this quartz Defy:

http://www.insa.com/images/vt/zenith/defy-chr2.jpg (http://www.insa.com/images/vt/zenith/defy-chr2.jpg)

Does appear to have some evolutionary connection to original posters watch but could easily be wishful thinking on my part.  Could have sworn I saw identical models at some point..., ah well.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 12, 2019, 10:49:34 AM
That's ok.  I have some good info on it and I appreciate your interest in providing as much information as possible.

I now have a new interest in yet another watch brand!
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 12, 2019, 11:44:37 AM
Not a great picture as it's raining outside and I took this was my phone, but at least it's on my wrist.  It only came with 1 extra link and even with that installed it's still a bit snug.  Nothing losing about 20 lbs. won't fix!
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: Butch on July 12, 2019, 01:22:35 PM
I liked those. Never cared for wearing the bands though.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 12, 2019, 04:41:25 PM
Are you referring to the steel bracelets?  I prefer those on all my watches, actually.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: Butch on July 12, 2019, 05:19:44 PM
I was referring to THAT one. The one that came with that model.

As a matter of fact, every band on every model of Marine Life was not comfortable to me.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 12, 2019, 06:32:28 PM
Oh, sorry.  Yeah, it doesn't particularly float my boat either.
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: Butch on July 13, 2019, 08:49:00 AM
But it is nice looking!
Title: Re: Information on Marine Life Professional
Post by: dz302 on July 19, 2019, 11:53:44 AM
So I've worn it all week and other than still being a bit snug it's OK.
Still not as comfy as my daily wear but I'm working on it.!!