Hello everyone,

I'm new to the group! I've been lightly collecting watches since the late '90s, and more heavily collecting for the last couple years. I've been fascinated by Zodiac watches for several years, and have only had a couple pass through my hands, though I'm starting to target interesting ones that I'd like to add to my wrist! 

Anyhow, I came across this unique watch, but noticed a couple things about it that raised some questions...

The movement looks legit to me, and I've seen other Zodiacs with the same case shape and font - I'm guessing this is a mid-70s design(?)

I've only come across one other Zodiac with a similar dial texture / color, and it was an SST model with a different case / dial shape...  Also, the writing inside the case seems to be missing "Le Locle, Swiss"... 

Is this a legit Zodiac?  Any knowledge about it? 

I truly appreciate any insight!

Thanks!   

This (see the attached photo) is Creux-de-Biches.

A remote plateau deep in the horological heartland of the Swiss Jura mountains, just off the national highway nr 18 that runs more or less parallel to the border to France. We are as far from the snow-covered peaks of the Matterhorn and all the touristic Swiss hotspots as you can get.

Not without beauty though, the soft ridges and peaks of the Jura allowing for broader and "softer" views over the forests and green pastures than the high and rugged Alps with their dramatic terrain do. The peaceful plateau itself is only accessible via a narrow, winding road and after passing through gates keeping free roaming horses in. This is ordinary, rural Switzerland.

It is also a key site in the history of Zodiac.

That's why I decided to make a stop there when passing by on my summer holidays. Not a coincidence though, visiting the region was all part of the overall plan for our family holiday touring parts of Europe. The main goal was to revisit Zodiacs "birthplace", the city of Le Locle, to see if I could locate a few key Zodiac sites. I was partly succesful (more on this in other posts) and this inspired me to visit nearby (about 25 km) Creux-de-Biches on my way back North.

It's a calm and beautiful area. But there is not much to see in terms of watchmaking, just a tiny farming community. And the horses. And other free roaming livestock.

And that's sort of the point:  As opposed to the city of Geneva, where Swiss watchmaking was born, watchmaking in this part of Switzerland very much started as a secondary source of income for farmers. Often isolated by snow, they had lots of time and little to do during winter. When watchmaking was introduced as an option there was already a tradition for a different craft in the region, lace making (the once famous "Neuchatel-lace"). Inspired by a certain Daniel JeanRichard, who brought the craft to the region, watchmaking quickly caught on, a development that was accelerated by the arrival of cheap alternatives to lace when the English industrialized cloth production.

Swiss watchmaking was far from industrialized back then, in fact today we would label it a cottage-industry: Farmers would involve their entire family in the work and often specialized, one family producing dials, another hands, yet another gears. Watches were often assembled by yet another craftsman and sold on by "comptoirs", trade desks. It was this system of divided labour, called "etablissage", that Daniel JeanRichard introduced.

And it was in this system that we find the roots of the Zodiac watch brand: Founded in 1882, it was owned and run by the Calame family until 1978. But the Calames roots in the region stretch much further back (again more on this in another post) - and in 1820 we find Jacob Calame registered as a watchproducing farmer. This is the first Calame to be associated with watchmaking, as you can read elsewhere on this site.

Jacob Calames farm was located at.... Creux-de-Biches, making it as close to an origin site for the Calame family as we will probably ever find. And the starting point for their involvement in watchmaking.

Unfortunately there is no information available so far as to exactly where the farm was located. There are several buildings spread over the area - it might even have been one of those you see in the photo.

Fascinating all the same to imagine how farms like these housed the humble beginnings of the later all dominant Swiss watch industry - and how the Zodiac brand traces its roots to a humble place like this.

What exact part are you referring to? Picture or Zodiac part number?

Please contact me by reply or directly on ndpadgett@btinternet.com

Regards,

Neil.

I have an Aerospace GMT, first edition, 752-925, with a Cal 75 movement - it has the polished plated bezel which rotates in both directions, and with a green triangle at 0/24.  The 24-hour hand is an arrow with lume in the arrow head, the hour and minute hands thin baton with lume tips, and the second hand is a thin pointer.
The bezel rotates freely, due to the absence of the small round ruby jewel with a circular spring underneath of it sitting in that recess on top of the case, which corresponds with the holes on the underside of the bezel.
Would anyone have such a jewel/spring that I could purchase, or a source for one?
I was in touch with BWG (Butch's Watch Guy, whom I have used before for services etc, and am happy with), but he has none in stock right now, hence my ask to the wider community.
Here is a pic of the jewel/bearing that I need ..

Thanks.
Karl.

As I had previously mentioned, This is the one you are seeking. Since you mention an Asian address, I would have to wait till your financial instrument clears. Don't know how many days that will take. But I have sold on this site successfully. Which Asian nation would the watch be sent to ? I have to check with Butch's restorer when the re-lume will be completed on the hands. He did a 'water-proof' on it using seals from another maker that actually fits.  He is really quite a wizard. World class and reasonable.

mkgmoresense@gmail.com  Ed "L"

Quote from: 19Colt48 on September 13, 2023, 08:48:56 PMI have a Zodiac Sea Wolf white dial,  no date function, orig. correct factory band that is listed here with link bracelet. I had it totally brought "up to speed" by
B W G ( Butch's watch guy - that HE uses for his collection ). Period correct band. Let me know either way. Right now the hands are being re-lumed for better brightness.19Colt48

thanks man Colt, Yeah Butch did ask me to DM you, which i did. I'll contact you further in the DMs!

I have a Zodiac Sea Wolf white dial,  no date function, orig. correct factory band that is listed here with link bracelet. I had it totally brought "up to speed" by
B W G ( Butch's watch guy - that HE uses for his collection ). Period correct band. Let me know either way. Right now the hands are being re-lumed for better brightness.19Colt48

I have a couple of Zodiac watches that i need some external replacement parts for. The trouble is there is nothing I can find aftermarket or original that would make a suitable replacement, does anyone here know or can provide a place to look for the parts i need? the first is a white crown for ref. 506.55.47. next is ref. 113.22.06 i need a black bezel insert with gold markers. thanks.

Quote from: paullpj on September 11, 2023, 02:48:08 PM

Quote from: surchir on September 09, 2023, 04:58:57 PMI have seen them pop up, you will find one. Check out ebay # 186064458774

well I lost the bid at the last minute. Haha

That seems like it was a fair deal at $496.00, keep searching!