Hi, my name is Martijn, I've been collecting for a while now, mostly Seiko watches, but at some time I really wanted a Zodiac.
Being Dutch, the watches on Ebay were to expensive for me, until I found this one, listed as "broken and for parts"
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi50.tinypic.com%2Fdr8a3a.jpg&hash=1bb1080246a106d6788a552de295e089a1fc89e6)
After receiving the watch it was almost impossible to remove the snap on back, a lot of scratches already showing the former owner's futile attempts to open the watch. I finally was able to remove the back, clamping the watch in a vice with rubber padded claws, a case opening tool an a careful tap with a jeweler's hammer.
Messy desk, sorry...
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F3xvzl.jpg&hash=ae49868dd75376bce368d7fcc48f95c818d21ac3)
I found this :)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2Fogvs5c.jpg&hash=72b7ed557a3d64f187f5f7fdbfcb45e046a92846)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2Fojlf9v.jpg&hash=930f1b035212b1048a60e82c29be98a4e3d23a4e)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.tinypic.com%2F35cr7ys.jpg&hash=17a2ec037c5caa6816030ec0d14e07df74815910)
It had a very heavy shock in it's life, misaligning the balance, jamming the pallet fork. After a quick dis and assembly of the balance the watch started to run again :)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2Fw1ph03.jpg&hash=b50f288e0ba08f4e93065b3d7436c0f2bc63bdf0)
The watch needed "some cleaning" and the movement was disassembled, cleaned and lubed.
(i used the watch as a movement holder)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F11llq8o.jpg&hash=07b5a7158c345778288d7354920e34b3ac33ad9a)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F1rw9c2.jpg&hash=c0f763d54088b3a61fcaf653fc0dfdd0335607cb)
This clutch is often slipping too much on the date models
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2F9qv0h1.jpg&hash=15a37f7aa48616fcb84697ffa738f3f43f5ce26e)
Nice early Radium dial!
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2Fdy1t6w.jpg&hash=1e844137c9bd0d897e3bdd8aa1694813afb53c10)
nice isn't it :)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.tinypic.com%2F2eg88pl.jpg&hash=5f1fa7020924c8c8eedc1bbe49955dbcc58e1854)
I found an old bracelet
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.tinypic.com%2F2z9fned.jpg&hash=579c77612ba4d58622f506958a8e1a4bc8b2ae7a)
Radiation damage in the plexi glass? (the little cracks in the plexi glass in the shape of the triangular indices)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi44.tinypic.com%2Fazjafm.jpg&hash=aec631897835e7a12a948629485c169a9f0388ef)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi42.tinypic.com%2F2mxh9va.jpg&hash=5673d83801e9e315ba74b5dc86f15cfdf0b108d6)
The watch is running great, and maybe not very clear on the photo's, the crown is the original signed crown :)
Another Zodiac, just "won" from Germany, on it's way :)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi45.tinypic.com%2F2natnkj.jpg&hash=5ec843837900f82ff4c5495327b9a4feb10bf26f)
(https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.tinypic.com%2F14tvxpz.jpg&hash=28e904ecf4c343f45590737374d1d491e9b4a99a)
I'm hoping more Zodiacs will follow :)
Nice job! Thanks for sharing with us!
Thanks :D
I'll post pics of the glorious too, but that will be after my holiday in France :-)
I suspect it'll arrive during my holiday and wait for me in the post office.
Great thing being skillful enough to do this, it allows you to go on more Zodiacs.... :)
Nice job!
Nice job. I am jealous you have the equipment and skills to do that yourself. Enjoy!
Thanks all :)
It's the only way for me to get some cool watches, buying non working wreckage and try to fix them :)