Moonphase Zodiac

[Ade]

Hi to all Vintage Zodiac Members,

Hope you don't mind me joining in here as I soon hope to be able to sport my late fathers old Zodiac watch. What started my journey here was my girlfriend asking me what I'd like for my birthday soon. Umm.... a watch might be nice, I thought.  After all I hadn't worn one for quite some time, instead I'd just got used to checking my phone to know the time.
Anyway I began to look around and had narrowed it down to a few choices, one of which was a Zodiac Astrograph. The smoothest sweep of a second hand was one of my desires and a certain tuning fork watch was looking likely.
However and for some reason whilst looking around I recalled my late father treating himself to a watch whilst holidaying with our family back in 1974 on the island of Jersey, one the channel islands off the UK. It got me to wondering what had happened to his watch whose maker I couldn't recall but whose look I certainly did. Rather curiously I seemed to be led to where it had long since been put away. There it was, the red box I remembered with astrological figures around its base and the name 'Zodiac' There was also the makers mark in gold on top too.
Opening it the watch was as I remembered it albeit a little smaller than my recollection, although to be fair I was only 9 when it was bought so it probably seemed bigger and of course some of todays watches are enormous in comparison. This didn't put me off though, infact it seems well proportioned. It had long stopped functioning though and of course looked its age.
So I began looking around was delighted to find this website complete with a forum for vintage Zodiac owners and at last I could get an idea of what the watch is. It seems its a moonphase model, the likes of which seem to have come about from 1950's with various variants thereon, my fathers seeming to be a stainless steel version.
I'd love to have this watch bought back to as new condition and have marvelled at the restoration work across the pages here. It's my hope to find someone in the UK to carry out such a thing.
Here's some images of the watch in question with the strap that came with the watch, though I don't think that this strap is anything to do with Zodiac. I think a good quality black leather strap would nicely compliment the restored version. If anyone can add to what I know of this watch I'd be very grateful or indeed recommend a restorer this side of the pond that would be fantastic!
Cheers.

Ade

[jon p]

  welcome to the forum! you have a very desirable and beautiful watch. the all stainless case and  being an automatic make it even more desirable. yours is the only one i have seen with the RED background color on the moonphase display!!! we have a zodiac expert we use but he is in california, he does outstanding work on ALL brands and knows the old zodiacs in and out. he has just restored 3 for me, a GMT and 2 sea wolfs with fantastic results. does your moonphase run good and all functions work properly? thanks for sharing your prized zodiac, you are among  zodiac fans here.  JON P

[reversesnobbery]

  Pretty darn cool and well worth restoring! Good luck and keep us posted.

[Ade]

Hi All

Thanks for the replies!
The red moonphase dial is something thats intriguing me too and I did wonder whether this could be down to a fading of the original colour? But I cannot recall whether the watch had the usual dark blue night sky moonphase dial originally or whether this really is a variant with a red night sky?
I'm going to keep looking for a restorer and at least 2 specialists here in the UK list Zodiac as watches they are able to restore and I assume that original replacement parts would be something they can acquire by this, if needed.
Unfortunately the watch isn't working at the moment and its probably been a long time indeed since it was last serviced. 
I'll definitely be sure to come back with the before and after pics when the works complete.
Cheers guys.

Ade

[zaniac]

Welcome and that is a very nice watch! I've seen that model frequently, but it always has the gold plating, not the stainless.
The original box and paperwork add much to the value so be sure to keep those in a nice, dry place.
There seems to be plenty of watchmakers, but only a few who really know and care about their work. I would contact this site owner(Butch) about the watchmaker he uses. It wouldn't be much money to ship it from the UK to California and seeing his work first hand along with his more than reasonable prices, I think you would be very pleased.
Again, welcome!

[Ade]

Hi All

Thought I'd post an update on the refurbishment/restoration of my watch, or rather lack of it!
After much deliberation I'd decided to have the work on the watch take place on this side of the pond if only so that if I spotted a poster who wanted something similar to take place I might be able to recommend a UK watchmaker/restorer.
I won't mention any names suffice to say off the watch went with a proviso to address the movement, fit a new glass and clean the watch. When the watch was back in my possession I was pleased that it now kept time, well sort of. However without a lengthy wearing I couldn't tell if this was simply because it would occasionally stop, if not being worn, because it's an automatic. However what dissapointed me more was that the new glass wasn't fitted properly and exhibited some scratches, the cleaning didn't seem any better, indeed if it had occured at all, compared to my own efforts that I'd carried out on the watch before its dispatch.
Anyway I decided to try another much more local watch repair service and I asked them to refurbish the case, fit another new glass and carry out a dial restoration. After they'd had chance to look over the watch to was decided that the dial restoration would not result in adding to the watch, so only the other two requirements would be carried out.
That was back at the beginning of October and I'm still waiting for the watch to have the work carried out, which in the case of the new glass fitting has been sent to a third party.
I have visited the shop involved several times and on the last visit the man who's handling this got quite miffed that I was getting concerned. Am I wrong to be concerned? I don't believe I am and quite frankly I'm wondering if there is anyone in the UK who can competently and efficiently handle restorations/refurbishments that are worthy to be recommended.
I wish now I'd have gone for the recommendation of contacting Butch and forgot trying to find someone I could recommend for an UK'ers.
If by some miracle I get the watch back soon and the results were worth the wait I'll be back to show off the long awaited outcome!

Ade

[jon p]

THAT IS SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!! i would NOT have anything done to that dial, it is PRISTINE and redials rarely turn out well and are expensive, they can be a true disaster and then there is no going back!! i hope you get your watch back soon, i dont understand why it would have " to be sent out" to another person for work. our watchmaker does it all in house and has the parts needed. putting the wrong crystal on is a red flag if they cant get something that basic correct!!!!  good luck and keep us posted on your progress. that is one FINE watch. i dont recognize the logo on the band but it is NOT zodiac. looks like a quality band though.  JON P

[goodtimes688]

That's a find triple calendar you got there Ade!