Help to Vintage Zodiac Chronograph

tdn.dk · January 10, 2011, 02:10:32 PM

Hi!

This is my first Zodiac.

I dont know much about it. Maybee some give some informations about age and so on.

It is a venus 178 movement, thats all i know.

Best

Butch · January 10, 2011, 02:14:48 PM

It is from the mid to late 1960's.

tdn.dk · January 10, 2011, 02:19:52 PM

Quote from: Butch on January 10, 2011, 02:14:48 PM
It is from the mid to late 1960's.

Thanks. I know Breitling used the movement from 1955 to the late 60's.

Best
Thomas

Butch · January 10, 2011, 05:22:16 PM

I have the 2 register version of that watch. Funny thing is that they sold it under the Clebar name prior to the mid 60's when they released it as a Zodiac branded watch. My guess is that this was the last version they offered in the 3 register prior to moving to the automatics. Just a guess though.

In case I forgot, nice watch.

jon p · January 11, 2011, 04:58:56 PM

welcome to the forum,always nice to add another zodiac fan. your watch is really in beautiful condition! that is a fantastic movement, does it keep good time ? JON P

tdn.dk · January 12, 2011, 01:16:27 PM

Quote from: jon p on January 11, 2011, 04:58:56 PM
welcome to the forum,always nice to add another zodiac fan. your watch is really in beautiful condition! that is a fantastic movement, does it keep good time ? JON P

Don't know yet, i receive it tomorrow. I have purchased it from a retired watchmaker whom i have purchased other watches from earlier. It it's a watch from his own collection he got it in an exchange deal and it got a full service when he got it and he has'nt used it since. I gave 120€ for it, but i have no clue of the value.
Best
Thomas

jon p · January 12, 2011, 02:00:06 PM

what does what you paid convert to in US$?? nice watch hope it has been serviced already.

tdn.dk · January 12, 2011, 02:07:45 PM

Quote from: jon p on January 12, 2011, 02:00:06 PM
what does what you paid convert to in US$?? nice watch hope it has been serviced already.

155$ and it serviced by the retired watchmaker. I have not seen any alike for sale with this movement.

Best
Thomas

TJW · January 12, 2011, 05:30:20 PM

Hi Denmark. I think you got a tremendous deal on that watch! I think you'd get 500-800US on the 'bay. Enjoy. TJW

Butch · January 12, 2011, 05:56:26 PM

Revised:
That retail value of that watch is over $500.00 and a service could have run as much as $300.00 w/o parts. As we say on this side, "You did good kid."

Of Note:
This watch is an example of how Zodiac runs out of parts during a production run and uses parts from their other line. While this is mostly show in the Chronographs and Triple Date Moon Phase models, it can be seen in some of their dress watches as well. If this watch has a Zodiac movement in it it would be worth approximately double. Just my opinion of course.

tdn.dk · January 13, 2011, 01:04:56 AM

Quote from: Butch on January 12, 2011, 05:56:26 PM
That retail value of that watch is over $1,000.00 and a service could have run as much as $300.00 w/o parts. As we say on this side, "You did good kid."

Oh thats sounds nice, it is a keeper, but it is always nice to make a great deal. Some weeks ago i purchased a Angelus cal. 250 chronograph of him for 120$, it was a watch a customer hadn't picked up in 1980 and now he sold it for the price the service costed in 1980.

Best
Thomas

jon p · January 13, 2011, 11:37:00 AM

wow--you got a once in a lifetime deal on this one!beautiful ! already serviced--what a bonus. be proud of it and welcome to the fantastic world of zodiac collecting--you have been bitten by the zodiac bug.

tdn.dk · January 13, 2011, 11:45:45 AM

Quote from: jon p on January 13, 2011, 11:37:00 AM
wow--you got a once in a lifetime deal on this one!beautiful ! already serviced--what a bonus. be proud of it and welcome to the fantastic world of zodiac collecting--you have been bitten by the zodiac bug.

Thanks, here are som pictures

Best
Thomas

Sea Wolf · January 13, 2011, 04:09:18 PM

That is a nice one for sure. The band, is that original to the watch? Looks just like the band used on SW and some SSW.

Great find!

tdn.dk · January 13, 2011, 04:26:17 PM

Quote from: Sea Wolf on January 13, 2011, 04:09:18 PM
That is a nice one for sure. The band, is that original to the watch? Looks just like the band used on SW and some SSW.

Great find!

Thanks, the band is the original, but i consider to change it with a black leather band instead.

Best Thomas

tdn.dk · January 14, 2011, 12:57:27 AM

I was wondering about the age. Some Chronograph collectores and my own watchmaker think it is from the fifties, because of the square buttoms (later round buttoms) and the lugs. The Movement goes back to the fifties.

Where can i find that information?

I have seen this sales add, but they must bee wrong about the age: http://www.farfo.com/menswatches/Page2/zodiac_steel_vintage_chronograph_watch.html

Best Thomas

tdn.dk · January 15, 2011, 11:35:17 AM

Thanks to all of you.

I have got the late sixties confirmed in a Breitling forum where there were some Venus 178 eksperts who dated it to 1967.

Now with leatherband (keeps the original band of course)

Best
Thomas

Butch · January 15, 2011, 04:54:23 PM

No offense but... I said that. And trust me, no one can pin a Zodiac down to the exact year it was made, not even me.

tdn.dk · January 16, 2011, 04:19:50 AM

Quote from: Butch on January 15, 2011, 04:54:23 PM
No offense but... I said that. And trust me, no one can pin a Zodiac down to the exact year it was made, not even me.

I have given up on determine the age after i wrote 1967, because several Chronograph "specialists" in other forums reject it can be from the late sixties. They say that these square buttoms must later and Zodiac used round buttom in the sixties. I asume there is no old adds from the time it was sold or a watch with a known history for purchasing. So i have a gap on 15 years acording to what people tell and not 1-2 year.

Im a Vintage Omega collecter also and it is much easier, just find the serialnumber, the case ref. and go to the Omega Vintage sites and look it up...

So i give up on Zodiac history, and will enjoy and wear the watch instead.

Best.
Thomas

Butch · January 16, 2011, 09:22:51 AM

Your three register and my 2 register (from a previous post) are in the 1971 Zodiac and Clebar catalogs. The 1975 Zodiac catalog is the first to show only round pushers.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Zodiacs!

tdn.dk · January 16, 2011, 10:10:33 AM

Quote from: Butch on January 16, 2011, 09:22:51 AM
Your three register and my 2 register (from a previous post) are in the 1971 Zodiac and Clebar catalogs. The 1975 Zodiac catalog is the first to show only round pushers.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Zodiacs!

:) Okay, is there somewhere i can se the 1971 catalog online so i can convince, the "Experts in other forums" ?

Best Thomas

Butch · January 16, 2011, 12:22:40 PM

Not at this time, but you can use this if you'd like. Enjoy the watch.

P.S.
I have revised an earlier valuation as I just noticed the movement. My apologies.

tdn.dk · February 06, 2011, 11:16:55 AM

Hello!

Now there is one for sale like mine:
Auction: 320651863452

Best
Thomas

Oliver · February 06, 2011, 09:56:31 PM

Hi Thomas!

You've found a nice one!
I have just bought the 2 register version made by Clebar a few days ago, it will take a few days until it's shipped from the States to Germany. It's on ebay ID 160538001366

Greetings,
oliver

leonlecoultre · September 29, 2011, 10:18:40 PM

There is a nice example of a three register deep blue with white subregisters that just ended on ebay (25089735839) for $1,999.00. It's a lovely watch but the price, while not Carrera like is IMHO a little ambitious. I think a nice example like this is worth at least $1,500.00. Bottom line worth way more than twice the two register version.

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Help to Vintage Zodiac Chronograph