For sale we have a neat, well designed mid-late 1960s Zodiac Stainless Steel Automatic, sports/dress watch. It has the case reference 702-915, with a 32.5mm diameter case. It has a neat circular notched central case design, with long angular tapered lugs. To the right is the Zodiac signed crown with the logo. The silver satin dial has a light linear brushing, with applied hour markers, with Arabic 9, 12, 3 and 6. It has a sweep central second hand to the centre, with simple dash minute/seconds track around the exterior. The case back is signed, with the calibre 70 automatic movement inside. It has been recently serviced and is keeping time to within -15 seconds a day.
This seems to be the dress/sports brother of the Zodiac Sea-Wolf diver, likely offered side by side in the 1960s Zodiac catalogue. The design of the case is very similar, with the reference one digit different than some Sea-Wolf divers. The push on back is very similar and they also share the same movement calibre.
The silver satin dial is eye-catching with its light linear brushed finish. It has applied hour markers, in a silver tone. They are of a coffin design, with Arabic 12, 3, 6 and 9. The Zodiac logo is also applied below 12. It is simply signed Zodiac, with automatic in Italics. It is also signed Swiss to the base. It has the original lume plots beneath the hour markers. The handset is original and is in good condition, with the original lume. The sweep central second hand is a neat design.
The case is formed of Stainless Steel, having a neat diameter of 32.5mm x 32.5mm. It has a lug-to-lug measurement of 40mm, which adds presence on the wrist. The serial number is engraved between the lugs, serial number 1285425. The bezel is polished with a slight fall, with the centre of the case below having a notched band which feeds neatly into the tapered lugs. The lugs have cut outs to the base which follow the lines of the case. They are angular, with a sharp design that catches the eye. To the right is the well-proportioned coin edge crown, with the Zodiac logo. The rear of the case snaps on and seals tightly with the gasket set within it. It has a brushed face, with a polished outer section. It has the original engraving with the Zodiac name and the properties of the watch. Inside, it is signed with the Zodiac name, with the reference 702-915.
Inside is the calibre 70 automatic movement. It has a jewel count of 21, a power reserve of 40 hours and a frequency of 21,600 BPH. It has incabloc shock protection and a sweep central second hand. It has been serviced and is keeping accurate time.
Overall, this is a neat and universal watch, capable of wear as a dress watch, or in sportier situations. With beautiful design touches and a reliable In-house automatic movement, this is a quality vintage watch.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
Dial:
The dial is original and is in strong condition for the age. It is a silver satin tone with a light brushed linear graining. The applied hour markers are original, with polished finish. It has the original, aged tritium lume plots to the base of the hour markers. The signing is in good condition and is clear. There are some scratches to the dial.
Hands:
The hands are original, in a silver tone. They have the original luminous in-fill and are in good overall condition. They have light surface scratching associated with age.
Glass:
The acrylic crystal is a replacement which is in very good condition.
Crown:
The Zodiac signed crown is original and is in good condition.
Case:
The case is Stainless Steel and is in honest, unpolished condition. It has a polished finish with light surface scratching associated with ageing. There are some small nicks to the case.
Caseback:
The case back is formed of steel and is in average condition for the age. It is a snap on back, which seals tightly. It has light surface scratching consistent with age, and some deeper scuffs to the edges from poor opening.
Strap:
The watch comes on a new genuine leather strap.
Movement:
The movement is a Zodiac calibre 70. It has a jewel count of 21. It has a power reserve of 40 hours and a frequency of 21,600 BPH. It has incabloc shock protection.
The movement has been recently serviced. It’s keeping time to -12 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 250 degrees and a beat error of 0.0 m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 32.5mm
Case width with crown: 34.25mm
Case length: 32.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 40mm
Case Depth: 10.5mm
Lug width: 17mm