Blue El Primero beauty - opinions please...

Jarama · Dec 31, 2014

Last thing for this year...

What do you think about this 3818? Dial is not NOS but has a good patina. Hands are ok from what I see.

The case has been redone/refurbished?

What do you think about the pushers, looking a bit too large...?

Serial is a 707xxxx!

Anything else? How to value this one including the genuine GF bracelet?

Thanks and a happy new year for everyone.

m neuman · Dec 31, 2014

relumed, looks like.

MMMD · Dec 31, 2014

I agree with your assessment, Jarama. I've looked at the listing. I think the case has been refurbished, but it's a decent job. The back has been polished or heavily worn, but the case number remains legible. The hands might have been relumed, but again, good job. I think the dial is untouched. There is a little dial damage - some flaking around the star and some of the hour markers. The pushers look a little big and are probably replacements. I think this would probably go in the $6-7k range at auction.

Adri · Jan 2, 2015

It looks like condensed water was in this A3818 .

The lume was wet ,lapsed and is dried.

Nobel Prize · Jan 2, 2015

And, on the non technical side, it's a beautiful watch.

LouS · Jan 2, 2015

Blue dials flake. Sad fact that affects a lot of Zenith of the era. The case has been very competently refinished.

MMMD · Jan 2, 2015

LouS
...The case has been very competently refinished.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a Belgian stamp in its passport.

LouS · Jan 2, 2015

MMMD
Wouldn't be surprised to see a Belgian stamp in its passport.

My thought as well.

Rafal Kulesza · Jan 2, 2015

Beautiful watch. Chrono pushers are too long. This model was produced in 1971 and produced only 1,000.

m neuman · Jan 2, 2015

Interesting other models that there were less or the same amount produced are much more common than this model. Very very few of this one comes up for sale almost as if there were only 4-500 produced! This is on everyone's bucket list, rightfully so. I like the theory that moisture got into the dial area, perhaps this is why the lume looks sort of crystalized. As for the case refinishing it does have the mark of the Belgian Master, but doubt very much if he did it as I know the seller. Good luck if you buy it. I think a pair of pushers will not be the most difficult thing to find.