El Primero Ref. 20.0020.202 circa 1995. Return of the too gaudy Tri-Compax?

[woodwkr2]

Evidence now, in the metal, that this thing existed.

Typical Tri-Compax layout and a manual winding piece. Wager there's a UG/Martel 281 in there?

This was discussed previously. The search bar is not cooperating.

 

[woodwkr2]

And this from the Bay, which stupendously, turns out to be correct:




Kinda looks like a 1990s creation, doesn't it?

Now, my question for the real Zenophiles is: What was going on in Le Locle in the mid 1990s? Everyone else had outsourced their chronos to Valjoux and their ubiquitous 7750. Was Zenith looting the (newly rediscovered) warehouse for 281 movements and putting a gaudy case and dial around them?

Cases and dials are usually outsourced to specialist maisons, so Zenith likely wasn't making those under the old roof. And if the movement was essentially their own stale production ebauche, they were doing what everyone else in the industry was doing (ie, becoming a "Branding" company rather than a watchmaking company) while constructing the illusion of a rehabilitated atelier.

How far off base am I?

 

[LouS]

woodwkr2

Was Zenith looting the (newly rediscovered) warehouse for 281 movements and putting a gaudy case and dial around them?

That's how I always figured it.

woodwkr2

Cases and dials are usually outsourced to specialist maisons, so Zenith likely wasn't making those under the old roof. And if the movement was essentially their own stale production ebauche, they were doing what everyone else in the industry was doing (ie, becoming a "Branding" company rather than a watchmaking company) while constructing the illusion of a rehabilitated atelier.

How far off base am I?

I don't think they were necessarily constructing anything much with this model - just trying to turn some leftover movements into cash. Other companies have done it from time to time.

 

[ulackfocus]

I've seen MUCH worse come with the Zenith name on it......

 

[LouS]

U ulackfocus

I've seen MUCH worse come with the Zenith name on it......

You rang?

 

[Hijak]

 

[Stewart H]

I can picture the phone call.

Nataf: "We've got a great new range of dials we'd like you to make"
MD of Singer: "F@*k off."
Nataf: "No, seriously, they are the future."
MD of Singer: "F@*k off."
Nataf: " We'll pay you double."
MD of Singer: "F@*k off."
Nataf: "OK then, triple."
MD of Singer: "It's a deal."

 

[cicindela]

Hey, that was one of my favourites.

 

[ulackfocus]

 

[Hijak]

cicindela

Hey, that was one of my favourites.

Its the silliest looking piece of I've ever seen! But it looks good on you.