Zenith Diver - In Time For Spring!

John Chris
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A recent acquisition, appropriate to the season. No doubt Mike (Veritas) will help educate me about the reference number, etc. The case number is 196 D 227, and the bracelet is stamped 2/68. Regrettably the original lume could not be preserved as it had got wet and crumbled; it has therefore been replaced. The watch has also been restored to its proper level of water-resistance, but it won't go near the nasty wet stuff. It is REALLY FUN to wear!

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LouS
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Beauty! What you got here is yer Big Lemon, ref A 3637, another of the Deep Divers in the Barracuda case, which I note in passing I still do not have an example of :mad:. I seethe with envy. Great pickup, Chris. Clearly your cal 135 box must be full.

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John Chris
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Rossler has almost nothing to say about these watches and off-handedly dates the one he deigns to discuss to c. 1975. This one would appear to be 1968ish. Can anyone fill me in on the dates of production?
 
U
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MMMD MMMD
Sweet lemon!

I was going to say "When life hands you lemons, grab a bottle of vodka, some sugar, and buy a watch like this." but you beat me to it with the simplified version.
 
LouS
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John Chris John Chris
Rossler has almost nothing to say about these watches and off-handedly dates the one he deigns to discuss to c. 1975. This one would appear to be 1968ish. Can anyone fill me in on the dates of production?

You are closer to the mark than poor Roessler, I think. I say 1966ish to 1972ish. Based on nothing of substance but a general impression.
 
MMMD
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LouS LouS
You are closer to the mark than poor Roessler, I think. I say 1966ish to 1972ish. Based on nothing of substance but a general impression.

Agree. Is there a 2552PC in there, or a 2542PC? Either way, you're talking mid-late 60's, not mid 70's.
 
Veritas99
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What a great pick up...the Big Lemon is certainly an attention grabber. Based on your case number, I think you're looking at something with a 2542pc in the 1966-68 time frame. My case number is 415 D 432, which Zenith dated to October 1968, so you should be well before that. The only thing suggesting that you might also be in 1968 is the GF date of 2/68 (compared to my 3/68).
 
John Chris
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Veritas99 Veritas99
What a great pick up...the Big Lemon is certainly an attention grabber. Based on your case number, I think you're looking at something with a 2542pc in the 1966-68 time frame. My case number is 415 D 432, which Zenith dated to October 1968, so you should be well before that. The only thing suggesting that you might also be in 1968 is the GF date of 2/68 (compared to my 3/68).

Thanks Mike, Marc and Lou. I'm embarrassed to say that I have yet to ascertain whether the movement is 2542 or 2552 pc - photo isn't with me here. Bracelet could well have been paired with an earlier-produced case. Lou, any further intel that would help date the case number? Should I change my moniker from Il Duca de Luca to Lou-Seether?::bleh:: :p
 
U
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John Chris John Chris
Should I change my moniker from Il Duca de Luca to Lou-Seether?::bleh:: :p

Not catchy enough. Lou-Seether just isn't in the same league as "curmudgeonly absurdist", "nude watch photographer", "posh nouveau Yank", and the other distinguished avatar messages. :p

Speaking of which, I miss my "Mystic High Ruler". :(
 
MMMD
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If it were mine I would refer to it as the Lemon Shark.
 
John Chris
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A movement shot shows a cal. 2552PC (1969-72), which suggests that the case and movement weren't united till 1969

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K
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This is another great Zenith in Black

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