1954 Zodiac Moonphase

I wanted a moonphase watch for awhile. They generally go for pretty good money with an Omega out of my price range. I was on non ebay auction site when I saw this.



Looked a little rough and I had no idea what the condition was but I bid and won. Now, I do not have the patience to service a watch so I sent it off to one of the few Zodiac spe******ts around. I do not know how the crystal got that bad but the watch actually was little used.



With something like a Rolex you can get the date it was made down to the year, but not so with a Zodiac but I lucked out. This is a very early automatic. Estimated to be 1953-54. It has a manual movement that was converted (From Zodiac) to automatic. Later watches had an automatic specific movement.

Most watches have the moonphase part fade out from sun exposure. This one is very dark background all the way around.

Only problem is, I hate to wear it outside. LOL

 

Yeah, I have a few, this is simply my favorite.

 

Mid 70's Bulova Drivers Watch. Early digital only made a couple years. I've had a couple.

Made so you could glance at your wrist while leaving you hand on the wheel.

 

Very cool! My paternal grandfather and one of my uncles were heavily involved in clock repair and restoration so I have an affinity for old watches and clocks. Unfortunately they've both p***ed so Im trying to figure out what I can on my own.

 

You just HAD to have a thread on watches! One of my many vices that shows no sign of abating. Here are a few. Believe it or not the Breitling Navitimer 806 was purchased at a yard sale for $5! Not with the bracelet that is on it now;it had an old biker style leather band and was sitting in a Timex box! I don't know how many automatics I've purchased for a couple dollars because people thought they needed new batteries.
The Breitling Chrono-Matic I swapped a 1966 Chevy for about 30 years ago. It's been rebuilt a couple times and still runs well.

 

I always liked watches, especially the pocket variety. This a favorite wrist watch. This Rolex belonged to an uncle who brought it back from Europe at the end of WW2. Still runs but needs a good tune-up.

 

People are under some mistaken ideas on what an automatic is and how it works. (But I still have to wind it?) I see you also have a Zodiac. I've mostly concentrated on Omega's, Zodiac's and Hamilton's.

Of course if I see a Breitling at a yard sale for $5 I'll jump on it.

Hamilton K-454 "Sputnik. Sort of became pretty popular for awhile when featured on Mad Men.



Omega SeaMaster. Probably the best watch I currently own.

 

Nice stuff! My first automatic watch was an Omega Seamaster that had a built-in alarm that vibrated on your wrist to let you know your dive time was nearly up. Unfortunately I didn't check it's watertight integrity and the first time I went in the water it filled up the watch! Needless to say that was the end of that one!
My Zodiac I bought in an antique shop minus bracelet and 24 hour hand for $2. My watch man fitted a new hand and cleaned it up for me for $20. That one doesn't always wind automatically .
I've had a couple of watches that I kicked myself for getting rid of: A Bulova Accutron Astronaut in gold that used to eat batteries like they were going out of style. An Omega Speedmaster Moon Watch that I paid $50 for and another $50 to get the original bracelet. Sold it to a friend of mine.Several Zodiac disc watches that I bought new from a guy who was going out of business. Sold them off too.

 

OK, Lets cut to the chase what's the Holy Grail of Wrist Watch watchers?

 

A Patek Phillipe Moon Phase Tourbillion. I think they make two or three a year and run into seven figures.

 

Different things for different people. I'd love to have either Elvis's or Rod Serlings Hamilton Ventura or Buddy Holly's Omega. (they found the watch but not the band)

 

Pocket watches are cool,Safety Dept at work didn't like wrist watches