A lovely and rather unusual late 1940s Zodiac wristwatch, reference 830, featuring a beautifully styled case, attractive original-looking Arabic numeral dial and, perhaps most interestingly, a hacking seconds movement, something seldom encountered on an ordinary civilian wristwatch of this period.
Dating to around the late 1940s, this Zodiac has all the charm of a classic post-war Swiss wristwatch. The 33mm round case features a chromium-plated front with stainless steel back, but what really catches the eye are those wonderful, elongated crab or claw-shaped lugs. They sweep outwards from the case with an almost sculptural appearance, giving the watch considerably more character than a conventional round-cased design. At 41mm lug to lug, it also has a surprisingly good presence on the wrist.
The lovely silver/cream dial has a clean, uncomplicated appearance, with bold, dark Arabic numerals, a fine outer minute track and the simple Zodiac signature beneath 12 o'clock. The slender blued/blackened hands feature contrasting luminous inserts, now showing attractive age-related discolouration, particularly to the hour hand. The dial itself has developed a gentle patina, with some very minor age-related marks, but remains beautifully legible and retains much of its original period charm.
Inside is the manually wound Zodiac calibre 10-S, based on the ETA 1080, featuring the rather unusual stop-seconds or hacking function. When the winding crown is pulled out into the hand-setting position, the seconds hand stops, allowing the watch to be synchronised accurately with another timepiece.
The watch is fitted with a smart black textured leather strap and, rather pleasingly, comes with a Zodiac-branded buckle, a lovely additional detail that completes the overall appearance.
Extra Points
Zodiac was founded in 1882 by Ariste Calame in Locle, Switzerland. The brand name 'Zodiac' was first patented in 1908 when Calame started to manufacture wristwatches. Masters of innovation, Zodiac released the 'flat pocket watch' in the 1920s and automatic 'sports watches' in the 1930s. In 1953, Zodiac introduced the Sea Wolf, one of the first, commercial, purpose-built dive watches that became the watch of choice for those serving in the Vietnam War and later by the U.S. Navy Seals. Having just about survived the quartz crisis of the 1970s, in 2001, Fossil Inc. purchased the rights to the Zodiac brand name for approximately $4.7 million.
This watch comes fully serviced by our on-site workshop and with a 12 month, non-waterproof service cover.
What we think
We really like this one! There is something wonderfully honest about these early Zodiac watches, and this particular example has several features that make it stand out from the crowd.
Firstly, those superb crab-claw lugs. They are undoubtedly the visual highlight of the watch and give it a distinctive late 1940s appearance. Secondly, the lovely understated Arabic dial, with its attractive ageing and original-looking hands, has just the right amount of vintage character.
But perhaps our favourite detail is that unusual hacking seconds function. It's a genuinely interesting mechanical feature, particularly on a watch that looks more like an elegant civilian dress piece than a military instrument.
The combination raises some intriguing questions about its original intended market, and that's often part of the enjoyment of collecting vintage watches. Not every watch comes with a completely documented history!
Condition-wise, the case displays the expected age-related wear to its chromium plating, particularly around the lugs, all consistent with a watch approaching 80 years old. We rather like this honest appearance, and the photographs show the condition clearly.
The black textured strap and Zodiac buckle finish things off beautifully, giving it a smart, period-appropriate appearance.
A charming and slightly quirky vintage Swiss watch from a respected manufacturer, with an interesting movement, wonderful case design and plenty of character. Certainly not something you come across every day!
Spec Stuff
Reference : 830
Movement : ManualZodiac Cal 10 - S (Eta 1080 with hacking seconds) Age : 1941/1950 Specific Age : Circa1940s Case Size : 33mm Case Thickness : 11mm Lug to Lug : 41mm Lugs :17mm Condition : Pre-Owned Box & Papers : No Case Material : Stainless Steel Back Chromium front Service History : Our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
