From 70s this vintage Zenith captain ZL aka "turtle", This watch is very unique and rare! why? It was manufactured by Zenith’s subsidiary in Besançon, and it is one of the last watches to have been made there.
The explanation lies in a specific chapter of Zenith’s commercial history. During this era, to navigate high import tariffs, Zenith established a subsidiary in Besançon, France. These watches were assembled in France using Swiss-made components and movements, but due to legal regulations of the time, they could not bear the "Swiss Made" mark. Instead, they featured "clean" dials, making this a rare and highly collectible regional variant that represents the brand's strategic European expansion.
At the heart of this Captain beats the prestigious Zenith Caliber 2552C, it correctly bears the "Zenith" engraving while omitting the Swiss origin on the bridges, confirming its authentic Besançon lineage as well the dial dont have swiss made at 6 o’clock.
Case:
o All in stainless steel serial 1175072 , scratches all over
o 37mm without crown / 39mm lug to lug / 8.7mm thickness / 19mm lug width
o Original nato star crown
Movement:
o Mechanical manual wind Zenith cal 2552C - working well - photo of timegrapher
Dial:
o Untouched in good condition
Bracelet Material:
o New 19mm black leather with generic buckle
Condition / conclusion :
Opportunity to acquire a rarity, this timepiece remains in untouched, original condition. It is a solid investment for any collector seeking a rare, historically significant variant of a vintage Zenith icon."
please see photos as they are part of the description.
No box or papers, no water proof test, sold as is, any question feel free to ask…
Keep in mind that it is a vintage watch
Wrist-Treasure
