
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Zodiac Automatic Glorious, Datographic, circa 1960s
- Maker / attribution
- Zodiac (maker)
- Date
- c. 1960s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- vws3834cs
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws3834cs)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Zodiac Automatic Glorious - Datographic - c.1960s (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws3834cs), this is a wristwatch by Zodiac, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Very Striking and Well-Preserved Zodiac Automatic Glorious Datographic in Stainless Steel With an Attractive Sector Dial in Black and Ecru, c.1960s Zodiac Watches was founded in 1882 in Le Locle, Switzerland, by Ariste Calame. The brand gained recognition for its precision and innovation, particularly in the mid-20th century with the launch of the Sea Wolf in 1953—one of the first purpose-built dive watches. Zodiac became known for bold designs and robust tool watches, appealing to adventurers and military personnel. Today, the brand enjoys renewed interest among collectors for its vintage charm and pioneering contributions to sport watch design. What's on Offer We’re pleased to offer this beautifully preserved Zodiac Glorious Datographic—an eye-catching mid-century piece in excellent pre-owned condition. The dial is a standout, featuring a striking black and ecru two-tone design complemented by polished steel accents. Faceted applied hour markers and elegant Dauphine hands, still retaining their original lume, add depth and charm. A subtle date window at 3 o'clock is enhanced by a cyclops magnifier integrated into the crystal for improved legibility. The polished stainless steel case remains in great shape, offering strong lines and a balanced wrist presence. Measuring modestly yet wearing confidently, this watch combines vintage sophistication with everyday wearability. The caseback bears the initials “AJL,” suggesting it was once a cherished gift—now ready for its next chapter. This is a fine example of Zodiac’s creative and precise design language, ideal for collectors or enthusiasts seeking a distinctive, story-rich timepiece from a golden era of watchmaking.
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Automatic (self-winding) watches
Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.
What to look for
- A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
- 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
- A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.
Dating clues
- Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
- Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
- Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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