Zodiac Chronograph (Ref. 73321) "Made By Heuer", 1960s — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Craft & Tailored · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Zodiac Chronograph (Ref. 73321) "Made By Heuer", 1960s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Zodiac (maker)
Date: 1960s
Historical period: Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dealer: Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Stock no.: ZSCH73321
Credit line: Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (ZSCH73321)
Catalogue title (original): 1960s Zodiac Chronograph (Ref. 73321) "Made By Heuer" (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number ZSCH73321), this is a wristwatch by Zodiac, made in Switzerland, dated 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 — Craft & Tailored

Nicknamed the "poor man's Heuer Carrera" The Zodiac 73321 or 591 833 is actually a rebranded Heuer model of the same reference, and bears a close resemblance to the Carrera of the late 1960s. Heuer actually produced a number of chronographs for different brands, including Zodiac, and although the ref. 73321 was a more economical offering it uses the workhorse Valjoux cal. 7733 movement and excells at providing a stylish mid-century chronograph aesthetic. SPECS Stock # ZSCH73321 Brand Zodiac Style Chronograph Model 73321 / 591 833 Serial 23XXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial White Millimeters 36 Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The classic chronograph design remains fully intact with and unpolished case, showing honest signs of use. The case retains its original unsigned crown and pump pushers. The case back features light buffing from the watch being worn on a NATO strap. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The matte silver dial is in wonderful vintage condition, displaying some light spots from age. The matte black sub-dials are very clean, showing no age or imperfections. The tritium lume topped markers have aged to a dark patina, and lume plots at 3 and 9 o'clock remain fully intact and exhibit a charming creamy patina. The original tritium hands have aged to match the 3 and 9 o'clock lume plots perfectly and display no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. ACCESSORIES

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 timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Craft & Tailored — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Zodiac Chronograph (Ref. 73321) "Made By Heuer", 1960s." Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles, ZSCH73321. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/zodiac-chronograph-ref-73321-made-by-heuer-1960s-e898a7.