Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Zodiac Two-Tone Aerospace GMT (Ref. 752-934), 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Zodiac (maker)
- Date
- 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- two-tone
- Stock no.
- ZAGMT752934
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (ZAGMT752934)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1970s Zodiac Two-Tone Aerospace GMT (Ref. 752-934) (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number ZAGMT752934), this is a wristwatch by Zodiac, made in Switzerland, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: two-tone. 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
When it comes to under-the-radar vintage watch companies, Zodiac should be one of the first brands to come to mind. Zodiac made several sports models in the 50s-60s and were direct competitors to Rolex, Blancpain, and Tudor but are often looked over as they don't receive the same clout as the aforementioned companies. However, this is to the advantage of the collectors that enjoy the subtle, or not-so-subtle nuances that the Zodiac timepieces carry. Zodiac timepieces often feature bright color combinations that can make any vintage watch collector swoon. After the widespread success the Sea-Wolf saw throughout the 1950s, Zodiac was ready to expand their platform. Developing on the already proven Sea-Wolf case, Zodiac dove into the realm of aviation and travel watches with the Aerospace GMT in 1962. The classic GMT design is comprised of an bi directional 24hr bezel, and additional red 24hr hand, and a date at the 3 o'clock position. SPECS Stock # ZAGMT752934 Brand Zodiac Style Aerospace GMT Model 752-934 Serial 19XXXXX Size Men's Material Stainless Steel / 10K Yellow Gold Dial Silver Millimeters 35.5 Bracelet Zodiac "JB Champion" Stailess Steel / 14k Gold Filled Bracelet CASE & BRACELET The handsome beveled lug case is in excellent original condition showing strong factory dimensions with only light signs of use. The original solid 10k yellow gold bezel is exceptionally well preserved, retaining its black and green enamel with almost no signs of use. The case retains its original Zodiac signed crown. The case back retains all of its original factory markings. The original Zodiac "JB Champion" stainless steel and 14k gold filled bracelet retains 22 links and features normal stretch for the style and age of the bracelet. DIAL & HANDS The original silver dial features gold trapezoidal markers and exhibits some light marks from age. The tritium markers on the dial have aged to a lovely golden coloration and exhibit no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. The original tritium hands match the dial perfectly with no degradation present under U.V. light inspection. ACCESSORIES
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Military, pilot and travel watches
The wristwatch owes much of its adoption by men to warfare and aviation. Wristlets — small pocket watches soldered with lugs and worn on a strap — were used in colonial campaigns and became standard equipment in the First World War, with protective grilles over the crystal ('shrapnel guards'). Louis Cartier's Santos (1904), designed for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, is often cited as an early purpose-made pilot's watch.
In the Second World War governments specified watches in detail: the German B-Uhr observation watches, the American A-11, and the British 'W.W.W.' (the 'Dirty Dozen' set of 1945). After the war, jet travel brought GMT and world-time watches, which show two or more time zones at once — Louis Cottier's world-time mechanism and the Rolex GMT-Master (1955) are examples.
What to look for
- Military markings on the case back: broad arrow, issue numbers, 'W.W.W.', 'A.T.P.'
- High-legibility black dials with luminous Arabic numerals; oversized crowns for gloved hands.
- 24-hour hands and rotating 24-hour bezels or city rings on GMT/world-time watches.
- Wire lugs on early wristlets converted from pocket watches.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug wristlets: c. 1900–1925.
- Military specifications of the Second World War: 1939–1945.
- GMT and world-time wristwatches: mainly after 1950.
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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