139.THE TOUCH OF ADORABLE WATCHES, THE ABC - Z TO ZENO BASEL

I have been wanting to complete my collections of watches from ABC to Z. It is a daunting and costly task but with the support received from friends all over the world, I've managed to lay my hands on almost every alphabet of models, be it vintage, pre-owned or new.

There is however SIX more alphabets viz. Q, N, U, X, Y and Z still remained elusive. So, the hunting journey continues. I really cannot figure out the models for Q, N and X though a U-Boat and Yeslam could fit in for U and Y. Any suggestions please?

To address the predicament, I enlisted the assistance of the ever reliable blogger and mentor, Syed Mohri of Irhomdeys Vintage Watch Collections.

Working backward, I zeroed in on the alphabet, Z. It was a simple task as he had ready stock of two units of Zeno Divers for sale. I booked one unit and last Friday accompanied by Limau Tambun, we met him at the Amcorp Mall to collect the watch.

This was the first meeting between Irhomdeys and Limau Tambun. Their conversation covering many subjects sounded very interesting especially on the proposal to form an association, MAWCC* but to me the ZENO diver inside the box was more exciting and thrilling.

Had a good peep. My oh my, what a mesmerising sight, a real beauty this black, silver and orange bezel beast turned out to be... It was an OVERSIZE beauty and the beast! Bold, solid and rugged, it was a pure gem indeed.

This Swiss watch sourced from Hamburg, Germany, February this year comes complete with original hard box and certificate. I always fancy original watches that comes in a complete package. 

Feast your eyes as much as I have feasted mine. This timepiece is just so cool and solid.

I think it deserved to don the watch cabinet for a little while for daily look... Just too adorable to rough it out yet. 

Oh yes, it is definitely NOT FOR SALE.

SENTUHAN JAM TANGAN dari ABC hingga Z lantas ke ZENO

Memang sudah lama hasrat membara untuk mendakap jam-jam tangan dari ABC hingga Z.

Satu cita-cita yang amat berat dan mahal jika mahu disempurnakan. Tapi saya tetap teguh dengan hasrat yang saya ingin sempurnakan. Jika tidak memiliki pun, sekadar menjamah dan mengabadikan secara foto di laman blog, kira hasrat sudah tercapai.

Ternyata rangkaian rakan-rakan di pelbagai pelusuk dunia memudahkan pencarian. Cuma tinggal kurang lebih enam abjad N, Q, X, U, Y dan Z masih kosong. kalau dapat U-Boat dan Yeslam , kira dah ok untuk abjad U dan Y.

Untuk abjad Z, blogger jam terhebat di Malaysia dan mentor saya, Uncle Syed Mohri daripada blog Irhomdeys Vintage Watch Collections menjadi tempat mengadu hal. Bertuah sungguh kerana beliau memiliki dua buah jam Zeno diver Oversize untuk dijual.

Bertemankan Limau Tambun, Jumaat petang lalu, kami bertemu di Amcop Mall.

Walau pun ini pertemuan pertama antara Limau Tambun dan Irhomdeys, panjang pulak sembang deme  termasuklah usul Irhomdeys untuk menubuhkan sebuah persatuan khusus untuk para pengumpul jam tangan dan jam dinding di Malaysia (MAWCC *).

Saya lebih berminat melihat isi kotak hitam Zeno Basel yang diunjukkan oleh Irhomdeys kepada saya.

Intai sikit...sikit lagi...wow! memang solid, anggun dan sasa. Bezelnya yang besar, hitam, oren dan perak terserlah memukau. Apatah lagi harga 'adik beradik' yang ditawarkan Irhomdeys. Bayar saja masuk beg terus bawa pulang. Sampai rumah nanti boleh belek, ulik lama-lama.

Buat masa ni, biarlah dulu Zeno Basel yang satu ini  jadi hiasan dalam peti kaca dulu. Terlalu gah, sasa dan sayang untuk dilasakkan. 

Memang pun, jam ini BUKAN UNTUK JUALAN. 

SPECIFICATIONS:

MODEL: CRONOGRAPH PROFESSIONAL DIVERS OVERSIZE Z-1E53/OR

CRYSTAL: HARDEN MINERAL GLASS WITH DATE MAGNIFIER

MOVEMENT: Quartz Chronograph, OS20/FS00

DIAL COLOR: BLACK WITH LUMINOUS MARKERS AND HANDS

FUNCTION: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds - Counters 60 min, centered 60 sec, synchronized 24 hrs - Date at 4:30

HANDS: LUMINOUS SILVER TONE 

MARKERS: WHITE LUMINOUS ARABIC & BATON MARKERS

CASING : SOLID STAINLESS STEEL/ KELULI SEPENUHNYA

WATER RESISTANT: 300METERS

LUGS: 24mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 45mm DIAMETER EXCLUDING CROWN (50mm WITH CROWN)

HISTORY OF ZENO BASEL

The Zeno history started from 1868 with watchmaker Jules Godat, the founder of a small pocket watch manufacturing company (Godat & Co.) in La Chaux-de-Fonds, located in the heart of Swiss watch manufacture. He produced, in very small quantities, fine pocket watches featuring solid silver cases and lady pendant watches. He built a small factory, which was taken over in 1920 by the company, A. Eigeldinger & Fils. 

The family business, Eigeldinger, specialized in wrist watches for the army. They produced watches in stainless steel, silver, gold and platinum, with mechanical movements up to 43mm. They assembled different guaranteed horology. Their registered brands were ZENO, STRAND and SOLVEX. The son of the owner, Andre-Charles Eigeldinger, introduced Zeno. The name was influenced by the Greek philosopher, Zeno, and comes from Zenodopolus, which means "Gift of Zeus."

The first ZENO watches were made in 1922. Each piece was marked with a Swiss cross on the back of the casing. The company has since continued to innovate watch manufacturing techniques. In 1949, the ZENO watches were exhibited for the first time at the Swiss Watch Fair in Basel.

In 1966, wholesalers Dr. Peter Atteslander and Eric Enggist bought the rights to ZENO and sold them to Mr. Felix W. Huber in 1973. Mr. Huber had worked for the company since 1964.

Our workshops gained international attention in 1969 with the legendary and futuristic "Spacemen," with the production of the vacuum diver watch "Compressor," and the takeover of several well-known Swiss watch factories.

The timeless star of ZENO is the famous "Pilot Classic" collection (40mm). A remake of our pilot watches from 1965 (37mm), today's model compares very favorably with the vintage ZENO Pilot Basic 1965 original. Their technical features, however, give them an undeniable advantage.
Today Zeno watches are produced by one of the last independent Swiss watch manufacturers and traditional company, ZENO-WATCH BASEL.

The Swiss brand name ZENO symbolizes an excellent choice in marketable wrist watches. We are proud of our small, but traditional, watch factory and our stylish watch collection. The watches are known and recognized internationally for their quality, design and innovation, exhibiting exceptionally high standards of quality while offering competitive prices.

The range of products extends from mechanical to quartz technology wrist watches with analogue display for ladies or gents in every combination of materials: mechanical and quartz technology wrist watches with analogue display, collectors' wristwatches, pocket watches, military, scuba diving watches or sport chronographs in every combination of materials.

* MAWCC = Malaysian Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (proposed)