$56 1972 Zodiac Sst 36000

A Hi-Beat 36000bph watch, one of those Ebay long shots. 2 really poor pictures, from an "estate" supposedly not running. Well got the watch, it runs fine. 18kt electroplated case, 14kt filled original band, original crown, and a working quick set date. Kind of fun to watch the second hand, almost like an electric clock. Just enough "tic" to see a tick but nothing like other lower beat watches. Only thing I'm not sure of is the sides of the band are in SS and not plated. Top and bottom plus clasp are gold plated. Polished off or made that way?

Some plated bracelets, even a few from Omega IIRC, were left ss on the sides. Strange, huh?

Have not seen this before, but it does not look like it was polished or removed. Though the print on the clasp was odd as well 14kt GF "trim" ?? At any rate for $56 I think I did rather well. I set the watch to WWV last night, most Zodiac movements "hack" so far it is still on time to the second. Will see how long that lasts. They were warrented to 1 minute a month accuracy, a bit better than COSC specs LOL

Most of the 36,000 bph calibers were offered with the same monthly rate guarantee. The chronometer rated Longines were even better - I think within 30 seconds a month.

The Longines Ultra-Chron, Zenith El Primo, Rolex and Tag I think were the others, might have missed a couple. The Zodiac SST was the Hi-Beat affordable watch, actually a rather radical movement for a mid line watch maker. Would have had to add a zero or to the decimal for any of the others.