Founded in Le Locle, Switzerland, in 1865, Zenith established itself as one of the country's most respected watch manufacturers, earning an enviable reputation for precision, technical innovation and exceptional mechanical movements.

By the 1970s, however, Swiss watchmaking was undergoing something of a transformation. The traditional round dress watch was making room for increasingly adventurous designs, with bold case shapes, unusual proportions and contemporary finishes reflecting the changing tastes of the decade.

Zenith was no stranger to innovation, and its Port Royal collection embraced this new direction while retaining the mechanical craftsmanship for which the manufacturer was renowned.

The collection became associated with distinctive case designs, elegant dial arrangements and practical complications, including automatic day-date movements. These watches offered something quite different from the more conservative styles of previous decades.

Today, vintage Port Royal models provide a fascinating glimpse into this particularly creative chapter of Swiss watchmaking, combining unmistakable 1970s styling with the enduring appeal of a traditional mechanical movement.

What's on Offer

Now here's something rather special! A fabulous Zenith Port Royal Automatic Day-Date from circa 1975, presented in remarkable New Old Stock (NOS) condition, with a striking stainless steel case, beautifully preserved silver dial and serviced automatic movement.

And if you appreciate the more adventurous watch designs of the 1970s, this one is an absolute treat.

The first thing that catches your eye is undoubtedly the case. Measuring an impressive 43mm across, its distinctive oval-inspired design features broad, sweeping shoulders, sharply defined lugs and a wonderful brushed stainless steel finish. It is unmistakably a product of its era, yet there's something surprisingly contemporary about the overall appearance.

Despite its generous width, the relatively compact 41.5mm lug-to-lug measurement gives the watch beautifully balanced proportions on the wrist. The unusual case design creates plenty of presence without feeling unnecessarily cumbersome.

The silver dial is equally attractive, featuring a subtle brushed finish that catches the light beautifully. Applied baton hour markers are complemented by slender matching hands with luminous inserts, while a finely printed minute track runs around the outer edge.

At 12 o'clock sits Zenith's distinctive period emblem, positioned above the Zenith name and Automatic designation. Below the centre, the elegant Port Royal script adds a lovely touch of refinement to an otherwise wonderfully understated dial.

At 3 o'clock, the framed day-date aperture provides a particularly attractive feature. The separate day and date windows are neatly enclosed within a polished rectangular surround, giving the dial a balanced, purposeful appearance while providing a useful everyday complication.

Both the dial and Plexiglass crystal are in mint, unworn condition, beautifully preserving the watch's original appearance. The bezel is excellent, while the stainless steel case is graded very good.

Inside beats the Zenith Calibre 34.6, based on the ETA 2837, a 17-jewel automatic mechanical movement offering an approximate 40-hour power reserve. This dependable movement powers the hours, minutes, central seconds and day-date functions.

The movement has been serviced and is performing very well, currently recording +5 seconds per day with an amplitude of 256° on the timegrapher.

Completing the watch is a stylish grey leather strap with contrasting stitching, which complements the brushed stainless steel case and silver dial rather beautifully.

What makes this particular Port Royal so appealing is the combination of its distinctive design and remarkable preservation. Finding vintage watches from this period in New Old Stock condition is always a pleasure, particularly when they represent such an interesting departure from conventional watchmaking styles.

With its oversized case, beautifully preserved dial, practical automatic movement and unmistakable 1970s character, this is a wonderful opportunity to acquire a particularly distinctive vintage Zenith.

A superb addition to any collection, and certainly not a watch you're likely to see on every other wrist!

Condition Report:

Crystal: Mint / Unworn

Dial: Mint / Unworn

Bezel: Excellent

Case: Very Good

Movement: Serviced +5s/d 256°

Overall: Excellent