Zodiac Two-Register 'Poor Man's Heuer' Chronograph

In the 1960s and '70s motorsport chronographs were all the rage and there's no doubt that Heuer was top dog, with some of the most renowned racers and teams of the day regularly seen sporting the iconic Carrera, Monza and Autavia models. Nowadays, however, many vintage Heuer chronographs remain out of reach of many enthusiasts.

Enter the "Poor Man's Heuer.' 

During the same time that Heuer was producing their own watches, they were producing watches for other brands under different names right alongside them. Brands such as Zodiac, Clebar, and Sears (under the name 'Tradition') all sold watches that were nearly identical to Heuers own, right down to the Valjoux movements inside them.

This Zodiac variant is more than a little reminiscent of Heuer's Carrera, featuring a twin-register 'reverse-panda' dial layout, a matching handset with a pop of red in the chronograph hand, and a hand-cranking Valjoux 7736 movement within.

Though many executions of "Poor Man's Heuers" exist, there is no question that those expressions that mirror the 1960s Heuer Carrera are the most coveted, which has made finding good examples tricky. Examples like this one with its extra pop of color in the chronograph hand are certainly the most desirable.

This is a great chance to grab one today - don't miss it!

Zodiac in its current guise produces affordable tool watches as part of the Fossil Group, who thankfully appreciate the brand’s heritage and wide appeal. However, the Swiss-founded firm is notable for one of the most important developments in modern watchmaking history: namely, the commercially available dive watch.

Though preceded chronologically by the Omega Marine of 1932, the 1953 Zodiac Sea Wolf — which debuted alongside the more famous Rolex Submariner and Blancpain Fifty Fathoms that same year — provided the benchmark for contemporary dive watch design. Slightly later, its availability at overseas PX’s (post exchanges) on American military bases entered it into Vietnam War-era horological lore.

Zodiac was well placed to present such a watch on the international market, having developed flat pocket watches in the 1920s, early automatic watches in the 1930s and power reserve complications in the 1940s. In fact, the company’s horological prowess extends all the way back to 1882, when founder Ariste Calame opened a watchmaking workshop in Le Locle, Switzerland. More complicated watches followed, including the Aerospace GMT, which featured a bi-directional, two-tone bezel and a GMT hand in the vein of its contemporary dual-time brethren from the likes of Rolex.

The company’s chronographs from the 1960s — including the wildly complicated, Valjoux-powered triple calendar — are no less notable. Available in black or white “panda” or “reverse panda” dials, many of these chronographs are more affordable alternatives to offerings from larger, blue-chip brands such as Heuer and Breitling.

Though values have increased somewhat over the past five to 10 years, vintage Zodiac remains a refuge for those interested in genuine, purpose-built tool watches developed for working professionals at prices that don’t break the bank.

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We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

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All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

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Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.