These days with vintage watches, it has to be said that collectors are looking for condition above all else and with this Zodiac Reverse Panda Chronograph, it ticks all the right boxes. Coming in amazing condition, this example is an absolute time capsule and not something you see every day. What makes this particular example very special is that it is powered by a high-quality Valjoux 72. Most of the Zodiac chronographs you see uses a lower quality, work-horse Valjoux 77.
Zodiac, along with other brands such as Clebar and Hamilton, made a lot of similarly styled chronographs in the ’60s and 70’s with one of the most famous being their panda and reverse panda chronographs. Dubbed as ‘poor man Heuers’ due to their striking resemblance to the Carrera, collectors have been eyeing these pieces for this reason. Don’t be fooled by the nickname though, these Zodiacs are high-quality pieces with excellent dials. Sized in a 36mm stainless steel case, it is very wearable even by modern standards and the beautiful reverse panda dial really pops from the contrast.