Zodiak Mechaniczny Plum

Interestingly enough, the first Zodiak watch was considered contraband in the 1960s. Why? Its name was too similar to that of a Swiss watch brand, although it was spelled with a “c” instead of a “k.” Nonetheless, its manufacturer, ZMP Błonie, were fined for copyright infringement and, following an intervention by the Swiss embassy, the Zodiak model was withdrawn from the market.

According to various sources, over 500 copies of the first Zodiak – the watch that served as our source of inspiration for the Zodiak Mechaniczny – were produced in the 1960s. This time around, we wanted our new model to resemble the original as closely as possible, so we stayed true to the bold design accents found on the archetype. For the first time ever, we replaced the Błonie logo with the word “Zodiak,” which, along with other inscriptions on the dial, are in a font that has been specially stylized to resemble those of the post-war era. The characteristic lines that intersect the dial and its numerical indices have been reproduced to exactly mimic those found on the original Zodiak. To add a modern twist and some everyday practicality, the indices and watch hands have been coated with a fluorescent compound.

It’s hard not to feel nostalgic when looking at the new Zodiak’s case. With a classic design and thin profile, it features several types of finishing, including brushed sides, a sunray brushed on the o-ring and case back, and highly polished lugs. And we haven’t even moved on to the mechanism, which is the icing on the cake. Timekeeping precision is guaranteed by the Sellita SW210 hand-wound Swiss Made caliber, which can be admired through a screw-in glass case back. A high-quality calfskin strap and double convex sapphire glass add an overall touch of elegance, with the latter resembling the shape of domed plexiglass widely used in production watches in the 1960s.