Help dating a Zentra pocket watch

[leicanthrope]

I just found this beauty at the flea market this afternoon. From what I've been able to dig up on my own, they're a German company that started in the 1920's, and tended to use other companies movements in their watches.

Any estimates of age and/or value?

Thanks,
--Chris

[Eeeb]

No value estimates... they are impossible to do with any accuracy. See the stickies.

Age... looks like early 20th century to me. A good flea market find!

[Ray MacDonald]

Yes I'd agree 1900-1920 probably. It has German and Swiss assay marks on the case. The minute hand and second hand are replacements, I'd say. Thanks for posting.

[Marrick]

From:

http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index...howtopic=24906


This info is apparently wrong. See the post from Mike Stuffler!

"This company was founded in the mid 19th Century by Adolph Huguenin. The exhibited in the International Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876. In 1877, when they one a prize at the Neuchatel contest they were listed as A Huguenin & Fils. The company was noted for producing good quality watches and Chronometers.
The company was listed in Bienne in 1887 and were still there in 1924.
In 1880, they registered the name A Huguenin & Sons, Locle. They registered a tradename ‘Nielaschef’ in 1914. They were still about in 1926 when they patented the ‘Ermeto’ or ‘Hermetic’ watch. About 1956, the company was bought by the Hamilton Watch Co., but they carried on as a separate division.
The company was still trading in 1986.
Known brand names used and approximate dates used
Alpex - 1986
Celene Luxe
Eurama
Firn
Hugo Watch - 1951
Mignon Watch Co - c1890 to 1966
Zentra
Zentra Royal - 1966"

[stuffler,mike]

Sorry to disagree but according to the trademark this watch was made by ZentRA. ZentRA was a cooperation founded 4 Sept. 1927 at Berlin as the "Markenuhren-Verein". The ZentRA grew very fast and ended up with about 2500 members selling ZentRA watches. Almost in every german town there was a least one ZentRA dealer. Having 2500 memebers ZentRA was in the amenity to order in larg quantities for reasonable prices.

After WW II ZentRA moved from Berlin to Cologne and tried to get back on the track. During the 60ties and 70ties ZentRA watches have been wide spread. The average price was about 180 German Mark. The collection consisted of simple sports watches for ladies and men, classy square watches. Movements have been both swiss (A.Schild) and german (PUW).

In the 80ties - caused by wrong economical decisions and also caused by the quartz revolution - ZentRA closed down. The "ZentRa e.V." tried the reconstruction of ZentRA but they failed.

In 2001 the RS-Handelsgesellschaft, located in Düsseldorf, bought the ZentRA trademark and rights (see: www.zentra-uhren.de). The RS-Handelsgesellschaft is also known for launching the Javelle and Elysee brands.

The ZentRA watches of our days are powered by quartz or japanese movements (most automatics are Miyota).

The pocket watches of ZentRA have been fitted with german and swiss movements as well. A lot of ZentRA pocket watches have been equiped with Junghans movements. I´d rate the watch 1930-1940.
According to the silver stamp shown in pic 2 (quarter moon + crown) the case was made in Germany.

[Ray MacDonald]

Thanks Mike.
I was dating it earlier based on the dial but I couldn't decide whether it was metal or enamel. Don't see many enamel watch dials in the US or Switzerland in the 1930s.

[Marrick]

:oops: I have no expertise in this other than googling! So I'm happy to stand corrected.