Movado Zenith ‘Surf’ Wood Dial Automatic, LNOS 1970s

A double-signed Movado Zenith ‘Surf’ automatic with a stunning and unique dial made from real wood in like new old stock condition. Reference 01-0050-380 from the mid-1970s.

This watch really captures the spirit of 1970s Swiss watchmaking. In many ways, the 1970s represent a period of decline for the Swiss watch industry amid the quartz crisis, but it is an also an era of bold designs, fresh ideas, and experimentation. Some designs, like the AP Royal Oak have continued to shape the industry, while others, like this watch from Zenith, didn’t quite catch on. That is not to say it is unworthy of admiration.

Wood dials were a very 70s phenomenon, with examples famously produced by Rolex and Cartier, but nobody else did it quite like this. The beautifully rich-toned wood inner dial is framed by a stepped, gilt chapter ring with black roman numerals for a touch of class. The dial is signed in very fine gilt printing, and the time displayed with three very delicate gold, stick hands. These refined details are juxtaposed by a big, bold 38 mm cushion case with polished, rounded corners and sharp cutaways to the bezel. The design is a collection of contradictions, and it’s both bonkers and beautiful, and its presence on the wrist is phenomenal.

The watch was produced by Zenith and sold as a Movado-Zenith: the two brands merged in the early 1970s, and the joint name was often used for the US market due to a copyright dispute with Zenith radios. Inside is the Zenith in-house Caliber 2562 PC: a high-beat 28,800 bph automatic from the brand famed for the high-beat El Primeiro movement.

The watch is in like new old stock condition, retaining part of its factory caseback wax seal, and is offered with a new, aftermarket strap and buckle from the Strap Tailor. 

Dial:

• A unique dial made of genuine wood with a rich brown tone; the timber species used was never published, but I suspect it to be teak or rosewood, both very popular in 1970s designer furniture
• Double-signed ‘MOVADO-ZENITH’ under the Zenith logo with ‘AUTOMATIC’ above 6 o’clock, all in gilt printing
• The dial features the signature Zenith offset date window at 4:30 and a stepped gilt chapter ring with roman numerals printed in black
• Original mineral glass crystal in unmarked condition

Case:

• Stainless steel case in factory original condition
• The  38mm cushion case features rounded corners with a factory high-polish finish and 4 distinct cutaways to the bezel, the reveal the side of the crystal and have a brushed inner surface
• Original crown with Zenith logo
• Screw-fit caseback engraved ‘SURF STAINLESS STEEL’ and the reference number ’01-0050-380’
• The caseback retains some of its original wax seal
• 38 mm diameter (without crown) | 38 mm lug-to-lug | 20 mm lug width | 11.5 mm thick

Movement:

• Zenith Caliber 2562 PC high-beat automatic with date
• 23 jewels | 28,800 bph (4 Hz) | 48 hour power reserve when new
• This movement was produced by Zenith between 1972 and 1975
• Tested & regulated October 2026 and keeping time within ±20 sec/day

Strap & Buckle:

• Presented on a new beige pig skin strap of the highest quality produced by The Strap Tailor