1970s Protoype PVD Stainless Steel Zenith Shadow Watch

Our Perspective:

The Zenith Shadow Prototype stands among the rarest and most fascinating watches ever produced by the manufacture. Developed in the early 1970s shortly after the introduction of the revolutionary El Primero, the Shadow was never commercially released, with only an estimated dozen examples believed to have been made. Housed in a stealthy 41mm PVD-coated stainless steel case measuring 12mm thick, its all-black aesthetic was decades ahead of its time and ultimately served as the inspiration for Zenith's 2020 Chronomaster Revival Shadow.

Adding to its intrigue is the manually wound Caliber 146 HP, a movement shared between Zenith and Movado during their collaborative era. This example is fitted with the rarer Movado-signed variant, one of several known configurations found in surviving prototypes. The Shadow itself remained little more than legend until Zenith rediscovered an original prototype in a sealed attic at its Le Locle manufacture during preparations for the El Primero's 50th anniversary. With only a handful known to exist and virtually never appearing on the open market, the Shadow Prototype represents one of the most historically significant and elusive Zenith chronographs a collector can own. We've also never seen a Shadow come to market with this exact lumed arrow hand-set, however, we believe it's original to the watch as it matches the dial lume patina and age perfectly.

Condition Report:

Case: Watch has been regularly worn with medium scratches and indentations throughout. PVD plating is worn around edges of case, bezel and lugs.

Strap/Bracelet: Replacement (non-Zenith) new black leather rally strap and stainless steel buckle. Fits a maximum wrist size of 7.5".

Dial/Crystal/Hands: Dial is in incredibly well-preserved condition with minimal to no signs of age. Three of the twelve lume plots show slight degradation, along with the lume on the hands, consistent with age. The crystal displays minor scratches throughout.

Movement: Automatic Movado Caliber 146HP winds, sets and runs strong with a 5-position average of +5.8 S/D | 315° AMP | 0.3MS BE.

Included: Watch only, no box or papers.

Any watch sold by us can be polished upon request by our watchmaker. This watch can also be re-PVD plated upon request. Pricing and lead time may vary, please contact for more details.

Condition Grade: 7.5/10