For Stephanie and anyone else interested in the low serial numbered watch I recently purchased, I received the second reply from the Zenith watch company:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for the picture.

The number 68843 is not in our books. Is it possible to have a general view
of the movement ? May be we can regonize something.

In the meantime, we remain

ZENITH INTERNATIONAL SA

Customer service

I had sent them a partial picture of the movement that showed only the serial number and the name Zenith. Maybe by looking at the full movement they can eventually tell me what I have.

John D. Duvall
Vice President, Education

John,
I'll look forward to reading your reply from Zenith. John,
is there an advantage to the unusual click spring Zenith used? Do you know if Zenith exclusively used these kinds of click springs?

Stephanie O'Neil
Pocket Watch Moderator
NAWCC Member 143979

Here is the last response recieved from Zenith. What should I do?

Dear Sir,

Thank you for the later picture.

Our archive department has reported on number 68843. This movement was of five made November 28, 1945. It was documented these watches were lost in an air crash in route to London England. They were ordered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill for presenting to General Eisenhower, General Patton, General Bradley, General Marshall and Leutinent Murphy.

May we prepare a meeting for authenticating this watch.

In the meantime, we remain

ZENITH INTERNATIONAL SA

Customer service

WOW!!!

What an amazing sequence of events John!

So are they flying you to Switzerland or are they sending an authentication team to where you live in California? Did they give any estimation of value on such a, dare I say exceptionally rare watch? Does the "3" ending serial number mean yours was intended for General Omar Bradley, the third name on the list?

You are the envy of all horology!

Lindell

Happy April`s fool day, John!

Ha, Ha, Ha,
The first thing I would have done was get a lawyer.
Brian C.

Okay, okay! Yes, it's a fabricated message from the Zenith watch company. Zenith actually replied that they had no record of the serial number.

Happy April Fool's Day to everyone.