Zenith Surf, Ref. 02.0440.458-460, Men’s Dress Watch

Vintage Zenith Surf Dress Watch from 1981, men’s, Swiss-made quartz caliber (unspecified), featuring a deep black no-numeral dial, a square stainless-steel case, and a distinctive red seconds hand — a refined heritage timepiece.

1981 Zenith Dress Watch with Square Steel Case and Red Seconds Hand

Compact and architectural, this historic wristwatch measures 32 mm across with a concise 35 mm lug-to-lug, delivering a sleek profile on the wrist. The sharply executed square case in stainless steel frames a gloss-black dial set with applied baton indexes and slender hands for crisp, glare-free legibility. A vivid red seconds hand adds a discreet pulse of color, giving the timepiece a poised, late-modern character without compromising elegance. The minimalist, no-numeral layout underscores its dress watch intent while preserving balanced symmetry and a quietly collectible presence.

1981 Zenith Dress Watch with Swiss-Made Quartz Movement (Caliber Unspecified)

Powering the watch is a high-accuracy quartz movement reflective of vintage Swiss watchmaking in the early 1980s: efficient, robust, and easy to maintain. Its dependable oscillator and pragmatic construction deliver precision timekeeping with minimal fuss, making this mechanical watch alternative a thoughtful choice for daily wear. Fully serviced and ready to wear, this watch will provide reliable performance for years to come.

1981 Zenith Surf Dress Watch — Reference 02.0440.458-460 and Early-1980s Context

The Surf line captures Zenith’s elegant transition into the quartz era: slim cases, disciplined dials, and urbane proportions suited to contemporary wardrobes. This example remains used but well-preserved, retaining original components and the model’s distinctive square geometry. In the broader 1980s narrative—when automatic movement and quartz technologies coexisted—Surf pieces offer a clear expression of the brand’s heritage approach to accuracy and design restraint, yielding a collectible, wearable historic wristwatch.