Regarding Zeno Explorers with Miyota movements

[Eric Jorgensen]

I pestered Zeno-Watch Basel a few times and they finally got back to me.

It seems that what has been said about them is essentially true - they
are not strictly speaking illegal or fake but probably should say
"Zeno-Watch Tokyo" or something on them instead of Basel.

Anyway, here's the Q&A:




From: Eric Jorgensen <***@xmission.com>
To: ***@zeno-watch.ch
Subject: Regarding 'Explorer' type watches with Miyota movements
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 12:13:33 -0600
Organization: Eric Conspiracy Secret Labs
X-Mailer: Sylpheed-Claws 1.0.4 (GTK+ 1.2.10; i686-pc-linux-gnu)


I asked this question two weeks ago and didn't get an answer, so I'm
asking again.

Has any watch containing a Miyota movement ever legitimately carried a
Zeno-Watch Basel mark?

Your website indicates that you do not manufacture any such watch, but
various vendors argue that the Zeno Explorer they are selling with a Miyota
movement was manufactured under license by a japanese distributor and thus
legitimately carries the Zeno-Watch Basel mark.

This watch is reviewed at this website:

http://www.watcharama.com/zenoexp.htm

Many people of reasonable and reliable judgment are of the opinion that
this is a legitimate Zeno-Watch Basel product.

I hope that you can help me to clarify this issue in such a manner as to
make it indisputable, and hope to encourage you to clarify your website to
directly cover this issue.

Your statement here:

http://www.zeno-watch.ch/en/Warning/Imitations/body_imitations.html

Is insufficient to clarify the issue.


From: "ZENO Service-Center Basel" <***@zeno-watch.ch>
To: "'Eric Jorgensen'" <***@xmission.com>
Reply-To: <***@zeno-watch.ch>
Subject: AW: Regarding 'Explorer' type watches with Miyota movements
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 11:27:26 +0200
Organization: ZENO-WATCH BASEL
X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook, Build 11.0.6353

Dear Mister Jorgensen

Please appologize my late reply. I was in holliday last week.

The mentioned vintage watch (made in Switzerland from 1965 to 1972) is
remade by our japanese represent from 1999 to 2001 and is not available
anymore. The watch was never sold in Europe and was only available in
Japan. Maybe some watches came into europeen market from privat clients.

Unfortunaltey I can not give you more information, because the mentioned
watch have NOT been manufactured by us, and is not covered by our warranty.

Best regards from Switzerland
Patrik-Philipp Huber

[Revision]

Post by Eric Jorgensen
remade by our japanese represent from 1999 to 2001
... only available in Japan.

Heh heh... a calculated subterfuge played on the Japanese consumers. In
Japan a Swiss watch is preferred. A Miyota watch would have languished
on store shelves.... Zeno "Basel" would be purchased quickly. Dishonest,
really. Probably rather lucrative, plus a nice bump from the strong yen,
ie in 2000 the repatriated yen would buy "lots" of euros.

2000 Yen per Euro monthly avg price.

January
131.304 JPY (19 days average)
February
130.663 JPY (19 days average)
March
130.051 JPY (23 days average)
April
128.168 JPY (22 days average)
May
129.684 JPY (20 days average)
June
125.274 JPY (22 days average)
July
123.703 JPY (21 days average)
August
120.089 JPY (22 days average)
September
112.205 JPY (21 days average)
October
113.444 JPY (20 days average)
November
108.089 JPY (20 days average)
December
103.716 JPY (23 days average)

[the swisswatchguy]

Japanese importers have always been very keen on cutting an extra
profit with homemade Swiss Brands, and nowadays Italian or Italian
sounding brands. Until early 1990s, Rado's importer was marketing lots
of Rado models, which had nothing in common with official Rado Swiss
Made watches.

Globalisation, foreign travels and the internet are now progressively
changing the consumers' awareness and soon those "specific" products
shall become if not obsolete, at least much less in demand.

Post by Revision

Post by Eric Jorgensen
remade by our japanese represent from 1999 to 2001
... only available in Japan.

Heh heh... a calculated subterfuge played on the Japanese consumers.

In

Post by Revision
Japan a Swiss watch is preferred. A Miyota watch would have

languished

Post by Revision
on store shelves.... Zeno "Basel" would be purchased quickly.

Dishonest,

Post by Revision
really. Probably rather lucrative, plus a nice bump from the strong yen,
ie in 2000 the repatriated yen would buy "lots" of euros.
2000 Yen per Euro monthly avg price.
January
131.304 JPY (19 days average)
February
130.663 JPY (19 days average)
March
130.051 JPY (23 days average)
April
128.168 JPY (22 days average)
May
129.684 JPY (20 days average)
June
125.274 JPY (22 days average)
July
123.703 JPY (21 days average)
August
120.089 JPY (22 days average)
September
112.205 JPY (21 days average)
October
113.444 JPY (20 days average)
November
108.089 JPY (20 days average)
December
103.716 JPY (23 days average)