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Deb · 6 October 2014, 11:40 PM

I came across this turtle timer from Zell brothers. Cannot find much info about it. Can anyone tell me about age and value?

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R.W.T. · 7 October 2014, 03:36 AM

The "turtle" name was owned by Zell.

They marketed lots of watches under that name including Rolex.

Some of these as yours feature original dials that were made especially sans Rolex name and only the Turtle name.

There was also a bubbleback automatic version called the Turtle Perpetual. I've seen only one. It too had the original dial.

This is a reference 3478 and it features the Tudor calibre 59. This is the most common.

They also made other watches with the Turtle name. They were "akin" to Rolex in that they used contract movements by ETA and others that Rolex was also using in Tudors at the same time. Whether those originated at Rolex or not...I can't say. Watches like yours were obviously Rolex and Tudor watches with dials made up in agreement with Zell due to the more exclusive movements and oyster cases.

Watch is 1940's.

The value...it's worth whatever you can get.

On any given day it could vary greatly with interest. They are I would say rare...because of the limited area that they were sold in...how many watches of this quality and uniqueness was this chain selling in the pacific northwest....specifically Oregon....during a time when people were either in or just getting past a war and rationing and the like...? The price was likely substantial as they were good quality...but of course not a "known" name like Elgin or Hamilton or Bulova or Gruen etc. and also people were even still carrying pocket watches....so....they probably number in the hundreds....still that does not necessarily make value....rarity very often is not equated with value. Popularity combined with rarity equates to value.

That same watch if not a Turtle is about $800.00-$1400.00 ballpark I would say....someone might go top on it if they were looking for a "turtle"...but I doubt seriously you would see more than that for it.

R.W.T. · 8 October 2014, 03:04 AM

I responded to your post yesterday.

Click on yesterday's post below and see the response.

Deb · 9 October 2014, 11:02 AM

Thank you for your reply! I think it is a great collectible. It is a nice bit of history for the Pacific Northwest.

R.W.T. · 10 October 2014, 12:47 AM

I agree 100% and another quirky cog in the weird wheel of Rolex marketing history...

6 October 2014, 11:40 PM	#1
Deb "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Oregon Posts: 2	Zell Turtle Timer I came across this turtle timer from Zell brothers. Cannot find much info about it. Can anyone tell me about age and value? 04_20_2014_1963 (2).jpg 04_21_2014_1974 (2).jpg 04_21_2014_1975 (2).jpg

7 October 2014, 03:36 AM	#2
R.W.T. "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,004	The "turtle" name was owned by Zell. They marketed lots of watches under that name including Rolex. Some of these as yours feature original dials that were made especially sans Rolex name and only the Turtle name. There was also a bubbleback automatic version called the Turtle Perpetual. I've seen only one. It too had the original dial. This is a reference 3478 and it features the Tudor calibre 59. This is the most common. They also made other watches with the Turtle name. They were "akin" to Rolex in that they used contract movements by ETA and others that Rolex was also using in Tudors at the same time. Whether those originated at Rolex or not...I can't say. Watches like yours were obviously Rolex and Tudor watches with dials made up in agreement with Zell due to the more exclusive movements and oyster cases. Watch is 1940's. The value...it's worth whatever you can get. On any given day it could vary greatly with interest. They are I would say rare...because of the limited area that they were sold in...how many watches of this quality and uniqueness was this chain selling in the pacific northwest....specifically Oregon....during a time when people were either in or just getting past a war and rationing and the like...? The price was likely substantial as they were good quality...but of course not a "known" name like Elgin or Hamilton or Bulova or Gruen etc. and also people were even still carrying pocket watches....so....they probably number in the hundreds....still that does not necessarily make value....rarity very often is not equated with value. Popularity combined with rarity equates to value. That same watch if not a Turtle is about $800.00-$1400.00 ballpark I would say....someone might go top on it if they were looking for a "turtle"...but I doubt seriously you would see more than that for it.

8 October 2014, 03:04 AM	#3
R.W.T. "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,004	I responded to your post yesterday. Click on yesterday's post below and see the response.

9 October 2014, 11:02 AM	#4
Deb "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Oregon Posts: 2	Thank you for your reply! I think it is a great collectible. It is a nice bit of history for the Pacific Northwest.

10 October 2014, 12:47 AM	#5
R.W.T. "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,004	I agree 100% and another quirky cog in the weird wheel of Rolex marketing history...

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