Zenith 680

	Brand:	Zenith
	Family:	Zenith Elite
	Height:	3.28 mm
	Jewels:	26
	Reserve:	55 hours
	Frequency:	28,800 A/h
	Winding:	Automatic, Bi-Directional Automatic Winding
	Diameter:	25.60 mm (11.5 ligne)
	Complications:	Date
	Hands:	Central Hour Hand, Central Minute Hand, Date Window at 3:00, Small Seconds Hand at 9:00

Distinguishing Technical Characteristics
Clockwise Balance Cock Balance at 1:30 Barrel at 7:30 Central Rotor
Production: 1994 – Current
1910s	1920s	1930s	1940s	1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s

Cal. 680 is a compact automatic movement from Zenith. It features small seconds at 9:00 and a date window at 3:00 (typically) or 4:30.

Cal. 680 was introduced at the Basel Fair in 1994 to power the new Elite “Série 6” line, with initial watches bearing the inscription, “Automatic 680” on the dial. These watches were introduced alongside the revived Zenith El Primero and formed the basis for the rebirth of the company in the modern era. Most featured a transparent caseback showing the 18 K gold central winding rotor.

Cal. 680 was a modern movement for the time, with bi-directional automatic winding, 28,800 A/h operation, and 55 hours of power reserve. The small seconds subdial at 9:00 remains quite unusual, however. The movement was widely used throughout the modern period and continues in production, despite the introduction and cancellation of the larger replacement, Cal. 6150.

Panerai used a version of Cal. 680 as their OP VII movement on some Radiomir models from 2000 through 2003.

Technical Aspects of the Zenith Elite Movement

The basic Elite movement measures 11.5 ligne (25.60 mm) diameter and most models are under 4 mm thick, despite a central automatic winding rotor and date complication. A few models used a larger main plate to move the date window outward or to support complications like a running 24 hour ring. The thinnest Elite movement is the hand-winding Cal. 650 at 2.83 mm and the thickest and most complicated is the large Cal. 687 at 6.20 mm.

Unusually, many Elite movements (apart from the 660 and 670 lines) feature small seconds at 9:00, a distinctive feature that differentiates the watches that use it. Some, however, feature central seconds, an adjustable 24 hour hand, a power reserve indicator, and other complications.

All Elite movements use an annular Glucydur balance wheel with a self-compensating balance spring and fine micrometer screw for adjustment. The automatic winding rotor is mounted on ball bearings like the ETA 2892 and originally included a tungsten carbide element for higher winding power. Most Elite movements boast 50 to 55 hours power reserve and all operate at 28,800 A/h.

Zenith Elite 680 and 690: Small Seconds

Cal. 680 was one of the original Elite movements introduced in 1994 and remains in production today. Most of its descendants feature small seconds at 9:00, though Cal. 690 lacks running seconds and the rare Cal. 689 relocates the subdial to 6:00.

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