: Here is my Zodiac that I believe has the same case as the later
: Carrera, Its chrome plated though unlike the Heuer in stainless.
: I have not seen any other Zodiac, Tradition or other poor mans
: with this style case. So certainly a cheaper model due to
: materials used. As to who assembled it, I can not say, only that
: they went to a lot of trouble to emulate the Carrera. Yes Jeff I
: agree the community has handled this members assault very well.
: I my self was some what shocked at the original posting and
: really wondered what was his purpose. I'm still puzzled !
: Perhaps he could explain his some what aggressive attitude.

Hi!
Let me add my 5 cents to this discussion. There lots of watches using exactly this same chromiun plated case. One of them I can show, here. This Sears Tradition is equiped with a nice column wheel Valjoux 92 chronograph movement.

There were even Heuer branded Carreras and pre-Carreras on these "economy" cases.
I do believe that the Zodiacs, Traditions, Clebars and and a full hand of other brands have marketed watches fully assembled by Heuer under an OEM agreement, or something like that. For logical reasons, indeed. Knowing any kind of industrial process, you'd realize that it was nearly impossible to make it in any other way. It is very very unlikely that a brand, like Zodiac or any other, could manage to convince an entire set of different suppliers to sell them exactly the same components, with the same painting/color schema, using an arrangement designed by Heuer without Heuer's consent. Moreover, it would hardly show economically viable. They would need to train people, set assembly lines, acquire tools, etc for very limited production volumes.
As you said, it would be a lot of trouble trying to do like that.
I recently found this Eska. I've never heard of any association between Heuer and Eska, and have never seen any "brother" to this watch.

Nevertheless, I can't believe that such a small brand like Eska could manage to acquire this set of components not involving an agreement with Heuer. Industry doesn't work like that - not the Swiss watchmaking industry. Not today, not ever...