<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001028637</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ZINDART LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZNDT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001071431</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHINAVEST PARTNERS IV</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>19/F DINA HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11 DUDDELL STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CENTRAL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>K3</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>HONG KONG</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-12-17</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>247868</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1839384</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>General Partner of limited partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>FOOTNOTE TO FORM OF DISPOSITION AND GENERAL REMARKS:
This Form 4 is being filed by ChinaVest Partners IV, a Delaware partnership (?CVP?), the general partner of ChinaVest IV., L.P. (?CV4?) and ChinaVest IV-A, L.P. (?CV4A?) two of three side-by-side investment Funds that are the legal owners of in excess of 10% of the Issuer?s stock. An affiliate of CVP, ChinaVest Management Limited, a Bermuda corporation, is the general partner of the third venture Fund, ChinaVest IV-B, L.P. (?CV4B?). CV4A is distributing all of the Issuer?s stock owned by it to its limited partners (the ?Distribution?).  CVP is filing this Form by reason of the Distribution and its control of CV4 and CV4A and its affiliation with CV4B, and its continued beneficial indirect ownership of the Issuer's stock held by CV4 and CVB, in the aggregate in excess of 10% of the Issuer?s stock.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edward B. Collins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

