ElPrimero

Zenith El Primero New Vintage 1969 Chronograph Watch Collection

This is my favorite new Zenith watch for 2009 and is the El Primero New Vintage 1969 collection. These watches are called "new vintage" because they are not only a "reissue" of a watch movement from another era (the first El Primero), but share the iconic styling of watches from that time period. The El Primero is a high beat movement operating at 36,0000 bph (beats per hour). This gives it the ability to have a chronograph that measures 1/10 of a second (most mechanical chronographs measure maybe 1/5 of a second). The movement is the automatic Zenith El Primero 469, with a column wheel chronograph and date, with a 50 hour power reserve.

Three versions of the lovely watch will be offered, each being really nice and worth the investment. Which is a blessing and a curse given that the collection will be offered as a limited edition and only in 2009. There is the black titanium model, stainless steel model, and 18k gold model. Each in the 40mm wide classic looking case. The black titanium model features a curious skeletonized dial with markers applied on a sapphire crystal as the dial, while the steel and gold have very cool looking overlapping subsidiary chronograph dials and an easy to read face. The whole collection with its alligator or crocodile straps and retro styled case is quite hip looking - again, one of the best Zenith watch collections this year.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Zenith New Vintage 1969 watches

Tags: 1969, chronograph, el primero, ElPrimero, movement, new vintage, NewVintage, timepiece, watch, zenith

Zenith Class El Primero Moonphase Watch For 2009

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

A lot of new luxury watch offerings are discernibly more subdued than the flamboyant parade of watches we have come to expect over the last few years. Zenith, who is typically very experimental in design has actually had one of the most conservative line of new models at Baselworld this year. That doesn't mean the watches are boring, but rather refreshingly elegant in their focus on being modern classics. A good example is this Zenith Class El Primero Moonphase watch. The watch features a full annual calendar with a moonphase and a chronograph. The El Primero automatic calibre 4100 movement is the only movement with an annual calendar and column wheel based chronograph complication.

Two case sizes are available at 40mm and 44mm, with the pictured version being in steel. The dial is handsomely decorated with engravings and applied hour markers. To enhance legibility, Zenith has clustered the complications toward the center of the face allowing for space around the dial to be dedicated to telling the time. With hour and minute hands that are properly sized for the watch, it offers a lot of function with minimal visual distraction. You just can't argue about its solid good looks and handsome demeanor. Look for availability this spring.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: class, el primero, ElPrimero, moonphase, timepiece, watch, zenith