Baselworld 2019: Zenith
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The legendary El Primero high-frequency chronograph celebrates half a century this year and in tribute to its legendary destiny, Zenith is offering aficionados an anniversary boxed set containing three chronographs with emblematic tricolour counters A reissue faithful to the first El Primero model of 1969; a Chronomaster El Primero with optimized movement; and a Defy El Primero 21 to 1/1 00th of a second.
The history of this high-frequency star chronograph, born in 1969, continues today and tomorrow, with the iconic Chronomaster El Primero and the futuristic Defy The anniversary set contains three El Primero models and is presented in a box with four slots for watches.
Three occupied by this set and a still-empty fourth cushion sits ready to welcome the next achievement of Zenith in the universe of very high frequency: 1/1 000th of a second!
Watch 1: Reissue El Primero
Zenith had never yet offered a reissue faithful to the original model until this anniversary boxed set, in a 50-piece limited edition In the first compartment a perfect reiteration of the 1969 El Primero chronograph The 38 mm steel case, curved glass with magnifying effect, tricolour counters, tachymeter scale, font, the shapes of the hands and hour-markers, as well as the leather strap: all the original codes are resolutely present.
Likewise, the shape of the lugs and mushroom pushers are exactly reproduced on this pure “revival” watch To give a new lease on life to the spirit and the original attributes of its illustrious predecessor, Zenith’s engineers and designers carried out a reverse engineering process: an authentic copy of the brand’s museum was entirely laser-scanned to restore each component.
The only liberties that have been taken are the while the original had a solid back, the new watch reveals the movement through a sapphire glass back and that the crown logo has been updated As for the engine’, it’s the current version of the El Primero column-wheel chronograph movement, beating at a rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour and delivering 1/1 0th of a second precision as well as a 50-hour power reserve.
Like the original, it displays the hours, minutes and small seconds, chronograph, tachymeter and date functions, the latter appearing between 4 and 5 0’clock.
Watch 2: El Primero Chronomaster 2.0
A direct descendant of El Primero, the Zenith Chronomaster is its most emblematic contemporary embodiment and is the second watch It is equipped with a new generation El Primero engine and a new black ceramic bezel Renamed El Primero 3600, its movement is updated.
This high-frequency calibre, beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, achieves the feat of accurately measuring one tenth of a second and offering direct readings on the dial and bezel The chronograph hand makes one dial turn in 10 seconds, indicating at each jump the tenth of a second on a scale graduated from 1 to 100 With this 20 version, the original construction of the El Primero chronograph, consisting of a column wheel and a lever operated lateral clutch, is visually highlighted and redesigned to enhance []
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