Zenith is undoubtedly one of the most prodigious watch companies to date. Their clean, aesthetically pleasing designs and virtual obsession with technical innovation has kept this Swiss manufacturer at the top of its game. Of course, with a name like Zenith, one would hardly expect less. The legendary El Primero Movement was first released in 1969. This movement blew away its competition with its modular design and ultra-high frequency. Zenith as a company has been awarded countless times for their contribution to the progress of Swiss watchmaking.
The El Primero Chronomaster 1969 from Zenith is crafted from a solid block of stainless steel which has been satin finished, making this watch perfect for daily wear. The case diameter comes in at a masculine 42mm, while the case thickness is a sturdy 14.05mm. The thin bezel is highly polished, contrasting beautifully with the rest of the case. The main crown is ridged and features a push/pull setup for the easy adjustment of the time. The bezel also houses a Sapphire crystal which is glare-proofed on both sides for optimal readability in bright lighting. The case back also uses sapphire crystal, revealing the decorated El Primero movement.
The movement is specifically the El Primero 4061 self-winding mechanical which alternates at the incredible frequency of 36,000 VpH. This high frequency allows for the timing of smaller intervals of seconds, which makes the Chronomaster one of the more precise chronographs on the market. This movement features a power reserve with a minimum of 50 hours once fully wound. The Oscillating weight comes with Cotes de Genève pattern.
The dial features an open worked aperture at the 10 position, revealing the balance wheel and the escapement. The dial is silver toned with two chronograph counters at 3 and 6, in blue and grey respectively. The hands are partially skeletonized with luminescence for nighttime legibility. The hour markers are rendered as indexes also with Super-LumiNova SLN C1 coatings. The flange carries a tachometric scale for the measurement of average speed. The chronograph seconds hand is in red, with the Zenith star used as a counterweight.
The Chronomaster is fitted with a black alligator strap with a secure triple folding clasp with dual release push buttons crafted from stainless steel. The Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 is water resistant to 10 ATM (100 meters), and is backed by a comprehensive 2 year guarantee.
