Zenith el primero grande class open chrono.
Discussion
Very classy watch - about the best of Zenith's recent offerings, many/most of which seem to value chinz rather too much for my liking.
They are v slightly cheaper in the US I notice (c£3200) if you happen to be over there in the near future. Having got an El P already I'd like a JLC next, but the Zenith was definitely no. 1 on my list.
They are v slightly cheaper in the US I notice (c£3200) if you happen to be over there in the near future. Having got an El P already I'd like a JLC next, but the Zenith was definitely no. 1 on my list.
jackwood said:
I have a Defy Open Classic and it is a very nice piece. The engineering is fantastic, and the history behind the El Primero movement is pretty cool.
Zeniths don't seem to get mentioned at all around here, though. Don't know why..........
Because the current ones are almost unremittingly vile ...Zeniths don't seem to get mentioned at all around here, though. Don't know why..........
E.g.:
Such a shame as the history of the movement (as you say) and their older ones are rather nice. I have a couple of vintage Zeniths.
Although the El P is a very impressive movement, Zenith don't seem to exactly over-extend themselves when it comes to developing movements. What do they have, two movements? El Primero and Elite. Compare to JLC who must have about 20-30 and develop new ones all the time.
The Zenith El Primero movement is one of the best around.
The grande class and grande class open are, to me the best of a bad bunch. I agree with Tertius about the current Zenith range. It such a shame when they have made so many beautiful watches in the past.
TBH the last Zenith I really liked was the discontinued (pictured) Class El Primero Auto Chronograph.
The grande class and grande class open are, to me the best of a bad bunch. I agree with Tertius about the current Zenith range. It such a shame when they have made so many beautiful watches in the past.
TBH the last Zenith I really liked was the discontinued (pictured) Class El Primero Auto Chronograph.
tertius said:
jackwood said:
I have a Defy Open Classic and it is a very nice piece. The engineering is fantastic, and the history behind the El Primero movement is pretty cool.
Zeniths don't seem to get mentioned at all around here, though. Don't know why..........
Because the current ones are almost unremittingly vile ...Zeniths don't seem to get mentioned at all around here, though. Don't know why..........
E.g.:
Such a shame as the history of the movement (as you say) and their older ones are rather nice. I have a couple of vintage Zeniths.
Although the El P is a very impressive movement, Zenith don't seem to exactly over-extend themselves when it comes to developing movements. What do they have, two movements? El Primero and Elite. Compare to JLC who must have about 20-30 and develop new ones all the time.
I think that Zenith created the El Primero and then had a bit of rest to let other companies catch up. Still resting...
Fantastic watches with a highly regarded movement in the El Primero.
I recently purchased the Chronomaster Grande Date XXT (45mm) in Stainless with Croc Strap http://www.zenith-watches.com/scripts/getpage.asp?... beautifully made and surprisingly light on the wrist.
Zenith do seem to have gone a little wayward with their designs of late but i'm sure there is something for everyone in there comprehensive model line-up.
C.
I recently purchased the Chronomaster Grande Date XXT (45mm) in Stainless with Croc Strap http://www.zenith-watches.com/scripts/getpage.asp?... beautifully made and surprisingly light on the wrist.
Zenith do seem to have gone a little wayward with their designs of late but i'm sure there is something for everyone in there comprehensive model line-up.
C.
There is no denying that the latest batch of watches leave a little to be desired in class stakes, but then the same can be said of pretty much any manufacturer. A bit unfair to castigate an entire range on the basis of a couple of mis-fires.
I think there are more than the 2 movements. There are Tourbillons and several differernt flavours of the El Primero, I think. Besides, I don't see the relevence of that either. Haven't Porsche been re-packaging the same car for the last 45 years? If it works, why fix it?
I think there are more than the 2 movements. There are Tourbillons and several differernt flavours of the El Primero, I think. Besides, I don't see the relevence of that either. Haven't Porsche been re-packaging the same car for the last 45 years? If it works, why fix it?
I've got a zenith el primero rainbow flyback.
Hmmmmmm. It spent 8 of its first 12 months back at the factory being fixed (running very fast) then two of the chrono dials went pear shaped (hands fell off)
Nice watch, seems to be ok now...but i gather from the dealer its going to cost £375 for a (breakdown) service. If they are going to dismantle the thing to service it I'm going to wait until it breaks tbh.
Hmmmmmm. It spent 8 of its first 12 months back at the factory being fixed (running very fast) then two of the chrono dials went pear shaped (hands fell off)
Nice watch, seems to be ok now...but i gather from the dealer its going to cost £375 for a (breakdown) service. If they are going to dismantle the thing to service it I'm going to wait until it breaks tbh.
stovey said:
The Zenith El Primero movement is one of the best around.
The grande class and grande class open are, to me the best of a bad bunch. I agree with Tertius about the current Zenith range. It such a shame when they have made so many beautiful watches in the past.
TBH the last Zenith I really liked was the discontinued (pictured) Class El Primero Auto Chronograph.
...
Current daily (albeit with brown croc strap, which makes the dial look creamier in colour).The grande class and grande class open are, to me the best of a bad bunch. I agree with Tertius about the current Zenith range. It such a shame when they have made so many beautiful watches in the past.
TBH the last Zenith I really liked was the discontinued (pictured) Class El Primero Auto Chronograph.
...
Superb watch.
Not keen on the later stuff either I'm afraid.
The uglines is sadly not a new thing. I'm wearing one of my El Primeros today, a watch I picked up a couple of weeks ago.
It's a '90's Defy on a bracelet, a limited model of whicb only 208 were made. Limited, I believe, by the number of blind people that wanted to buy one.
It looks as if someone thought 'What we really need is our own version of the Tag Heuer S/EL model, but uglier. Let's make it steel and gold, to further put people off. And let's not forget to make it ugly'
And so a precedent was set.
Still, it's a bit of fun.
It's a '90's Defy on a bracelet, a limited model of whicb only 208 were made. Limited, I believe, by the number of blind people that wanted to buy one.
It looks as if someone thought 'What we really need is our own version of the Tag Heuer S/EL model, but uglier. Let's make it steel and gold, to further put people off. And let's not forget to make it ugly'
And so a precedent was set.
Still, it's a bit of fun.
Justayellowbadge said:
The uglines is sadly not a new thing. I'm wearing one of my El Primeros today, a watch I picked up a couple of weeks ago.
It's a '90's Defy on a bracelet, a limited model of whicb only 208 were made. Limited, I believe, by the number of blind people that wanted to buy one.
It looks as if someone thought 'What we really need is our own version of the Tag Heuer S/EL model, but uglier. Let's make it steel and gold, to further put people off. And let's not forget to make it ugly'
And so a precedent was set.
Still, it's a bit of fun.
So run that by me again...............why exactly did you buy it? It certainly has a little Chavness about it It's a '90's Defy on a bracelet, a limited model of whicb only 208 were made. Limited, I believe, by the number of blind people that wanted to buy one.
It looks as if someone thought 'What we really need is our own version of the Tag Heuer S/EL model, but uglier. Let's make it steel and gold, to further put people off. And let's not forget to make it ugly'
And so a precedent was set.
Still, it's a bit of fun.
jackwood said:
So run that by me again...............why exactly did you buy it? It certainly has a little Chavness about it
Well, I like El Primeros and have had a few, and have had a perfect cal 400 movement sitting in a drawer for ages - can't even remember when I got it, probably thought it might be handy for spares some time.Anyway, I saw on German eBay the case,braclet,dial and handset for the Defy and did a little digging. Found out how few were made, so thought I'd have a bid. Got it for 70 euros.
Turns out my movement was from the same year of production and is exactly right for it, so it's not even really a 'put together' whilst still not being technically 100% correct.
It's a rare thing, cost me next to nothing and sits as part of the collection more than anything else.
To be honest I'm not sure whether I dislike it or hate it as a design, but as a piece, it's a bit of fun.
Still the best chrono movement on the planet.
Edited by Justayellowbadge on Tuesday 12th February 14:02
jackwood said:
There is no denying that the latest batch of watches leave a little to be desired in class stakes, but then the same can be said of pretty much any manufacturer. A bit unfair to castigate an entire range on the basis of a couple of mis-fires.
I think there are more than the 2 movements. There are Tourbillons and several differernt flavours of the El Primero, I think. Besides, I don't see the relevence of that either. Haven't Porsche been re-packaging the same car for the last 45 years? If it works, why fix it?
Well, I'm not that convinced by the car:watches alignment argument, but even if we accept it for the time being, Porsche have at least produced a few other cars as well in the meantime. I'm sure I've forgotten some but at least the 914, 924, 944, 968, 928, 959, Cayman, Cayenne, all the variants of those and all the race cars ...I think there are more than the 2 movements. There are Tourbillons and several differernt flavours of the El Primero, I think. Besides, I don't see the relevence of that either. Haven't Porsche been re-packaging the same car for the last 45 years? If it works, why fix it?
And as for Zenith, if it were only a couple of misfires I'd agree, but a cursory look finds the following horrors:
That first one is £11K ffs ...!
Obviously all my opinion and I'm sure some people really like them.
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff