The LVMH-owned swiss brand Zenith is showing up this year with two perfectly balanced strength keys: fidelity to its own history, with the 50th anniversary of the historical El Primero movement, and the innovative and revolutionary push from the single-piece oscillator patented by the maison and introduced in 2017.
Let’s see together the news presented at Basel!
Defy Inventor
The highlight of 2019 is the reintroduction of Zenith’s single-piece oscillator that, after a briefly appearance in Defy Lab’s 10 pieces, goes into mass-production for the first time.
This innovation replaces the classical spiral balance after three centuries of domain, offering at the same time stability, reliability and both thermal and magnetic insensibility.
The Inventor is presented with an unbelievably high frequency (18 Hz, instead of the usual 4 Hz) and a 50-hours power reserve, all housed in a 44 mm titanium case, Aeronith bezel (the lightest aluminum on earth) and a skeletonized dial that represents Zenith’s star logo.
This futuristic yet refined looking watch is completed by a rubber strap, covered in midnight blue alligator.
List price 17.600 €
Defy El primero 21 Carbon
The wonderful El Primero 21 caliber (chronograph caliber with 1/100 seconds at 50 Hz) gets a black look and 44 mm case, entirely made out of carbon, crown and pushers included.
The black skeletonized dial and the rubber straps (black or carbon-like) completes this great visual impact neo-futuristic design.
List price 17.600€.
Defy El Primero Double Tourbillon
Staying in the Defy family, another El Primero caliber interpretation is presented by Zenith, equipping it with two tourbillons.
The first, at a 50 Hz beat, is the fastest ever produced, and is paired with a chronograph to measure tenths of a second, with incredible precision. The second tourbillon beats at 5 Hz, measuring hours, minutes and seconds. Power reserve, displayed on the indicator at 12, is 60 hours for the watch and 50 minutes for the chronograph.
It comes with a skeletonized dial, black rubber strap covered in alligator or canvas and sapphire case back.
This horology experiment is available in a very limited edition of 50 examples for the carbon and only 10 for the platinum.
Priced at 112.000€ for the carbon, 140.000€ for the platinum.
El Primero A386 Revival
Zenith isn’t just innovation: the 50th anniversary of El Primero movement is celebrated with an origins-faithful trilogy reproduction.
38mm case, three colorful dials, tachymeter scale: every component is carefully reproduced by a digital model of the original chronograph.
The trilogy is presented in white, rose and yellow gold limited edition of 50 pieces, provided with a 50 years warranty, proving Zenith’s trust in their work.
In the box, you can find a travel case identical to 1969’s and a microfiber cloth decorated with the watch instructions and the movement original projects.
List price of 19.900€, same for all three versions.
We then move to two new interpretation of the high-quote dedicated line.
The Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Silver is released in a solid 925 silver 45 mm case, first time in Zenith’s history, decorated with the original Zenith Flying Instruments logo on the case back. The crown is fluted, the dial is fitted with SuperLuminova coated arabic numerals and the movement is a 679 Elite with 50 hours power reserve.
This edition is limited to 250 pieces and represents an ambitious reinterpretation of a widely loved classic that gives its best on the wrist.
List price of 8.500€.
The Pilot Type 20 Adventure, less reckless than the Special Silver, express a versatility and urban-look mix.
45 mm bronze case, khaki dial, arabic numerals and khaki or camouflage alligator strap, it’s available in two versions, with or without chronograph.
On the titanium case back we find Zenith Flying Instruments’ logo, that wink an eye to the pioneering years of aeronautics, when Zenith was leading the industry with its on-board instruments.
List price of 7.500€ for the chrono and 7.300 for the “solotempo”.
Perfect past and future balance
Zenith leaves BaselWorld with proposals for every taste, that can satisfy both the classical aficionado and who’s looking for innovation and change. The highly creative and future-oriented push doesn’t cover a strong and widely appreciated past, that the Swiss maison reminds to enhance and relaunch.
Pictures by Vincenzo Finizola ( @enzofinizola.ph) for ItalianWatchSpotter
Translated by Lorenzo Spolaor (@itsdoc_oclock)
