Reply With QuoteThank you for the review, looks lovely on the wrist.
Congrats!
ZENITH CHRONOMASTER EL PRIMERO SPORT - 41 MM - EL PRIMERO MVT - AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH - STEEL - BLACK DIAL - STEEL STRAP - MOVEMENT JEWELS : 35
This watch was purchased direct from the e-boutique. It was announced in Jan 2021 with many reviews and previews on all major watch media channels / Vloggers / YouTubers etc. Currently is is difficult to purchase from ADs and even on Chrono24. Maybe this is a marketing decision from Zenith (and follows other brands like Breitling that have had watches available online but apparently sold out on the high street) to attempt to drive consumers to e-Boutique sales or it could be Zenith were caught by surprise and quickly ran out of stock. Anyway I do think Zenith are onto a winner with this watch. I wish them well as a brand.
Movement
The stand out quality for me is the movement. It is the newly developed caliber 3600 an upgrade to the 400B. It has an improved power train giving it 60h power reserve (up from 50h). And use of silicon parts to negate the need for lubricant for a longer service interval. The 3600 has less number of components compared to the 400
Its chronograph hand rotates every 10 seconds which, along with the ceramic bezel with 10th second markers all round the circumference, means the operator can resolve measurements to 1/10th of a second with ease. Ok, human reactions are at best 1/3rd second - however most digital chronometers and the Zenith Defy resolve to 1/100ths of a second so resolving to 1/10th is a fun and rather unique selling point.
I have heard dissent amongst the TZ brethren of using the main drive to power the 1/10th second chronometer hand. Looking at the exposed column wheel it appears to be silicon (?) certainly blued in colour along with some of the screw heads. It's clever design means even though it is a horizontal clutch mechanism the second hand when stopped hits the 1/10th second markers all the way round as shown on the bezel and rehaut and also resets exactly to 12 on return. Zenith certainly know how to make a chronograph movement.
The 3600 movement operation is more like the industry standard (unlike the 400B which was the reverse): namely the 3600 crown pulled out position 1 is a quick (and I mean quick aka Rolex quick) set date position; position 2 now hacks the sub-dial second hand and is for setting the hour and minute hands.
There is the standard warnings in the manual to avoid setting the date between 8pm and 3am and wind the minute / hour hands forward to set the time.
Comparing the Zenith chronograph hand to a 'standard' chronograph having the hand completing one cycle every minute - the standard chrono looks positively pedestrian.
Here are comparison shots to another chronograph - the Omega's 1869. I let the reader find the differences
Here is a short video showing the chronograph mechanism in use:
Case shape and design.
Harmonious. I like this watches case design. It is has a combination of highly polished sides and flanges and brushed lugs. The lugs curve down to hug the wrist. They are short and for me this means a very comfortable fit.
The case measures 40.5mm diameter, 13.8mm-thick, and has a lug-to-lug across the case of around 46.6mm - my measurements. These match closely with other published figures. Interestingly (along with other manufacturers that quote 41mm) case sizes are actually just under the quoted size.
For me a lug-lug anything under 50mm works for me, whatever the stated case diameter as this determines if the watch will 'overhang' my wrist or not. And it is a personal thing and each of us is different in wrist profile and width.
Pushers and crown.
The pushers are very positive. The take some pressure to engage with a "snap", typical of El Primero movements and no suprise. The crown has the Zenith symbol on it and turns smoothly with some resistance as the mainspring winds up. A clutch protects against over winding. It is not a screw down crown - so no need to worry about crossed threading.
This model is graded 100m wrt without screw down crown / pushers. So as long as the gaskets have been checked (have a water resist check at the beginning of the season) - this should be a watch for water sport and land sports - living up to its name.
Bracelet
There has been some contention about the bracelet. I don't have a problem with it.
Fit and Function:
Actually as far as function goes - to hold the watch on safely and comfortably. This bracelet is very comfortable indeed. When wearing I sometimes can't feel I am wearing the watch and on bracelet the balance super. I have had in on my wrist 24x7 except in the shower (as I don't want to get soap and gunk in the bracelet - even though it is 100m wrt)
Form:
It does not have a quick change sizing option on the clasp, but it DOES have effective micro adjustment holes with five holes spanning more than one link width. You need two screwdrivers to remove the screw-pins - one is a screw head into the the long pin spanning the links. This is not too difficult to do with the right sized screwdrivers.
Polished centre links may not to be to everyones taste. But they match the highly polished case parts and dial accents to make a cohesive whole. Being standard 20mm case width there are numerous alternatives for NATO or strap options. I may invest in the separate rubber backed case for this watch but this is not available until April 2021.
The clasp is solidly made with fold over retainer stamped with the Zenith star (brushed) insignia on the highly polished section. It is not the most refined in the market but as I said is very functional if not luxurious. Another famous watch brand seems to have got that covered - in terms of the luxury department.
It's design is somewhat a nod to Gay Frres but not with the open (hair pulling) gaps between the links. There are polished side chamfers to the links to avoid hard edges.
Dial
As WIS this is what we look at most - we can change straps, we can gaze at the case back only when we have the watch off our wrists, but most of the time we are looking at the watch dial. This watch comes in two variants a white dial and a black dial. I may add the white dial to my collection at some point but for now I have the black dial. It is very legible. Each index is rhodium coated faceted, with a black paint stripe and a small section of lume applied to the end of each marker. The hands are rhodium plated steel inlaid with lume.
The new ceramic bezel is very well finished with the previously mentioned 1/0th second markers and sectioned into 10 seconds with 10 at the 12 o'clock position.
Each of the sub-dial is sunken gauche finish. Each of the three dials is different colours. The running seconds at 9 o'clock is silver; the chronograph minutes at 6 o'clock in grey; and chronograph seconds totaliser in blue at 3 o'clock. The sub-dials just touch at their edges almost imperceptibly and the centers line up across the watch face diameter in a symmetrical way.
The date is at 4:30pm (typical El Primero) and colour co-ordinated, so does not impose unless needed to be read.
My black faced is black lustre finished. Over all it has a tendency to 'sparkle' which ever way the light catches it even in dim conditions. It does make me smile.
Hope you enjoyed the read. Martyn
A few extra pictures
and on the wrist:
and this is the complete set from the boutique
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 14th February 2021 at 21:46. Reason: check
Thank you for the review, looks lovely on the wrist.
Congrats!
I like that they send you a mousse.
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed that. Its one release this year that Ive really looked forward to, and I love the 10th of a second movement.
It's just a matter of time...
Fantastic review, I for one am not a dissenter, Im not clever enough. I know my limitations and am comfortable with them.
This is a stunning piece and a stand-alone piece not to be confused with Rolex.
I would gladly wear that, certainly Black dial too.
Thanks for sharing.
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Great review, its good to see zenith have produced a quality piece like this. I look forward to see what variations may come out in time.
Would like to see a lume shot.
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Thank you for the nice review. The movement through the display case back looks particularly nice...
Excellent review Martyn, many thanks.
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Thanks for taking the time on your review of this superb chrono'. Great write-up deserving of this fantastic piece.
Cheers.
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slight camera shake but there you go. Watch is oriented on its side - just gone 9 o’clockOriginally Posted by CatalystGuy
Nice review. What is the function of the bevel? Does it rotate like on a diver watch?
Lovely review and builds on my already need to include one in my collection.
White dial for me as I feel no the sun dials pop more.
Enjoy
It is for measuring time as given by the large chronograph hand that rotates once every 10 seconds. So there are 10 ten second markers (the first one is just a dot as there is the wording shown below) with 1/10th second graduations with highlighted 5 second graduations marked on the bezel.
it does not rotate (unlike a dive bezel)
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 14th February 2021 at 21:11.
Brilliant review. Funnily enough was on the Zenith site earlier and nearly pressed the button. It was not in stock last time I checked, but today it was (white dial)...
Also, given my OCD I would prefer that each 'dot' on the bezel has a text label. So I would suggest that the first bezel 'dot' has the best marker of all which states '1/10th of a second' and the remainder state 02, 03, etc!
I love the white Dial one and keep looking at one.
Is there a bit of discount on these?
Last edited by Gee252; 14th February 2021 at 22:50.
Wow, awesome review! I am quite tempted to pick up a white dial version.... Being Zenith I hope some discounts may be available later in the year... Perhaps I will hang on and see how availability/discounts develop...
Great review and very helpful photos - thanks. I love the shape of the side of the lugs - the way they angle down. Looks like it would hug the wrist nicely.
Great review and fabulous photos, thank you! I really would like a white dial version!
Not bad at all for a Zenith.
Thanks for a great review. Im seriously tempted by the white dial version though black is nice too. This is a big step up from the old EP, good though that is. Hopefully it wont wear too small on a larger wrist - I guess in between the old 38mm and 42mm models, the latter of which wears very large.
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What a great read, congratulations on the new addition, and thank you for the detailed write up!
hope this helps - always difficult to get the same angle:
Martyn
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 15th February 2021 at 09:25.
Great review as always - I have marked this as my next watch in the next year or so. You are costing me a fortune! after your defy 21 review.
Thanks for writing up, this is first on the list to try on the wrist when it's available to do so.
Seems a pretty fair review of a good watch; my wariness is the suspicion that within a few months the excitement will have worn-off and this will be seen (unfairly) as a Daytona substitute. In which case, the all too familiar Zenith discounts will appear......
Hope Im wrong....
fair comment. Lets check back at mid-year sales.
nice watch. Only thing i dont like is the tiny case back screws which are all at different angles. Small detail massively overlooked imo.
very good review, yes it looks a bit like a rolex but so what, its a great design, sporty, great movement, the only thing that slightly lets this down is the bracelet in my opinion but id certainly wear this .
Fair comment. I don’t consider it an Haut Horology movement though. Another movement a with screw down back I’ve had is one in an AP ROO - which has the same “feature” but with bigger screws.
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 15th February 2021 at 18:30. Reason: Changed
A great looking watch you could end up spending hours studying and a great detailed review.
Probably confusing this with the face screws on an AP which are actually screwed in from behind, and as such are not designed to rotate like a functional screw.Fair comment. I don’t consider it an Haut Horology movement though. Another movement a with screw down back I’ve had is one in an AP ROO - which has the same “feature” but with bigger screws.
? these are the screw heads on the rear. I was showing even AP don’t line up their screw heads for fastening the case - same as the Zenith. No confusion. Those AP screws are functional. The white gold front screws fit into hexagonal holes so certainly cannot rotate. Am I understanding wrong?
I can see the Defy 21 also has a screw down back - I can’t see how it would be possible to get all screws to align without compromise. I guess they are tightened to a specific torque.
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 15th February 2021 at 19:49.
Excellent watch and review, Martyn. Congrats.
If the price was right, Id be tempted, although my favourite Zenith is still the Tipo CP2.
I'm in total agreement with you, I was referring to the post that you've quoted regarding the misaligned screws on the case back. The expectation was probably of alike the drop in screw found on the AP face which is not designed to rotate or play a functional part in the tightening from the front.? these are the screw heads on the rear. I was showing even AP don’t line up their screw heads for fastening the case - same as the Zenith. No confusion. Those AP screws are functional. The white gold front screws fit into hexagonal holes so certainly cannot rotate. Am I understanding wrong?
I can see the Defy 21 also has a screw down back - I can’t see how it would be possible to get all screws to align without compromise. I guess they are tightened to a specific torque.
Great write up and many thanks.
Made me dig up an old WTB.
Enjoy
Pitch
On sale
https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Zenith-...4aAujYEALw_wcB
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Not suprised that one is reduced - do you want this on the case back?
Wow what a case back! And if its good enough for AP then Ill give Zenith a pass :). Nice review and thanks for the replyFair comment. I dont consider it an Haut Horology movement though. Another movement a with screw down back Ive had is one in an AP ROO - which has the same feature but with bigger screws.
Thanks for that review I really enjoyed it and the watch is a cracker
Dan
Great review, enjoyed reading this. Thanks for posting
A cheering post, thank you, as I'm looking at Martyn's pics and lusting after this, but was able to glance down at the CP2 on my wrist and feel a little better ...
My Theyre on sale post was in response to Paskinner saying that was what was tempting him.Not suprised that one is reduced - do you want this on the case back?
The case back on yours is lovely.
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Enjoyed reading the review. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Fantastic looking watch!
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Good, thorough review.
At first I wasn't convinced on this one, but it's definitely growing on me.
Im sure I read a piece by a watchmaker (Roger Davies?) that explained lining up screw heads in that sort of scenario was effectively impossible as the tiniest difference in manufacturing could result in a significant (and visible) angular difference when appropriately torqued.Fair comment. I dont consider it an Haut Horology movement though. Another movement a with screw down back Ive had is one in an AP ROO - which has the same feature but with bigger screws.
Nice write up maybe I missed it but what is the service interval for this movement?
I think average. Maybe say 5-6 years if worn regularly, maybe longer if you wear less. With an online sale from zenith website (concierge) the first service is complementary which is quite an incentive + extended warranty.
Sadly I had to sell my Zenith to buy a house but hope to replace it sometime. Though I am finding my sweet spot diameter is now 39mm. Saying that, my last purchase was a 44mm Panerai. Wish I still had that ROO Diver grrrr
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 18th August 2022 at 14:11.
Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it. HHGTTG
Thank you for the the reply. With a 900 service and polish cost 5-6 years isnt bad to be honest. I had to sell my car a few years back to buy a house. I bought another proper toy car 3 years later, it was a long but rewarding wait.
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