Zenith El Primero Chronograph HW

Few would dispute that one of Zenith's most iconic models is the famous "Rainbow" – created in '97 for the French Ministry of Defence, this watch embodies much modernism and deservedly became one of the icons of the art of watchmaking. The watch presented here largely echoes its design and aims to pay tribute to the brand's famous models in a contemporary interpretation. This watch carries that perfect balance between sportiness and sophistication that every enthusiast of the art of watchmaking seeks, asking themselves the question: "If I have one watch, what should it be?". The detailing is fantastic, with all this texture and precision of execution. We can confidently say that after the foray into rough and overly sporty designs at the beginning of the new millennium, Zenith is returning to its tradition of presenting elegant timepieces with great design. And regardless of the fact that this watch belongs more to the brand's sports line, it cannot be denied that it has an incredible presence and a superb finish. The watch holds at its heart an in-house Zenith El Primero caliber 420 movement – manual winding, 25 jewels, and only 6.6 mm thick! It operates at 36,000 vibrations (5 Hertz) and has a power reserve of about 55 hours. The layout of the dial is fantastic, and we greatly appreciate this classic style with the widely spaced subdials. The main color of the dial is black and the luminescent hour markers contrast very well against it, while the telemeter scale along its outer edge seems to frame the entire "instrument" into a complete picture. The transparent case back offers a view of the masterful finish of the complex movement. The case is a contemporary, even for today, 40 mm, and this size is truly very comfortable – it is no coincidence that it is perhaps the most used size by most brands for their most popular models. This particular watch comes on a solid five-row bracelet with polished and brushed links, and the clasp is very comfortable and branded with the brand's name. The dial is extremely handsome and legible – everything is perfectly proportioned, and the hands are highly visible against the black dial. The hour markers are applied and are coated with SuperLuminova. Another distinctive feature of this model is the inner "flange," which is positioned at a 90-degree angle to the dial and upon which the tachymeter scale is printed – this lends a great deal of elegance and aristocratic flair. The sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating, which allows the indications to be viewed without any hindrance or distortion. The crown is screw-down, the chronograph pushers are ribbed – sufficiently large in size and requiring a deliberate effort to press, which in my view is a plus, as it makes your actions more intentional. As an overall impression, we can say that this Zenith is one of the brand's finest models, comprehensively balanced and multifunctional, and the heritage it carries in its name makes it highly sought-after and desired by collectors around the world.