I have a long relationship with Zenith El Primero chronographs.
Back in 2005, a friend introduced me to the Zenith brand. After this introduction, I did some homework and it was easy to be converted on a fan of the El Primero.
Many articles had been written about this chronograph movement that was designed during the 60’s and disputes to be the first automatic chronograph movement.
For an outstanding and deep Zenith 410 movement review check the one made by Walt Odets.
Google “The Zenith Chronograph” “Walt Odets” and enjoy the wonderful two part article.
Since that time, I had few Zenith watches but they never entered the “true keeper” category, for one reason or another.
#1 - Zenith RainbowMy first Zenith, a Rainbow model, was some sort of a “keeper” but it got quite a few days on my wrist. I liked the watch but on every rotation, after few minutes of wrist I always decided to swap it for another one.
Today I believe that it was the bracelet (I didn't know how to remove - not a trivial task) or the colorful bezel that had some resemblance with a diver watch.
This Rainbow was a nice watch and, if one day another (with a black bezel) shows up, for sure, I will consider an acquisition.
It ended during a house robbery and it’s gone ... Forever?
#2 - Zenith ClassMy second El Primero, a class model around the same time that I had the Rainbow, had green numbers that didn’t match the hands patina and this disturbs me a lot. It went on a trade and is gone. Now I know that I hate green markers.
#3 - Zenith ClassMy third Zenith, another class model, got some wrist time (I loved the overall lines) but it was also part of the robbery. Gone.
#4 - Zenith ClassMy fourth El Primero, one more class model, was acquired from a dear friend, and I really enjoyed it until I got an offer, during a trade, that I could not refuse and … it’s gone to another friend that enjoys this watch much more than I did.
#5 - Zenith Chronomaster - Under review
This is my fifth Zenith and it has every requirement that I consider to be a true “keeper”:
* Is a dress watch (I don’t have any other dress watch)
* Is “powered” by a movement, El Primero 410Z, that I admire
* Size is perfect (39.5/40mm) for my 3rd wrist
* The dial, black, is perfectly balanced, even with the date at 4:30
* Has a transparent case back, that allow me to admire the classic El Primero movement
* The chronograph pushers are firm but precise to activate with a loud “click”
* The Zenith brand allow me to “fly under the radar”, a must have where I live
On the negative side, I consider:
* The El Primero (all) does not “hack”, making the precise settings somehow a pain
* Have day, date, and month plus moon phase. More pain to perform the complete settings but is nice to have all of those information.
* The winding, when doing manual wind, could be smoother or the crown could be bigger.
* The annoying crown setting position. First stop, to set the hour/minutes, second stop sets the day. This is contrary to all other brands that I know.
* Being a 36.000 bph, makes the “visits” to my watchmaker more frequent (I’m absolute paranoid about proper watch maintenance).
On the neutral side, it arrived with a bracelet, that I didn’t spend any time on the sizing because I’m not a bracelet guy.
The bracelet has more “bling” than I dare to wear but it seems to be very comfortable, for people that wear watches with a bracelet and likes “bling”.
It was removed and replaced by a very nice black ostrich strap.
A proper Zenith buckle was ordered and should be with me on matter of weeks.
Since the lug size is 20mm, I have many other straps that I plan to test on this watch.
As a bonus, after the bracelet was removed, I notice that the watch has drilled lugs, making the strap swap a trivial task.
Initial dayEven considering that the watch was N.O.S., I took it to my watchmaker for tests. It was a little magnetized and far away from chronometer specs, but with good amplitude (that should indicate good lubrication).
A quick demagnetizing session put it back to the chronometer specs but I know that, after a brief “honeymoon” time on my wrist, it should receive a full maintenance, even with the mechanism being very clean, but let's remember that is a 8-10 years watch.
I’m, as everyone should know, a little obsessed about proper watch maintenance, in special on a high frequency movement, like the El Primero.
The movementClassic El Primero utilitarian/workhorse design and finishing:
Initial weekI put the watch on my wrist and it stayed there for a full week. This watch is a real pleasure to wear, all the time.
Despite the heavy automatic winding rotor I could, as with all other El Primero based watches that I had, not notice any “wiggle” or vibrations when moving my arm.
Overall impressions
Dial/HandsI love the glossy black dial, with the day of the week and month perfectly balanced over the running seconds and the minute accumulator.
On the lower center we have the moon phase indicator and the hour accumulator on a very nice balance.
The three accumulators have a concentric circular guilloche pattern (very hard to capture on a photo).
Finally we have the date indicator at 4:30. On recent models Zenith changed this “El Primero classic” day position to 6 PM, a mistake by my book.
The hour markers are made of a combination of Roman numbers and little triangles that looks like white gold.
Finishing the dial we have a very clear tachymeter markers, surrounding the dial.
The hour and minute hands, dauphine styled, and the small seconds and accumulators are also made of white gold (?).
Notice the complete absence of any luminous markers (dial and hands). It’s a dress watch.
Case
It’s a classic Chronomaster case, fully polished and very well designed. The lugs are short and makes the case “to sit” on my wrist without any discomfort.
A very classic case, IMHO.
A quick note. The short lugs seem to preclude the mounting of tick straps. Not a problem, considering that this is a dress watch.
PushersThe chronograph pushers are rectangular round and have a firm and positive action.
Crown
Standard Zenith crown, that could be a tad bigger to help the manual wind, signed with the classic Zenith logo.
Other
On the opposite side of the crown there are two small pushers to set the day of the week and moon phase.
Final considerations
(As background we have a quilt, made by my wife)
I consider this Zenith Chronomaster one very nice example of a chronograph that maintains a 40+ years old sound design under a very pleasant package.
Based on my past experience with watches with this movement, it's sturdy and tolerates all day-to-day abuse.
I'm enjoying every 1/10 of a second that it stays on my wrist as I type.
Cheers,
Nilo
Watch Characteristics (Forgot to add)Model: 02 0240 410/23.M241
Movement: 410Z (El Primero)
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Dial Color: Black (glossy)
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless Steel
Clasp Type: Hidden Folding Clasp
Movement: Automatic Chronograph - Chronometer
Complications: Day, day of the week, month, running seconds (small), chronograph
Screw Down Crown: No
Bezel: Fixed
Crystal: Scratch Resistant Sapphire / antiglare
Case Back: Transparent
Water Resistant: 30m/100ft.
Case Diameter: 40mm (39.5 by my measurement)
Thickness: 13mm
Lug spacing: 20mm
This message has been edited by nilomis on 2012-06-11 12:32:46 This message has been edited by nilomis on 2012-06-11 13:04:42 
