Zenith El Primero Lightweight Spindrift Racing

(left to right: Antonio Palma (Bank Mirabaud), Yann Guichard, Dona Bertarelli (both SpinDrift) and Jean-Frédéric Dufour, CEO Zenith)

After three months of ambitious boatbuilding, the maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 was relaunched on wednesday, April 2 in Lorient (France) and returned to the base in La Trinité Sur Mer. The largest racing trimaran in the world has been optimised for the demanding North Atlantic and 24-hours crewed records and then for the solo Route du Rhum. 

Meanwhile, Zenith unveiled the El Primero Lightweight at Baselworld, a hi-tech, ultra-light watch engraved Spindrift Racing, which is available in a limited edition (250 pieces). I am really happy to be able to show you some life images of the this fantastic and quite ambitious watch: 

The openworked dial provides something like a 'bird’s eye' view of this legendary movement, a dynamic reinterpretation of the collection’s classic design characteristics. The transparency of the central part makes it even lighter and provides a clear view of the skeleton-worked El Primero calibre. The disc-type date display is also both light and efficient thanks to cut-out stencil-style numerals standing out against a red dot at 6 o’clock. The generously hollowed-out facetted hour-markers bear a luminescent coating

Technically, this cutting edge sports version of this legendary chronograph follows the very same objectives as Spindrift 2 trimaran, i.e. superfluous weight has been removed to increase performance while making no compromises on precision, sturdiness and reliability. This began with the movement:

Based on its latest research in the domain of new materials, Zenith chose titanium – a light and highly resistant metal widely used in aeronautics – to make the main parts of the movements which are the heaviest when they are made in brass: namely the mainplate and five bridges (barrel bridge, balance bridge, lever-bridge, lever-wheel bridge and chronograph bridge). 

The Manufacture also opted to use silicon, with the lever and escape- wheel made from this high-tech, anti-magnetic material that is three and a half times lighter than classic alloys, harder than steel and a guarantee of excellent efficiency. 

The new El Primero Lightweight has a carbon case with an original and complex construction already known from the Striking 10: a combination of carbon (outside) and aluminium (inner case) with titanium push pieces and crown. There is lot to tell about this case (which I reserve for later) so for the time being a simple image shall suffice:

Overall: The result is a 25% lighter weight. 

Sporty, contemporary and decidedly masculine, the new El Primero Lightweight gives a new breath of life to the Zenith collection, while confirming the innovative capacities and creative daring of the Manufacture:

Thanks for watching,

Magnus