Ornatus-Mundi takes readers on a journey through Vienna's opulent coffee houses, showcasing the Zenith Elite Chronograph Classic in steel. This article delves into the watch's design philosophy, highlighting how Zenith achieved a blend of elegance and versatility. Ornatus-Mundi's detailed observations provide valuable insights into the watch's aesthetic and mechanical nuances, making a compelling case for its significance in Zenith's collection.
There are times when a mid-boggling mix of contrast is just the right environment for delivering a simple message.
Today, I took out Zenith's most simply and elegantly dressed chronograph out for breakfast into the most opulent Vienna's coffee houses: Meet the
Zenith Elite Chronograph Classic in steel:
Elite chronograph? Did you notice the oxymoron? Elite: that name stands for the automatic time-only movement Zenith created in the mid-1990s, but it has recently accepted a second duty as the collective name for Zenith's more elegant pieces. At this time I fail to make much sense of it, but BaselWorld 2016 is not far away, and and soon we'll probably be a bit wiser...
That is the only change the
El Primero's Elite Classic has experienced between its presentation in Basel and now. Very elegant, very "1950s" chronograph clad in a 42mm steel case:
The mystery lies entirely in its silver dial with a sunburst motif as the only finish.
With this monochrome arrangement the heat-blued seconds hand really stands out, and it rightfully does.
Indices are set into the dial and then polished (to give a nice
reflective effect), with finely printed partitions as well as permanent
seconds and minute counter subdials.
The movement is the new automatic
Cal. El Primero 4069: basically an El Primero 4010 sans big date function (and thus only 254 instead of 308 parts):
The back of the case is most fascinating to look at with a simple constrasting theme well employed to give a maximum of effect - I am talking about the matte-finished bezel around the case back, adjacent to the highly polished case band:
This specific watch came with a deployant clasp that mimics quite well an ordinary tang buckle. I prefer the latter for pure reasons of wearing comfort, and I doubt that will ever change...
Every little detail on this watch is just made to ensure a pleasant impression. The restrained but very effective dial design, the slight curvature of the dial itself, combined with the domed crystal and the sensual, rounded case. The proportions of hands in relation to the indices, subdials, diameter...
The suspense created with the lively leaf-shaped hands and the straight and simple indices - one is inclined to use the word 'perfection', and this does not seem to be out of place.
With 42mm the watch is not exactly small, but still within the mainstream range, by today's customs.
Being almost devoid of any intrinsic colour, the watch is immensely versatile to wear.
It is still an eye-catcher, which I think is the true mastery of this watch.
I personally was astounded to note how long my eyes were glued to its face (and I had other watches on the table as well!).
So, to conclude, I would say that the new
Elite Chronograph Classic is an immensly important watch in Zenith's stable: pleasant, elegant and versatile are, I guess at least, convincing ingredients of a successful career as a watch. It will appeal 'to the masses', I am sure (although this sounds a bit exaggerating), and such a piece is exactly what Zenith needs.
The Elite Classic is not a watch which is particularly innovative, groundbreaking or daring. No, it is exactly the opposite.
It is a piece for the connoisseur: destined for personal admiration and pleasure. I am personally glad that Zenith created this timepiece, it is a genre which is seen less and less in-the-wild.
Thanks for reading,
Magnus
Our venue: The
Café Central in Vienna:
The café occupies the ground floor of the former bank and stockmarket building, today called the
Palais Ferstel after its architect Heinrich von Ferstel.
The 'Central' is a place of profound historical relevance: The café was opened in 1876, and in the late 19th century it became a key meeting place of the Viennese intellectual scene. Key regulars included:
Theodor Herzl (founder of the modern political zionism), poet
Hugo von Hofmannsthal, architect
Adolf Loos, Austrian novelist and mathematician
Leo Perutz and Marxist revolutionary
Leon Trotsky. In January 1913 alone,
Josip Broz Tito,
Sigmund Freud,
Adolf Hitler,
Vladimir Lenin, and
Trotsky (the latter two being regulars) were patrons of the establishment.
Imagine this 'ensemble' all at once in this place!
This message has been edited by Ornatus-Mundi on 2016-02-09 13:01:26 
