Zenith

Team, Other day, I was updating a spreadsheet that I use to control my small collection and I notice that my El Primero New Vintage 1969 was about to celebrate its first anniversary and I decide to create this post describing the experience of having it w...  

And I am glad to see that after one year, you still have as much passion for this superb watch as you did before. I must say, of the 3, the SS version is the one to go for. Now my decision is whether to seek out one of these beauties, or go for a newer St... 

But the black Ti has some mystique on the transparent dial associated with the lightness of the titanium case. The pair, I never owned a gold watch, are true keepers and a good homage to the 60's/70's crazy days. Cheers, Nilo

I can identify with all that you described. Just an amazing piece inside out ! Well woth the wait and hunt. Echoing your call .... Bring on more re-editions ! Vintage charm , modern convenience ... whats not ot like ! If I may share some photos of mine, p...  

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Your pictures shows that, no matter from the photo angle, the beauty of this watch. The colors changes with the angle, making it more and more exciting. Cheers, Nilo

that you LOVE this watch??? :-) MTF

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Great write up and beautiful pictures.

. . . when the revision . . . . . . as evidenced by Nilo's and flamenco's examples, is as compelling as the original. I find the size of the 1969 New Vintage with the overlapping subdials more appealing, particularly on the wrist. The owner of the watch p...  

I have two El Primeros from 1988 and 1990 in my small "vintage" collection, all of which I wear in circulation although the pre-WW2 less so to preserve their movements. With small wrists I do not favour the modern fashion for large cases and prefer maximu...  

To prevent this issue, my watchmaker made a good inventory of the El Primero parts. I do believe that the same intervention that happened with car parts should happen with watch parts some day. Now back to your Ebel: I saw one on a seller that I'm a dedic... 

The Ebel cal 134 case for my two El Primero chronographs take a leather strap, but the strap is special to Ebel (= more expensive), has no pin buckle facility and is usually supplied by Ebel service agent only. Each curved lug-end strap with a sown-in met... 

I didn't know about that and based on your information, no Ebel to me. I'm a leather person and I'm obsessed to have multiple straps for each watch. That is the main reason that I don't have any watch with integrated bracelets, like the AP, no matter how ... 

I also prefer leather straps, especially on vintage watches. There is nothing better than a good quality alligator or lizard strap, coloured to suit the case style and material. Lighter weight on the wrist too but not suitable for dunking in water! I am l... 

Art, Because of the fact that our wrists are used to bigger watches, the re edition "sits" better on the wrist than the original. Cheers, Nilo

. . . modestly sized watches, with the New Vintage being at the outermost level of acceptability for aesthetic comfort on my wrist. All things being equal, the originals should be personally preferable. It's to my surprise they aren't. In other words, fro... 

The vintage size works fine on my wrist but the 19mm lug size makes my life harder to locate the proper straps. Another factor to me is the fact that Zenith did some minor enhancements between the vintage PHC and the 400 and later to the 400Z. I never had... 

Thank you, Nilo, for a wonderful write-up. I would really love to meet it in person! Original or re-issue is always the question going around in my head, though. But this re-issue sounds like worth pursuing..... Thanks! Ken

There is a Zenith boutique in Tokyo, correct? They had a much desired Rainbow. Cheers, Nilo

.. perhaps about one year old or so. Ken

Dear Nilo, Thanks for an amazing and personal story of the watch. I am still reeling from the fact that you keep a spreadsheet for watches. I started a real spreadsheet (old fashion paper) in an accounting log book back in 2000 but it stopped after a few ...  

I feel excited to have a historical piece on my wrist, without the concerns that I personally associate with potentially irreplaceable vintage ones. About tracking watches, I started with a very complex software system (I wrote it) but as the time passed ... 

hope to also see some live shots of the titanium one. i like the transparent dial too.

I love the "steampunk" look. Cheers, Nilo ...  

Thanks for the 1 year on the wrist report, it's always good to know how things go long term. -MW

And I'm left handed and my watches see more action than many. Cheers, Nilo

I start to understand why you think "a man is Zenith-less" without a El Primero... ;) Best Blomman

Major fault? Try it, love it. Cheers, Nilo

But, not chronograph related... Give me time - I will get there! ;) Best Blomman

And I am totally with you "meu irmao". To me, the "El Primero" mouvement is not only a "Great" mouvement but "The" benchmark for all other automatic chronograph mouvements which were developed since! Abracos, Francois

But I also dream of an El Primero V2.0. It's about time. See here: Cheers, Nilo

Excellent write-up for a beauty of a re-edition. I know some purists frown at the New Vintage 1969 edition, but i've always had a soft spot for them. Zenith definitely got it RIGHT with this one. Thanks for sharing

not only for another Zenith re edition but for your marvelous future reviews. Truly enjoyable read from first to the last sentence. Sincerely Damjan

... can feel the joy as you do with your 1 year wearing. btw very nice watch with a signature and reliable movement, a must chrono for every chrono lovers. stefan

As you and all should know I'm very "infidel" to my watches but this one is a definition of a keeper. Cheers, Nilo

I love your report! Thank you. This makes me wanna to get a Zenith right now.

The "King of the Chronographs" is very addictive. Cheers, Nilo

If I may, a couple of pictures of this gorgeous watch :) You didn't mention the second subdial which is going from white to grey with the light and the lovely dial, nearly off-white. My only complain is that reset button needs to be firmly pushed to have ...  

My experience with several El Primero varies. The new ones, requires a more firm push that improves a bit with use. My "old" ones, after passing for the wise hands of my watchmaker's team, are more responsive to the chronograph reset button. Cheers, Nilo

Additional pictures with this new leather Nato strap :) ...  

would prefer a standard construction with some slightly contrasting (brownish) contrast though... Magnus

It comes from Very thin and comfortable.