Zenith is changing a lot right now, and that's a good thing. This change, which I believe is necessary, can be seen particularly clearly at Baselworld 2018. The otherwise yellow-page sized Trade Book, Zenith's dealer catalogue in which all models can be found, was suddenly only a fraction as thick. Julien Tornare and his new Team massively reduced and concentrated the collection.

His task is a highly complex and very difficult. It is supposed to turn a traditional and well known watch brand that has produced such brilliant developments as the El Primero of 1969 into a todays watch brand with its own collection in the sense of a manufactory, but which was almost dead and dissolved in the meantime and from then on was more active as a manufacturer and supplier of movements for other watch brands.

And Julien Tornare is doing fine. He not only reduced the collection, but completely rebuilt the brand. In addition to staff renewal, he is concentrating on rebuilding the Zenith brand as a genuine watch manufacturer. He is currently investing more in the brand, in infrastructure, in new machines and new bright minds than in many different new models. He also stopped selling Zenith movements to other brands. Currently, only sister brands like Hublot get Zenith movements. This is the reason why we at Zenith have not seen the great fireworks of new products since Basel 2018, that the other watch brands ignite whenever the fair is.

I think this is exactly the right way to make Zenith what it used to be: one of the world's leading, most innovative watch brands. Just more modern than it was then. That's why patience and time are needed. I am very sure that the hard work at Zenith will soon pay off. With watches like the Defy Lab and the EP 21 and everything you can do at Zenith, the chances are good. So let's give the new old Zenith a chance.

Now, despite the difficult introduction, let us celebrate together with Zenith the 50th birthday of El Primero. I do this either with my Defy Lab or my beloved Cronometro P15 on my wrist.

The Novelties In addition to something very special that will be presented in the coming days to mark the 50th anniversary of El Primero, the Zenit innovations will concentrate on further variants of existing collections such as the Defy Classic and the Pilot watches.

PILOT TYPE 20 TON UP BLACK and BLUE

The Pilot Type 20 Tone Up is presented in an aged stainless steel case with black dial and strap and in a bronze case with blue dial and strap.

The technical data are identical to those of the previous Pilot Type 20 Extra Special models.

PILOT TYPE 20 TON UP BLACK TECHNICAL DETAILS Reference: 11.2432.679/21.C900

KEY POINTS Aged stainless steel 45 mm case Tribute to the Café Racer Spirit 

MOVEMENT Elite 679, Automatic Calibre: 11 ½``` (Diameter: 25.60mm) Movement thickness: 3.85mm Components: 126 Jewels: 27 Frequency: 28,800 VpH (4Hz) Power-reserve: min. 50 hours Finishing: Oscillating weight with “Côtes de Genève” motif 

FUNCTIONS Hours and minutes in the centre Central seconds hand 

CASE, DIAL & HANDS Diameter: 45mm Diameter opening: 37.8mm Thickness: 14.25mm Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides Case-back: Case-back with Café Racer Spirit engravings Material: Aged stainless steel   Water-resistance: 10 ATM Dial: Matt black Hour-markers: Arabic numerals in Super-Luminova SLN C1 Hands: Black ruthenium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C1 

STRAP & BUCKLE Black oily nubuck leather strap with protective rubber lining Titanium pin buckle 

PILOT TYPE 20 EXTRA SPECIAL BLUE TECHNICAL DETAILS Reference: 29.2432.679/57.C808 

KEY POINTS Bronze Case that will develop his own patina Case-back engraved with Zenith flying instruments logo Inspired by the legendary Zenith aviation watches Arabic numerals entirely made of Super-Luminova 

MOVEMENT Elite 679, Automatic Calibre: 11 ½``` (Diameter: 25.60mm) Movement thickness: 3.85mm Components: 126 Jewels: 27 Frequency: 28,800 VpH (4Hz) Power-reserve: min. 50 hours Finishing: Oscillating weight with “Côtes de Genève” motif 

FUNCTIONS Hours and minutes in the centre Central seconds hand 

CASE, DIAL & HANDS Diameter: 45mm Diameter opening: 37.8mm Thickness: 14.25mm Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides Case-back: Titanium case-back with the Zenith flying instrument logo Material: Bronze Water-resistance: 10 ATM Dial: Matt blue Hour-markers: Arabic numerals in Super-Luminova SLN C1 Hands: Black ruthenium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C1

STRAP & BUCKLE Blue oily nubuck leather strap with protective rubber lining Titanium pin buckle 

DEFY CLASSIC CERAMIC BLACK, WHITE & BLUE
For the Defy Classic, Zenith added models in black, blue and white ceramic cases to the collection, each with a matching rubber strap 

 

DEFY CLASSIC CERAMIC TECHNICAL DETAILS Reference: 49.9000.670/78.R782 (BLACK) Reference: 49.9002.670/01.R792 (WHITE) Reference: 49.9003.670/51.R793 (BLUE) 

KEY POINTS New 41mm Brushed Ceramic case  In house Elite skeletonised movement Silicon escape-wheel and lever 

MOVEMENT Elite 670 SK, Automatic Calibre: 11 ½``` (Diameter: 25.60mm) Movement thickness: 3.88mm Components: 187 Jewels: 27 Frequency: 28,800 VpH (4Hz) Power-reserve: min. 48 hours Finishing: Special oscillating weight with satined finishings 

FUNCTIONS Hours and minutes in the centre Central seconds hand Date indication at 6 o’clock 

CASE, DIAL & HANDS Diameter: 41mm Diameter opening: 32.5mm Thickness: 10.75mm Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides Case-back: Transparent sapphire crystal Material: Brushed Ceramic Water-resistance: 10 ATM Dial: Openworked Hour-markers: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C1 Hands: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C1 

STRAP & BUCKLE Rubber with folding buckle 

 
DEFY CLASSIC TWO TONE
Another new addition to the Defy Classic family is a two tone model on a bracelet.

 

I like the combination of rosé gold and titanium very much!

DEFY CLASSIC TITANIUM & GOLD TECHNICAL DETAILS Reference: 87.9001.670/79.M9001 

KEY POINTS New 41mm Brushed Titanium case with 18-carat rose gold bezel In house Elite skeletonised movement Silicon escape-wheel and lever 

MOVEMENT Elite 670 SK, Automatic Calibre: 11 ½``` (Diameter: 25.60mm) Movement thickness: 3.88mm Components: 187 Jewels: 27 Frequency: 28,800 VpH (4Hz) Power-reserve: min. 48 hours Finishing: Special oscillating weight with satined finishings 

FUNCTIONS Hours and minutes in the centre Central seconds hand Date indication at 6 o’clock 

CASE, DIAL & HANDS Diameter: 41mm Diameter opening: 32.5mm Thickness: 10.75mm Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides Case-back: Transparent sapphire crystal Material: Brushed titanium & 18-carat rose gold Water-resistance: 10 ATM Dial: Openworked Hour-markers: Gold-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C1 Hands: Gold-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C1 

  STRAP & BUCKLE Titanium & rose gold bracelet with folding buckle


I'm already looking forward to Baselworld, traditionally the place where Zenith's technical innovations are presented. In a good two months' time we will know some more details  also about how exactly Zenith will celebrate the 50th birthday of El Primero. 

 
Cheers, 

 
Sascha