Zenith El Primero Chronograph (Hand Wound)

[spoonfork]

I don't want to hijack hanz079's thread, so I post mine here instead.

Here's the photos of the Zenith El Primero HW Calibre 420Z. This model has been discontinued by Zenith, and replaced with newer incarnations such as the Striking 10th and 36000 VPH.



The hands are all black. Due to lighting, the next photos show the hands as silver in color.






Zenith El Primero HW Chronograph by spoonfork, on Flickr

Take note of the Z in the movement number. In hanz079's photo, the Z is enclosed inside a rectangle, while mine is engraved in a slight incline without any enclosure. I am not too sure if this is intentional or due to lacking QA - but it's weird. Anyone have any ideas?

Will post more pictures after I change the bracelet, and when I get a hold of a micro lense. To be frank, the stainless steel bracelet does not bring out the beige dial. I am pretty sure that the dial will pop out more with a light brown leather strap.

Larger photos can be viewed at my flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spoonfork

[hanz079]

Woah... great shots u have there, alot nicer than mine.
Ur using DSLR camera perhaps? or maybe your photography skills are way better?
I agree with you that the watch with the original steel bracelet looks bland.
Well, time for you to start your search on a deployant and strap!! Good luck!! 

[spoonfork]

Yeah, I use a Nikon D80 with 50mm f/1.8 and 18-200mm lense. I'm still seeking answers for the "Z", gonna post on other forums.

[hanz079]

hmmm.... it does look weird.
I chk some pics of online retailer carrying this piece and it does seem that the "Z" is boxed up.
Different production year maybe?

[takashi78]

Very nice!
The white dial is one of my targets as well.
So you got it from the same source as hanz079?

Didnt notice in the pics on website that the bracelet center link is polished.

[ck77]

Nice pictures 
Perhaps it is the 'special edition' 

[spoonfork]

Very nice!
The white dial is one of my targets as well.
So you got it from the same source as hanz079?

Didnt notice in the pics on website that the bracelet center link is polished.

Yeah I got it from the same source as hanz079.

[spoonfork]

So I asked around regarding the "Z" on the bridge. The most likely explanation is that my watch was produced during the transition from 420 to 420Z. The differences between 420 and 420Z are:

420
- fourth wheel: 100 teeth / 5 arms
- escape wheel: 21 teeth / pinion with 7 teeth
- pallet fork: two horns (left and right) are bended at the tips

420Z
- fourth wheel: 120 teeth / 6 arms
- escape wheel: 20 teeth / pinion with 8 teeth
- pallet fork: all the horns are straight

The bridge however, is still the same size - the only difference is the addition of "Z" to denote the newer movement. So when the watch was being built, Zenith used the old bridge meant for 420, and added the "Z" later, and was left with little space to properly engrave it.

Cheers,

-Mel

[takashi78]

So the big question is....does it improve the movt going to the "z" series of movt?

[spoonfork]

So the big question is....does it improve the movt going to the "z" series of movt?

I don't have the technical knowledge to know the difference, but I my theory is that it don't matter. El Primero has been 36000 since it was first built. Interestingly Zenith have been advertising their movement as the first automatic chronograph - I read somewhere that Seiko was one of the first as well. Strange that Zenith didn't really market it as the "first" 36000 bph movement.

I guess in a similar vein, the same question can be asked about the Striking 10th and the VpH 36000.

--Mel