A sneak peak of a brand new watch from Zenith

[hanz079]

This picture is lifted from the Zenith Facebook page.



From what I can see, it's a carbon fibre case (should cost a bomb)
But lets take a look at the other stuff.

The case is unlike the shape of any other in the current collection.
Does it look like a cavity on the lugs? Could just be the picture angle.
The chrono pushers look new too.

What I can make out from the dial is that the hands and markers look to be the same found on the Stratos Flyback.
Watch does not have a rotatable bezel.
Could it be a new sports offering smaller than the current Stratos at 45.5mm?
I would very much hope so.

But honestly speaking, I am not a fan of carbon fibre cases.
They may look all uber modern, but they cost an arm and a leg...
So I might wait for the full reveal and if I happen to like the design, wait for a stainless steel offering if is in the pipeline.

[dpkong]

Pattern on the case looks too orderly to be carbon fibre?

A thin, fixed bezel with no engraving?

[hanz079]

Pattern on the case looks too orderly to be carbon fibre?

A thin, fixed bezel with no engraving?

Don't know about being orderly but it would gross me out if a brand of Zenith's stature were to release a carbon fibre "patterned" watch that is not carbon fibre.
With that said, they did it once before but not on the case... the dial for the Zenith Retrotimer in black does have what looked like a carbon fibre dial but were later clarified by Zenith themselves that it's actually just a carbon fibre pattern... ouch...

[takashi78]

It looks "orderly" as you are too familiar with the AP "forged" carbon case.
When you see this pattern its a molded cased instead of forged.
So its cheaper than forged.

I for one am very curious to see the pricing.

my only concern with cf case is if the coating/clear coat is not done right then over time it will "fog" up.

[hanz079]

2 weeks til the reveal.
2nd picture was shown at Zenith FB page.



Now this pic shows the movement side and there are plenty of info.
The baseplate and case engraving shows the number 4052...
Zenith Caliber 4052 is the same caliber fitted in the Striking 10th watch.
I can safely say that this watch will be a carbon cased Striking 10th.
As for the purple/blue part? I am not sure, could be an anti magnetic part or some sort?

[bezelnut]

The purple thing, could that be silicon? like in the GP constant escapement?

[timenut]

It's the double-layered clutch wheel, which makes it a Striking 10th! 

[hanz079]

3rd picture released.

Looks to be a skeletonized dial...
Tri colour subdial combo...

[shamtv2555]

buy it.....

[dpkong]

Another one where the sub-dials overlap. A fail for me.. 

[JOS2012]

I didn't know that there are others who also can't accept overlapping dials..

Another one where the sub-dials overlap. A fail for me.. 

[hanz079]

Another one where the sub-dials overlap. A fail for me.. 

I was like you too Donald...
But then I think Zenith must be listening because this year they released a triple calendar moonphase watch.
No more overlapping subdials.
Is it just me or does the smaller subdials just seemed "lost" inside the huge dial and case?



I think the best solution to the overlapping subdials is this one.
The Stratos Rainbow.
A smaller 6'clock subdial.
Better balance with no hindrance on functionality.

[dpkong]

I didn't know that there are others who also can't accept overlapping dials..

Another one where the sub-dials overlap. A fail for me.. 

One reason why I couldn't jump on the 1969 limited edition and Striking 10th when the offer was actually not bad...

Triple calendar moonphase looks interesting but the colours on the Stratos is too much for me. If I wanted it colourful (translate as loud), then it would be the ROO GP forged carbon.. 

[Enkidu]

I was like you too Donald...
But then I think Zenith must be listening because this year they released a triple calendar moonphase watch.

Hanz, I trust it wasn't you who suggested to Zenith to put 2 small stars at the 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions also....

[timenut]

I love the overlapping dials design, so long as you don't have the guesstimate. The dials on the Striking 10th are perfectly readable though it's disappointing that the standard El Primero 36,000 aren't. Kinda defeat the purpose of it being a chrono.

[Yikkie]

I have no issues with the overlapping subdials on the striking 10th as the 3 o'clock counter is for seconds and the second hand will indicate the division of time to 1/10 th of a second. Since the second hand will complete a full rotation every 10s with the second marker divided into 5seconds indexes...there really is no issue in reading the chronograph function. The same probably can't be said about the non-striking 10th models.

[takashi78]

Being a sucker for skeleton or somewhat skeleton dials, looking at the case material and complication...i am guessing rm30-40k list price?

[hanz079]

Being a sucker for skeleton or somewhat skeleton dials, looking at the case material and complication...i am guessing rm30-40k list price?

Since the stainless steel striking 10th retails at 36k, I think they would add 10k for the carbon case... maybe more.
Still waiting for the full reveal.
Should be in a day or two.

[takashi78]

When i was in Tokyo and went into the boutique, asked about this and no SA knew about its existence nor release date 

[hanz079]

Zenith finally revealed the watch in whole.
It's called the El Primero Lightweight.





42mm carbon case.
Zenith states that the inner structure of the case is made from "aluminium transformed into ceramic"
Your guess is as good as mine on whatever that means.
Chronograph pushpiece is made of titanium.

Movement plates made out of titanium.
According to the press release, the different materials used for the movement is to keep the weight down.
Regular brass plates have been replaced with titanium and it shaves off 5.65 grams from the usual 21.10 grams to 15.45 grams.

Movement is still now called the 4052W.
One tenth of a second chronograph with the central seconds hand completing one rotation in 10 seconds.

Dial is partly openworked.
Tri Colour subdials as expected.

No price as of now.

[bezelnut]

Finally revealed. 

So this is like a Superleggera or a Scuderia, or a GT3RS. Lightweight version of an already sporty thing. 

Btw, is the Zenith logo, "El-primero" & "1/10 of a second" inscripted on the crystal?

[davidtth]

100 piece 

sure not cheap, but very nice !

[takashi78]

Could have made the base plates from CF as well haha....

[dennis.T]

I love this... Hopefully the price is not a big set back..

[takashi78]

Price is USD22k...