Malaysia Watch Forum

Main Forums => General Discussion - Modern Watches => Topic started by: hanz079 on February 29, 2012, 07:00:50 AM

Title: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: hanz079 on February 29, 2012, 07:00:50 AM
Leaked photo's from a japanese blog.

http://www.kijinkan.co.jp/my_first_blog/cat1/cat5/zenith/

All picture are from there and taken with thanks.  :Cheers:

1st up is the Pilot Doublematic.
45mm case (ugh! not for me)
Chronograph, Big Date, Alarm, Power Reserve and GMT.
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/Zenith%20Basel%202012/IMG_0374.jpg)

2nd is the Pilot Big Date Special.
42mm case (can be considered)
Chronograph, Big Date.
On leather strap.
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/Zenith%20Basel%202012/IMG_0376.jpg)

On Mesh bracelet.
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/Zenith%20Basel%202012/IMG_0365.jpg)

See through caseback.
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/Zenith%20Basel%202012/IMG_0362.jpg)

The 3rd and also the one that caught my attention.
The El Primero Espada.
40mm case, simple 3 hour, minutes and seconds hand, date.
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/Zenith%20Basel%202012/IMG_0380.jpg)
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/Zenith%20Basel%202012/IMG_0385.jpg)

See through caseback.
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/Zenith%20Basel%202012/IMG_0382.jpg)

Ok, let's omit the 1st and 2nd watch.
The 3rd one is where all the commotion is at.

The old Espada is actually a chronograph watch.
Now Zenith revived the Espada name, but with a 3 hand elite movement that will run at 36000bph.
And the have the audacity to stuck the El Primero name on the dial...  :HammerHead:
I always thought El Primero was suppose to refer to the 3019PHC movement and then later 400 series movement???
Maybe Zenith is referring to the 1st 3 hand movement that beats at 36000bph? Cannot be coz Seiko and a few companies already did that... so why the El Primero on the dial of a 36000bph elite movement watch?

More news is that 3 watches will be discontinued and I am surprised.
Why? Because I was actually aiming for 2 of those for quite some time.
So, now is just to wait til it pops out on the grey market and get it for a bargain.

The 3 discontinued pieces are the:
Heritage Ultra Thin (couldn't care less about this to be honest)
Captain Elite Dual Time
El Primero Pilot.

Captain Elite Dual Time
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/03_2130_682_22_M2130.jpg)

El Primero Pilot
(http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/hanz079/03_2117_4002_23c704_11.jpg)

Anyone seen both of this appearing in the grey market, kindly drop me a line  :Cheers:
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: Enkidu on February 29, 2012, 07:16:30 AM
The old Espada is actually a chronograph watch.
Now Zenith revived the Espada name, but with a 3 hand elite movement that will run at 36000bph.
And the have the audacity to stuck the El Primero name on the dial...  :HammerHead:
I always thought El Primero was suppose to refer to the 3019PHC movement and then later 400 series movement???
Maybe Zenith is referring to the 1st 3 hand movement that beats at 36000bph? Cannot be coz Seiko and a few companies already did that... so why the El Primero on the dial of a 36000bph elite movement watch?

El Primero here refers to first chronograph that cannot function as a chronograph.  :thumbsdown: It's a pity they are discontinuing the Pilot which brings back fond memories of the old Zenith El Primero before Zenith lost its way (like a wonderful son who became a drug addict) in the mid 2000's.
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: hanz079 on February 29, 2012, 07:19:52 AM
Well, to quote Jean Frederic Dufour

"The El Primero has never been a movement name. The movement will and always have been the 3019PHC. The El Primero is the name of the line of watches"

??? ??? ???

So is Elite a movement or a name for the line of watches? Blur liao...
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: Enkidu on February 29, 2012, 10:10:39 AM
Well, to quote Jean Frederic Dufour

"The El Primero has never been a movement name. The movement will and always have been the 3019PHC. The El Primero is the name of the line of watches"

??? ??? ???

So is Elite a movement or a name for the line of watches? Blur liao...

First a playboy looking CEO, now a blur CEO???  :Confused: Zenith is walking on really thin ice.
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: chrisyen on February 29, 2012, 12:33:19 PM
nothing look great!!! disappointed...
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: hanz079 on February 29, 2012, 12:56:32 PM
I was really hoping for a smaller stratos... well... I will keep hoping...  ;D
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: Gigi on February 29, 2012, 12:57:54 PM
i felt the whole thing will stuff up but not in the way that happend to it during the era before JFD  :HammerHead:
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: siodee on February 29, 2012, 02:51:06 PM
Waulau Bro, lagi mau poison....Zenith sudah rank in the survey la  :Laughing_on_floor: :Laughing_on_floor:

But I know you are the Royal fan, thanks for sharing  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: G.MAC on February 29, 2012, 04:33:56 PM
i love the doublematic!! too bad, my feeling is that it will cost a bomb. If it runs in the region of RM30-40k, it would be very great.
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: hanz079 on February 29, 2012, 04:49:31 PM
i love the doublematic!! too bad, my feeling is that it will cost a bomb. If it runs in the region of RM30-40k, it would be very great.
According to the japanese blog, it retails for JPY1134000 which comes to around 42k+ not including discounts.
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: G.MAC on February 29, 2012, 05:51:53 PM
 :Startled:. Then i'd keep an eye out for the doublematic..for that list of complications at that price...i am quite sold.
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: hanz079 on March 12, 2012, 09:41:30 AM
Seems like the Espada is running on an El Primero movement, just with the chrono module removed.
Still beats at 36000bph and still does not hack... lol
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: Enkidu on March 12, 2012, 10:14:52 AM
Seems like the Espada is running on an El Primero movement, just with the chrono module removed.
Still beats at 36000bph and still does not hack... lol

Well, take a look at the following introduction write-up at WUS:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f27/many-faces-zenith-el-primero-espada-661443.html

If the words "El Primero" are not printed on the dial, I would go for it (the one in rose gold). But the El Primero had been promoted rigorously as the 1st automatic chronograph for the past many many years, so I find it a bit insulting to wear a watch with a stripped down movement.
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: takashi78 on March 12, 2012, 06:08:52 PM
Here you go Hanz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxpvmjzJ7uI
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: hanz079 on March 13, 2012, 09:10:39 AM
Here you go Hanz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxpvmjzJ7uI
Thanks bro... but this pilot at 57.5mm is just beyond what my wrist an handle...  ;D
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: takashi78 on March 13, 2012, 11:58:20 AM
I think almost all our members here wont have the right size wrist to fit.

Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: Enkidu on March 13, 2012, 04:06:05 PM
I think almost all our members here wont have the right size wrist to fit.

This zenith (which looks more like a Russian watch than a Zenith) is designed to be strapped around your hairy sexy thigh. Angelina Jolie left hers at home during the Oscar's.
Title: Re: Zenith Basel 2012
Post by: steveting on March 14, 2012, 06:49:52 AM
I think almost all our members here wont have the right size wrist to fit.
too big!!!! we need to have biggest wrist contest ! lolz