Zenith Basel 2012

[hanz079]

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. 

1st up is the Pilot Doublematic.
45mm case (ugh! not for me)
Chronograph, Big Date, Alarm, Power Reserve and GMT.


2nd is the Pilot Big Date Special.
42mm case (can be considered)
Chronograph, Big Date.
On leather strap.


On Mesh bracelet.


See through caseback.


The 3rd and also the one that caught my attention.
The El Primero Espada.
40mm case, simple 3 hour, minutes and seconds hand, date.



See through caseback.


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... 
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


El Primero Pilot


Anyone seen both of this appearing in the grey market, kindly drop me a line 

[Enkidu]

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... 
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.  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.

[hanz079]

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...

[Enkidu]

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???  Zenith is walking on really thin ice.

[chrisyen]

nothing look great!!! disappointed...

[hanz079]

I was really hoping for a smaller stratos... well... I will keep hoping... 

[Gigi]

i felt the whole thing will stuff up but not in the way that happend to it during the era before JFD 

[siodee]

Waulau Bro, lagi mau poison....Zenith sudah rank in the survey la 

But I know you are the Royal fan, thanks for sharing 

[G.MAC]

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.

[hanz079]

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.

[G.MAC]

 . Then i'd keep an eye out for the doublematic..for that list of complications at that price...i am quite sold.

[hanz079]

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

[Enkidu]

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.

[takashi78]

Here you go Hanz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxpvmjzJ7uI

[hanz079]

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... 

[takashi78]

I think almost all our members here wont have the right size wrist to fit.

[Enkidu]

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.

[steveting]

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