Zenith

Friends, its time to lift the veil from one of the most successful new watch Zenith has presented this year (and that many, many have been looking forward to): a fantastic re-edition of the landmark chronograph in Zenith's stable: Welcome the Zenith Herit...  

The Zenith of the year... great report Magnus! Cheers Andrew

First thought before I zoomed in to see the detailed pictures was of a Breguet Type XX series - and for me this is a real compliment. Very good looking.

be it Breguet, Lemania, Universal Geneve, Dodane an other simply producing according to spec. Similar use case bring about similar designs ;-) Cheers, Magnus

I tend to forget that often form follows function, although the original function is long lost on me in some cases. A bit like buying a modern tourbillion purely for better timekeeping. I'd happily wear one without worrying too much whether it does or doe... 

military pieces it was essential! Best, Magnus

A worthy tribute. Well executed and destined to become a modern classic! I only wish I could warm up to NATO straps. Love to see this one (actual photo) on the leather strap, or rubber.

here you are: Magnus ...  

Definitely THE zenith edition of the last year (if not 3 years). Actually I have not been this excited since the Striking 10th came out a few years back. Bravo Zenith. A perfect (or near perfect) watch and is high on my list! PS please STOP issuing limite... 

Loves this watch but Zenith ruined it for me with all it's stupid LE of the last couple of months (Range Rover, Rolling Stones, Hodinkee). So gfed up with them being a 2nd Hublot that I am really thinking of selling my Zenith Pilot 58mm...

I can understand the Range Rover (I am amazed how well they captured the spirit of that legend car, I really am!), and absolutely the Hodinkee (being a bona fide watch blog). The RS however ... Best, Magnus

A very convincing military chrono from Zenith - and I suppose it will likely be a very hot item, being limited to 1.000 units and so close to the hard to get original. More like this and there will be good things coming out of the crisis after all Thanks ... 

Another thing is that they could, for such a watch, have opted for a manual winding movement. From a cool watch, they would have made a GREAT watch. But let's forget the automatic movement.... THE detail which seriously kills me is the mention " automatic... 

An Amputee El Primero? I much prefer to have this automatic movement than a downgraded movement. Fx

It is a question of means. Developing a new handwind chronograph movement costs a lot and Zenith has ourrently other priorities. Fx

would take away the essence of the El Primero, being the first integrated column wheel automatic chronograph, and besides - its not really that nice to look at. I believe there are three main reasons for not having a manual wind chronograph at this time: ... 

Which could have been a great watch, instead of just being a cool watch. Brands ( not only Zenith, but all brands, here ) should consider our point of view.7, or 8 or 9 K euros, this is a sum for us, mere mortals. At this level of price we need something ... 

and I guess the current market situation will induce the one or the other brand to emphasise 'value'. I would be certainly in for that. Magnus

I've harped on this a few times but Zenith really needed to find a way to further separate the subdials. They're too close together, something that other modern Zenith watches suffer from. The El Primero is simply too small a movement for a 43mm case and ... 

and to address this I think a new movement development is needed. As for the lume colour, please keep in mind that the underground beneath the lume affects its appearance. However, I think I recall that lume is applied such that it shows consistent colour... 

I suspect that most people (myself included) view their watch in ambient light about 90% of the time. I wouldn't expect there to be a significant visible difference between the color of the hands and numerals under those conditions. It did give the dial a... 

Fx ...  

Magnus, Thanks for the report (finally). As you had the original watch photos since Baselworld, it is the definitive real time report albeit "under embargo" until now. As a chronograph collector, generally, I like the new Zenith watch and the new features...  

You captured the implications of a modern mechanical wristwatch nicely: - modern technology to an old and somewhat obsolety item - utility vs. emotion - re-editions, hommages, references... Thanks, Magnus

I really like this watch, it is a great achievement from Zenith for me. We can regret some details but if we consider the watch on an overall basis, it has a lot of charm and this reedition works very well. Thanks a lot Magnus for the in-depth presentatio...  

I've been wearing this strap on one of my watches for a long time and it seems not that difficult, especially for the manufacture to match the strap end to the case diameter a bit more closely. But it's a small (and readily resolved) gripe. ...  

as this would take away much of the vintage charme of the watch, in my opinion. I see the allure but then... Cheers, Magnus

This watch is surely going to please both novice and collectors. Great review of New Zenith Cronometro Tipo CP 2. Thank you. Bill

Very faithful to the original! Love it! Thank you for this report, Magnus! Best Blomman

Bravo to Zenith for not "improving" a classic. It's also nice to see that it hasn't been super-sized. I believe I'll buy one.

But not so sure about collectibility. That "automatic" at 6 o'clock is killing the vintage charm of the watch IMHO. Why not a simple CP2 instead? Being automatic is easier to wear on a daily basis and not worry about winding it every other day. Thanks for... 

.. + 1 on Nico, feeling the wording "Automatic" superfluous & disturbing for me. - The Auto itself I treat more of a possible advantage; - luckily there is no date.. You mentioned price "below" 10k, and I do know we don\'t discuss prices here, but : - mor... 

The price will be somewhere in the middle. I agree on the \'automatic\', but here I would ask for your patience... ;-) Likewise with a few other details!