Team,
After six months wearing my EP 1969 Black, here is my small write up about the experience.
My entry on the El Primero addictionMany, many moons back, when I started reading posts about watches on the Internet, I landed on a great post by Walt Odets about the El Primero.
At that time I knew nothing about Zenith and much less about the El Primero (Based on the Spanish name, I was under the believe that this was a Spanish movement!).
This 2002 post ends with something like: “
But it is, in its own right, a well-made, well-crafted, honest piece of work that functions well …”.
Those words were enough to me and I was hooked on the Zenith El Primero.
I research Zenith, followed its ups and downs, and dreamed about their watches.
I liked the fact that there was almost no “brand ambassadors” and Zenith never claimed that by wearing one of its watches I could dive deeper than anyone or be a secret agent.
I’m just a regular person and Zenith seems to be made for my kind of person.
Some years later, I got my first Zenith El Primero that was followed by others and, I believe, I’m not done yet.
Today we have the story of my experience with another Zenith El Primero, released in 2009 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this wonderful movement.
For the record: Based on more than ten El Primero watches I never ever had a single issued with those watches. Some I got brand new but most were pre owned with an unknown maintenance history.
Of course, for those pre owned, no matter how good the watch was, I did a full maintenance.
Crazy about re editionsWhen Zenith announced the El Primero New Vintage 1969 in 2009 I was trilled.
Here was an opportunity to have a brand new El Primero with all the vintage looks.
I got the SS New Vintage and it was everything that I was expecting, as I described here.
Months later, it was offered to me the same watch under the so-called “black titanium” case. I did a research and my conclusion was that the “black titanium” is in fact Titanium with a PVD black cover.
Considering that I never liked the looks of a PVD watch after few years on someone else wrist, with all those uncorrectable dings, I passed the offer very fast.
The fact is that I liked the watch and when the watch was offered again I decided to take the plunge.
Is not every day that one can wear a true limited edition (limited to 250).
Before we start, let me share an Internet picture of the initial design for this watch.
Take a look on those vertical stripes on the dial. Ugly, with capital "U"
We are very lucky that the Zenith designers took a deep breath and removed those stripes from the dial. If those striped were on the production version, I doubt that I was doing this “one year on my wrist” review.
Initial impressionsZenith, as they do always, did a great work with this watch. It is lightweight but it “dresses” fantastically.
I was taken by the model 96.1969.469 (one day I go to understand and post here what this string of numbers means – as of now, I can see that the ending “469” is the movement number).
In terms of readability it falls very short. Is not the kind of watch that you try to see the time on a dark place, like your bedroom.
Anyway with a beauty like this one tied on your wrist, who cares.
The matte crocodile strap with rubber on the inside does not makes this strap very pliable. Consider that I didn’t give it time to break because I replaced the strap by another one on the day one. One more OEM strap on my OEM strap “cemetery”.
Please notice that I seldom wear a watch with the strap or bracelet that comes from the factory. I like to put something of my personality on the watch and this is on the strap area.
When I did the strap swap I was very concerned about the PVD coating. I took my usual precautions to the extreme (I cover the lugs with masking tape on all strap swaps) but I was very successful and the watch has, after one-year, absolutely zero dings and dents.
Maybe Zenith PVD is better than the others but the fact that the watch is pristine and I don’t “baby” my watches.
MovementThe movement, similar to the SS version, is called by Zenith as part of the 40 year anniversary of the El Primero as 469, making a reference to the year of 1969.
In fact is a regular El Primero caliber 400 with all virtues of this movement:
Extreme accurate. The hi-beat, according to my watchmaker, helps to maintain the regularity to the beats independent of the movement position. “Is much more easy to regulate a hi-beat movement than a slow beat one”.
50 hours of power reserve, ideal for persons like me that swaps watches on a daily basis.
The finish of the movement is Zenith style, meaning that the movement parts are not made to be fancy or even beautiful but everything there is engineered to do what a movement is supposed to do. Is pure engineering, the kind that I normally call German style (no more, no less, just made to work).
Dial/HandsAs I mentioned before, this is more a collector’s watch than a day-to-day one. Legibility approaches the terrible. If Zenith could use the same Luminova that’s used by other vendors (GP is a great example) they could produce an outstanding piece.
The dial is transparent, showing some portions (not movable) parts of the glorious El Primero. Nice to have a watch that you can see the front and the back of the movement.
The Case
The sharp angles on a “tonneau case” is identical, in form, to the stainless steel version that I posted here:
The difference lies on the use of “black titanium” (Titanium covered with a PVD black die) that results on a very lightweight set.
I don’t have a scale to compare the weight of the two watches. Suffices to say that the black Ti lightness is noticeable, in special on the wrist.
Strap/Buckle
The watch arrived with a mate crocodile strap (immediately removed) and a PVD titanium buckle that follows the old Zenith styled buckles.
Regular useI wear this watch on a very regular basis and, after some time, I figure that black watches “flies under the radar” here. This is a very important feature because I live on a city that is impossible to wear any “attractive” (to thieves) watches.
I never got any question about this watch except for the regular WIS people. As a joke, some friends stated that I’m now wearing a Casio (I have several Casio 5600 that I love to use on places where any other watch put your life in serious danger)
The Titanium case makes this watch one of the most lightweight that I have. It’s a true pleasure to have it on my wrist.
WishesPoints that I would change, if I can dream to be a Zenith CEO:
1) The El Primero movement, as much glorious it is, should be upgraded to the. let’s call it “El Segundo”. Desirable changes:
a. Horizontal coupling, to avoid the chronograph hand to jump when activated.
b. Hacking small seconds.
c. A no date version (at least one will be sold to Amanico)
d. Chronograph pushers a tad more smooth
2) Lume. I don’t understand why the Zenith, in general, has a lume that is much weak than other vendors, like Girard Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin, Omega and others.
3) Crown. Since the El Primero movement, to have 50 hours of power reserve, combined with the 36000 bph demands more power, the winding crown should be bigger. This will allow a smoother winding.
4) Straps. We understand that a strap is not forever and it should be replaced from time to time. Zenith straps, for sure, are made to last more but they are far from being soft or pliable.
Final questionIf I would buy this watch, again?
I’m absolutely sure. It’s glorious to have a legend on my wrist and a pleasure to wear.
Enough said, let’s see some pictures of this beautiful watch.
The pair of New VIntage 1969 (SS and Ti)
Identical cases
Thanks for seeing,
Nilo
This message has been edited by nilomis on 2013-08-30 06:04:48 This message has been edited by nilomis on 2013-08-30 06:05:34 
