Zenith Elite Power Reserve 150th Anniversary Review

Ornatus-Mundi · 2015-08-12T06:39:56Z

Review the Zenith Elite Power Reserve 150th Anniversary Boutique Edition. Discover its 40mm titanium case, velvet blue dial, and Elite Caliber 685 movement with chronometric records.

Ornatus-Mundi

WPS member · Zenith forum

6 replies4868 views8 photos

Ornatus-Mundi presents a detailed review of the Zenith Elite Power Reserve 150th Anniversary Boutique Edition, highlighting its refined design and technical specifications. This article offers an in-depth look at a timepiece that balances classic elegance with modern wearability, celebrating Zenith's rich horological heritage.

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After the 'big' announcement of the Pilot Type 20 Skeleton (see here), this time now a refined, restrained and quite accomplished timepiece from Zenith's Baselworld 2015 novelties: the Zenith Elite Power Reserve 150th Anniversary Boutique Edition :

Dressed in a case crafted from lightweight 40mm brushed titanium, the watch draws attention immediately thanks to its distinguished velvet blue dial.

It comes with a suede-like surface structure which very tenderly and softly captures the light and appears to let it float over the entire dial area.

Now, there is one danger with such a design scheme - it creates a relatively staid large area, which in this case is amplified by the comparatively small movement (I come to that further down).

Zenith tackled these stumbling blocks by structuring the dial with bold groves around the indices pane and around the power reserve section. This offers not only more depth but also additional traps for the light to play with. Furthermore, it emphasised the outer rim with a rail track like ring. Did you notice the small roman numerals therein?

The position of the small sub seconds is however a hint towards the only real criticism I could voice: The Elite Cal. 685 (automatic, small seconds, power reserve complication) counts only 11½" (corresponding to 25.60 mm) which looks a bit lost in a 40mm case (side note: The new Elite Cal. 6150 is significantly 'grown up': 13¼” (diameter: 30 mm); see here !).

A view on the back confirms this:

The movement is nicely finished as expected from Zenith, very appropriate for the price range (but not sporting a truly hand-applied haute-de-game finishing).

On the back crystal, however, Zenith perpetuated its ultimate core DNA, the immense and astonishing chronometric record through engraving all the chronometric records the brand ever achieved. Btw., those account to over 1,565 first observatory prizes in chronometry, making it the Swiss brand most rewarded for precision.

At the center Zenith aptly places an engraving of the observatory in Neuchâtel.

Time to take it out for a ride, right? That's what I did, and it was quite a rhapsody in blue:

That blue is a very masculine colour provided refinement is a counted as a manly virtue. In fact, Zenith chose a dial which fits to many lifestyles and attires, be it a grey business stuff or a more colourful casual TGIF outfit. 40mm is normal size these days, and even if the movement would call for smaller cases, however, the layout of the dial in combination with its surface finish make this mismatch disappear.

The watch also sports a date and a power reserve offering both practicality for daily use as well as a complication to delight the aficionado.

As mentioned above, the small movement is a minor fly in the ointment. On the other hand, the Elite movement's cornerstone function in Zenith's racehorse stable (recently reinforced with the introduction of the Elite 6150 movement) as well as its tried and tested timekeeping performance make it a worthy contender for this watch.

Watches like the Zenith Elite Power Reserve 150th Anniversary Boutique Edition are my kind of homage to a past of excellence and achievement, even more so since the Elite movement itself is know as an extremely precise timepiece. The Elite Boutique Edition is a honest watches in the great chronometric tradition the brand is known for. It pays homage but only very delicately so, undetectable for all but the wearer.

This is the type of watch many Zenith collectors are looking to see. This timepiece, Ref. 95.2120.685/51.C700, comes in a special edition limited to 50 pieces and is only available in Zenith's boutiques worldwide.

Thus, I fear it will be instantly sold out. RUN!

Thanks for reading!

Magnus

This message has been edited by Ornatus-Mundi on 2015-08-24 10:00:21

About the Zenith Elite Ref. Elite6150

The Zenith Elite 6150 represents a contemporary interpretation of the brand's classic dress watch aesthetic, distinguished by its larger case size and the introduction of a new iteration of the Elite movement. This reference aimed to offer a more modern presence on the wrist while retaining the refined characteristics associated with the Elite collection, positioning it as a versatile option within Zenith's non-chronograph offerings. It marked a period of exploration for the Elite line, moving towards broader appeal.

This particular reference features a stainless steel case with a diameter of 42mm, housing the in-house Zenith Elite 6150 automatic movement. The movement provides a substantial power reserve of 100 hours, a notable enhancement for daily wear. The watch is fitted with a domed sapphire crystal, contributing to its understated profile, and typically includes a transparent sapphire case back to display the movement.

For collectors, the Elite 6150 appeals to those seeking a contemporary dress watch from a manufacture with significant horological heritage, particularly valuing the Elite movement's architecture and extended power reserve. It stands as an example of Zenith's commitment to developing its non-El Primero calibers, offering an alternative for enthusiasts who appreciate a clean, time-only display with robust technical specifications. This reference is often considered for its balance of size, movement quality, and design.

Specifications

Caliber: Elite 6150

Case: Stainless Steel

Diameter: 42mm

Dial: Silver

Water Resist.: 50m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The watch is well-balanced and elegant, offering a modern and classy alternative to traditional silver dials.
The size of the movement relative to the 40mm case is not a significant issue for some collectors, as the dial layout effectively mitigates any perceived mismatch.
The watch features lume on both its hands and indices, enhancing readability in low-light conditions.
While beautiful, some believe the watch would achieve an even better aesthetic in a slightly smaller 38.5mm case.

The Discussion

Horology75

Aug 12, 2015

Beautiful piece! Must have [nt]

sutats

Aug 12, 2015

Stunning.

Stunning watch. Great pictures. It's hard to tell from the pictures but does it have lume?

Ornatus-Mundi

Aug 13, 2015

Positive, lume both on hands and indices...

thanks for your question, it reminds me not to forget lume images in the future. Magnus

Mark in Paris

Aug 13, 2015

As we see in the last picture...

this is a very well balanced and elegant watch. A very nice different classy model from the silver dials we are used to seeing as it looks modern. The size of a movement is really not a problem to me. Thanks a lot for the nice review Magnus. Cheers, Mark

marcelo

Aug 18, 2015

Really nice, but would look even better in a 38.5 mm case. [nt]

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Zenith Elite Power Reserve 150th Anniversary Review

About the Zenith Elite Ref. Elite6150

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

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