Zenith

All these Zenith Details: subtle differences in their steel bracelets - great effects!

 

 A few weeks ago I reviewed the Zenith El Primero Sport chronograph (here is the link to my article), but that time I did not have the chance to inspect the version with the steel bracelet, which is depicted here on the very left:



Now, my time has come and I could put that watch and a comparator (using the known bracelet) next to each other: Note the difference?



The watch on the left, the iconic Zenith El Primero Original 1969, features are bracelet which uses brushed outer and polished inner links:

This specimen belongs to Zenith's Miss R, thus it is a heavily used loved original:

On the El Primero Sport, the choice of finishes is exactly the opposite, polished outside and brushed inside:



A visually interesting immediate effect is that the lugs, brushed themselves, appear to frame the bracelet and create an alternating 3-2 pattern of surface finishes:



But does this, and if so, to what extend, have implications in situ? I'd wager to answer this question with a decided 'yes'!

The El Primero Original 1969 is an almost dainty watch, elegant, inobstrusive. The focus is set on the watch's face, and on the movement its cases houses, and not on any other quality it should have. Thus, a restrained, well designed bracelet is a very apt choice here.

On the opposite spectrum, the El Primero Sport, is more rugged and created for a young, active clientele who is also very likely conditioned in a more hedonist way. Here the entire watch is in focus, and the bracelet supports this intention clearly (and as a welcome side effect, masks the 46mm diameter significantly):

Thanks for digging with me into the details,
Magnus

This message has been edited by Ornatus-Mundi on 2015-09-30 08:36:47