Zenith

On the starting line of the Tour Auto 2017 with Zenith

The Tour Auto 2017 has just ended in Biarritz after a week of race that allowed competitors to visit for the first time Brittany. The gathering of vehicles on the starting line at the Grand Palace is a must for all lovers of classic vehicles. Beyond the beauty of the monumental location that undoubtedly enhances the sensual lines of the bodies of these mechanical wonders, it is the quality of the set of the competitors that makes this rally so special and magical. It allows especially to appreciate vehicles that will start a several thousands of kilometers journey through France and thus are far from being static and lifeless museum pieces.

It is hard to find a more beautiful location than the Grand Palais to host the vehicles of the contestants of the Tour Auto!

The 2017 edition symbolized the final year of the partnership between Zenith and the Tour Auto. This disengagement is felt in the absence of a specific watch dedicated to this edition (the 2016 watch being used again for this edition) but for the rest, Zenith sought to maintain the same level of involvement with a beautiful booth inside the Grand Palais on the starting line of the event and especially with the participation of two cars sponsored by the brand: the Jaguar E-Type of Daniel Spadini and the Porsche 911 of Dominique and Macha Vananty who finished the race in the top 15 of the general classification after a great performance.

The event organized at the start allowed me to see two major novelties from the manufacture which were presented a few weeks earlier at Baselworld or during the SIHH. In my point of view, both pieces seem to be a perfect representation of the potential of Zenith just when the new CEO, Julien Tornare, has start to lead the destiny of the brand from the 1st of May.

On the one hand, the Zenith Heritage 146 Blue Dial. This watch inspired by a model of the 60s, offers a classic, sleek, refined dial and is quite original in the end in the context of the current watch offer. Its classicism is reinforced by the use of a steel case with a diameter of 38mm. This reasonable diameter perfectly suits the movement El Primero 4069. I love this elegant and balanced watch that pays homage to the past of Zenith.

The Zenith Heritage 146 offers a striking blue dial. It is also available with a brown dial:

On the other hand, the Zenith Defy El Primero 21 features, for the pictured watch, a titanium case with a 44mm diameter and an open dial. It is distinguished by the new El Primero caliber 9004, larger than the original El Primero and allows a readable timing to the hundredth of a second with a large central chronograph hand that performs a full revolution of the dial in one second.

The Zenith Defy El Primero 21 in front of the Porsche of Dominique and Macha Vananty:

At first glance, everything seems to separate these two watches with almost opposing styles and sizes. And very quickly, we understand that they share the same values: the aim of getting the best chronometric performance and an optimal legibility of the indications of the chronograph, the inspiration from the past (the shape of the case of the Defy El Primero 21 is reminiscent of the old Defy) and the constant will to innovate. The movement El Primero 9004 that powers the Defy El Primero 21 demonstrates the technical capabilities of the manufacture and echoes the traditional El Primero caliber which marked its time by being a chronograph able to measure with a 1 /10th of a second. Both watches give us an indication of what the strategy of Zenith is: the star remains and will always remain the movement. And the brand will continue to build on its history not to get lost into a nostalgic contemplation but to meet the challenges it faces and resumes its progress.

I suggest that you browse some photos taken during the event at the Grand Palais.

Dominique and Macha Vananty during the cocktail on the starting line. They would subsequently make a great performance by finishing in the top 15 of the final classification.

With Macha Vananty:

The event also gave me the opportunity to enjoy the Chronomaster El Primero 38mm full open dial. A magnificent piece that comes in two sizes (38 and 42mm) but it is the smaller version (the pictured one), which gets my preference:

Some mechanical mounts ready to spring the day after at dawn:

But I think I will never change, my favorite car was this beautiful Fiat 600:

And of course, the car that I warmly supported during the race week was the Porsche of Dominique and Macha Vananty:

A final wristshot of the Defy El Primero 21, which was undoubtedly the key watch of the Baselworld fair for Zenith (if we forget the Zenith CP2 15th anniversary of Purists of course! ;-) ):

This video shows why this watch is so special and so fascinating. The behavior of the central chronograph hand is magical! Of course, the watch features a seconds counter at 6 o'clock: