Zenith

I saw this Japanese link which displayed the 2011 Baselworld novelties. What caught my eye was the caseback of the new Port Royal  click here  

It's the second watch from top. Would really like to see this rugged workhorse of a movement in a dive or sporty piece.

... in my personal opinion, the 2572 does not meet Zenith's current standards any more, and from a purely technical point of view, I would prefer a plain ETA 2824 because it delivers at least as good performance (probably better due to mass production) and is serviceable without problems, more or less all around the world. Especially for a tool watch, where this kind of considerations are important.

On the other hand, Glashütte Original successfully demonstrates with its cal. 39 that "exclusive brand" and "simple workhorse movement" can be very compatible.

Regards,
Marcus

well, I hope Zenith has updated the movement design with the use of more modern materials/lubricants, and design touches to improve the overall stability and timekeeping performance. I am not sure if it would be just the old 2572PC design all gussied up to look pretty with no modifications ... perhaps it is ...

The price though is very high, and I suppose that's partly due to the rose gold case.

... aside the modernised rotor, the movement finish appears to be genuine 1970s, and lack all the refinements that are currently applied to modern Zenith movements. There are no stripes, no anglage, the engravement is bare, and perfectly corresponds to the pictures of vintage movements I have seen. Also the balance and the micrometer fine regulation is identical to the original.

The vintage design of the "Port Royal" watch would support this assumption.

Regards,
Marcus

of the movement, I think you're right Marcus. The bridge layout, design and finish are identical to the original 2572PC. Perhaps Charles Vermot was able to save more than just the tooling (and production plans) for the El Primero

comprehensive Dufour interview in which he said that the 2572 would be resurrected ... I suspect they have the tooling for a production run if that's the case, large NOS is also a possibility (but less viable, long-term?). The choice of launch watch is strange though, I'd say the 2572 does not belong in a dress watch. A dive watch with a solid engraved caseback, perhaps?

If you think about it this is the least expensive gold dress watch on the market with a manufacture movement. All of the rest that are manufacture like Patek with the calatrava or or ap with the Jules admires or vc or gp there gold simple dress watches are in the 15-20k range. While the new 2572 is 8k. If they make it in white gold but with better finishing but obviously not to the extent of Patek or it would be to pricey

too offer an (even more) affordable mechanical in house movement watch?

... same tools, same machinery, same finish, only a new rotor. This also eyplains the vintage-looking watch the movement is encased in.

Regards,
Marcus

...very odd. While a perfectly decent caliber, it's not as if the 2572 had any kind of reputation that would merit reproduction. I imagine that Zenith has the tools and dies for this movement, like others, thanks to M. Vermot, but it still takes some effort and expense to unpack them and put them into working order. I wonder how they justified all that if it is only for a limited run. The other possibility, I suppose, is that there are enough actual finished parts around Le Locle to assemble some a run of movements....