Zenith

Team,

A dear friend asked for help to select a Zenith watch to be given as part of the celebration of the 18th birthday of his son.

My first take was to propose a Stratos but I know the kid and he is of medium height and somehow skinny.

What model should I propose?

Please don't suggest anything in precious metal. It's a young and sportive guy.

All the Zenith watches that I own or are rare/limited or vintage/impossible to buy.

Thanks in advance,

Nilo

I would suggest any of the current El Primero range that come with the tri-colour counters, whether the 38mm or 42mm. But what I am noticing is that all the AD's and Zenith boutiques I am visiting recently do not have these in stock since they are selling as fast as they come in. But for the sportive look, one of these with the bracelet is bang on. I actually ordered the Stratos Striking 10th Tribute to FB with a London AD, and when I went to pick it up, they showed me the one with three black counters. They had apparently got the serial numbers mixed up. Dissapointed, I went home empty handed. Although they are not limited editions,they are proving hard to find.

Another one that I'm considering is the Captain Central Seconds  40 mm  (03.2020.670/21.C493)

I'm a little bit concerned to put on the wrist of a youngster a chronograph but this may be prejudice from my part.

Not concerned about the movement (El Primero handles a LOT of abuse) but the overall integrity of the watch.

Here is the Captain (from Zenith site):



Or no, I may take this one to me!

Gorgeous!

Cheers,

Nilo

It's a great, sporty and colourfull watch for a 18 year old.

If your friend is realy interested, send me a PM for a good and reliable adress in Switzerland.

The 36.000 VPH is a wonderful watch and I forgot that there is a 38mm version that should fit nicely on his wrist.

Thank you for your offer but my friend is flying to US.

Cheers,

Nilo

Bobbe,

I edited your post because any commercial activity should be done only by PM, per forum rules. 

Thanks again,

Nilo

This message has been edited by nilomis on 2013-12-10 14:13:35

HI

   for me for an 18yr old skinny active guy, it would be the 36000vph tricolor or the rattrapante with rubber strap....but if he's active and might sweat on the strap then the rattrapante with rubber strap would be best. Seen this model a lot of times....in person the dial detail is very very fine.

   lucky 18 year old

cross

   The Captain Central Seconds with gray dial on leather strap is very very nice.. it is gonna be my next watch.
  
   But for an 18 year old, I think they would prefer something more 'active' something with more 'action'....a dress watch would simply be too boring for an 18 year old kid.

   cross

Sometimes I forget how I was with 18 years old (my kids states that at that time dinosaurs walked on the streets and the entire world was in B&W!).

Cheers,

Nilo

The doublematic in steel. It's big, colorful, worldly and present some dramatic action - a mechanical alarm! How cool is that for a kid who's just heard phone alarms all his life?

But the Doublematic with its 45mm is way too big for a skinny kid. 

In that case I would suggest a Rainbow, or a De Luca. They are sportive and with 40mm well sized for a slim youngster.



Marcus

If a  Rainbow and/or a De Luca shows up here, they already have a candidate: Me! (Joking). 

for a young sportive guy I would suggest the following:

Pilot 40MM. Slim, great look, follows the trend of Zenith right now, size is true to the original, can dress up and dress down, Pilot look is great for all watches so has a cool style. I have a small wrist, most watches are second to last hole but I still wear 44mm - 45mm.

Another option is the pilot chrono Big date.  42mm, great look, matte finish and overall a beautiful thin chrono...I personally like it on a strap but the mesh is sporty and different.

Picture from ZENITH Website

Lastly I would suggest an Espada.. It is every day watch...almost like a sub.  Great size..40Mm, El Primero movement but runs like an HMS.

Picture from Zenith Website

I also love the idea of NOS. but the worry is that unless you go much older and do classics like 3 hand autos, I think the DeLuca and rainbow for an 18 year old will look too new for an old watch with the rounder styling.  Don't get me wrong, I love these watches,  I have a few rainbows, some class pieces and another zenith from the same era, I just don't know if the right style for an 18 yr old.

my 2 cents

It's classic and modern at the same time and it could do very well on a skinny wrist.

Add to that the trill of the running seconds hand hoovering the dial with the smoothness of the 36000 bph.

The MSRP is also nice.

Thank you very much,

Nilo