Ornatus-Mundi[Zenith]
7136
Zenith Coffee House Tales (ii): El Primero 36000 VpH: A Lady in Black!
Jun 09, 2014,11:03 AM
After last week's
disturbing news of the new commemorative edition I spent a rather reassuring fine afternoon with Zenith's
Miss R, again in the same
coffee house Sperl as in my
previous (and first) post in this series, but this time with a quite different 'star' accompanying us - the
Zenith El Primero 36000 VpH in mysterious black - Miss R's personal watch:
The timepiece is certainly one of those which many would naturally associate with Zenith: a great and famous movement, a classic design with with just the right tad of spice thanks to metallic islands coating on a generously dark landscape:
Befitting a venerable chronograph manufacture like Zenith are the bold crown and - particularly - the elaborately designed chronograph pushers:
Ceterum censeo: I just wish (how often now?) they would get the design of the subdial consistent with their function... Sighh!
Let's get a bit closer to understand the secret of its appeal:
First, we have a well balanced suspense between the opaque black background and the sublimely structured and dimensioned silver chapter rings:
In achieving the complex balance between the shapes, dimensions and surface treatments went obviously much time and effort. The result is very convincing, but I strongly suspect that this was neither easy nor obvious to attain.
Note how well the minute hand aligns over the (complexly shaped) indices:
Another delight awaits us:
Another brilliant sight of the most pure
El Primero Cal. 400 B movement. I barely can get enough of this, it just appeals to me with its no-nonsense but still very fine presentation. Its not only the movement itself, its also the this magnificent case back with its fours 'lugs':
You don't really buy an
El Primero for its haute horlogerie finishing. Such movements are
technically extremely well finished. However there are still a lot of niceties to admire. Perlage for example, even on an intermediate winding wheel:
Or how about perfectly straight brushings (those are done by hand) and chatonised rubies?
Really, the El Primero is a movement I could well live with! Look yourselves for this 42mm of irresistible seduction:
The image above already gives a hint: take the right light, and the watch suddenly abounds with detail and dimension, as the below experiment proves:
Certainly something for the child in every man (or a boring meeting, if you like...).
The case obstruction of the El Primero 36000 VpH makes for an elegant and rather flat impression on the wrist. Well done, particularly for a chronograph with a centrally mounted rotor!
Attention to the details is what always fascinates. Like this star-spangled tang buckle. Its certainly among the nicest and most beautiful I know!
Conclusion:
With the black Zenith El Primero 36000 VpH the manufacturer presented a highly addicting yet classical timepiece which exemplifies what the brand stands for: groundbreaking constructions, technically implemented in exemplary fashion, and packed in a very appealing case. Much though has been given to the balance of aesthetic elements which reveal themselves over time.
The watch deserves much more than just a one-night stand, and it has all the qualities to be a life companion. It is not perfect though, as the sundial layout demonstrates. Another target for critique could be the hours hand which I think is a tad too short.
I guess many of you, myself included, would love to see much more of this - and with NO tongue in cheek!
Thanks for viewing!
Cheers,
Magnus
P.S.: Any feedback, suggestions, criticism on this series is highly welcome and appreciated!
This message has been edited by Ornatus-Mundi on 2014-06-09 06:51:03