Zenith

Bruno.M1
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A massive piece of history in a modern watch

A massive  piece of history in a modern watch

Ordered it about 8 months ago and it arrived this week. 
Right from the start I wanted this piece. Owning El Primero's and Elite movement watches a 5011 was a dream. In the past I thought about it several times.
Why not a pocket watch ? Well, because I'm not interested in pocket watches. So buying a pocket watch with a superb movement but knowing I would never 'wear' it was
not the smartest thing to do. Than we have these marine deck clocks. Again, a niece thing but if I can't wear it ...

Somewhere around march of this year I heard a rumor about a wristwatch which would be powered with the legendary 5011.

Now that was interesting ! An option to finally have this historic movement.

Soon pictures followed, and things even got better. The watch looked fabulous.

Than you read more about the size. 57.5 mm. Well I knew the movement so it had to be huge. If the movement measures 50 mm you can't put it in a 42 mm watch, right ?
But let's be honest, 57.5 is big and probably too big. Can you wear such a watch ?
2 years ago I tried the Panerai Egiziano (PAM341) and that was just too big and unwearable, I have bigger than the average wrists but 60mm with long lugs was impossible.
So what about the 57.5. One big advantage, the lugs are no so big as the Egiziano lugs.
When I put the Egiziano on my wrist, the watch (inclusive lugs) are wider than my wrist and that is imo not acceptable. But like said, the Type 20 lugs are completely different.

I saw , and of course tried the prototype at my AD and it felt fine. It was huge but I could wear it. Of course this is not a piece you want to wear on daily basis.
If it would be your one and only watch I would say 'Forget about it, buy something else. Maybe the Zenith Pilot big date'
On the other hand, if you know you will wear this piece on special occasions or only a few weeks per year than it is a superb addition to ANY collection.

A bit more about the movement.

"Originally designed for marine chronometers and deck watches in the 1950s, the pocket watch–size 5011 series is perhaps the most accurate series of movements the brand has ever produced,

and some were entered into the last chronometer competitions in the 1960s"