Zenith

With the newest edition of the Zenith Coffee House Tales I would like to present the Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Rainbow watch as the other example on how the brand is trying to reconnect with its vast heritage and attempting to draw inspiration the...  

Perfect balanced, cool case, El Primero inside. The new one is part of the gigantic phase that Zenith is delivering. Too big for my average sized wrist. Congratulations for the post. Very illustrative comparison. Cheers, Nilo

would chose anything else than the original ;-) Best, Magnus

Thank you, I really enjoy this series! :) The new Rainbow is a monster! Huge! I prefer the old version size. As for the design of the new one I really like the more centered dial with overlapping sub-dials. The date at 6 is not a favorite location, especi... 

To make a long story short, I have mixed emotions with the Stratos Flyback Rainbow. It is obviously a great watch but its size is too large for my taste... and for the EP movement. Anyway, your article is excellent and it was a pleasure to read it. Fx

Magnus, Thank you and Ms R for the discussion. I used to accept all sizes of watches but as I got older, my preference is now for function over form. Inevitably, that function determines the ideal form anyway....so there is no loss of aesthetic merit. Thu... 

but marketing-wise I think it is ;-) Another aspect of watchmaking... Cheers, Magnus

love the crown, pushers and bracelet of the new one.

which is clearly visible here: 'Apparent' because in fact the watch is thicker then the original - but extremely carefully designed. Best, Magnus ...  

the first Rainbow flyback. Thanks for the very nice review and comparison of the two watches. For me the latest reincarnation of the Rainbow fits well in today's trends of watch manufacturing. Contrasted to a true pilot watch which the original one was de... 

and I guess this is essential in order to attract buyers. Zenith was a mere wallflower over much of its recent history, thus - besides us - very few potential buyers care about the original watch, I think, and are more interested in an attractive modern w... 

the old one. size is more elegant. also prefer the pushers and the bracelet on the old one. then there's the date placement which i think i better executed on the old one. nothing really compelling about the newer model unless maybe your wrist size is mor... 

as it is a true representative of today's 'tool' watches. More luxury than tool, just look at the Blancpain 50 Fathoms, for example. Cheers, Magnus

. . . other than size might be the shift in symmetry. The original evinces slanted symmetry with identically sized constantly running seconds and chrono hours counters at a 45º angle to the center line, accentuated by date aperture placement ~ 120º from t... 

adds much to the charm of the old piece. Magnus