Spellbound
1343
Iconic
It is unfortunate, but Tim puts it very well. I say unfortunate because of what others have said about Zenith, ie that Zenith has no iconic watches to boast about, just an iconic movement. Although I disagree with this, there is no arguing what Zenith is most famous for. As such, when faced with a choice of let's say a watch with the Cal 400 or 410, vs the Cal 420, one would surely have to choose the automatics. It does not help that the 420 design and finish is rather industrial looking compared to other hand wound chronograph movements of the time. This is a shame as, as Tim mentions, the hand wound does offer the opportunity of a wonderful canvas for design and finish.
But disregarding the iconic status of the worlds first automatic chronograph, for chronographs, I have no real preference of hand wound vs automatic. For basic three hand watches I much prefer hand wound, and for watches with calendar functions, I prefer automatics. But regardless, the movement must be beautiful.
This message has been edited by Spellbound on 2014-05-06 17:10:22
For the future, I just want Zenith to focus on making the most beautiful watches they possibly can, and as Foversta put it in another thread, this also requires larger movements to fit the larger cases, or else, smaller cases. Looking forward to 2015 and hopefully the introduction of another legendary caliber.
Dean
What is your take on the El Primero HW /Prime?
My first 'serious' contemporary mechanical watch was a Zenith Prime (aka El Primero HW ). It came in an absolutely classic stainless steel case and a doomed finely silvered dial which afforded for considerable visual attraction. The watch was driven by th...
A worthy option, but not for me.
Hi Magnus, Thanks for these images and thoughts on a curious reference from Zenith's history. I feel that the value in this watch comes from the joy of owning an El Primero that works like the classic Cal. 400 but allows the best display back view of the ...
Thanks for your perspective, Tim, yes, I also think hand wound calibres...
are a great platform for finishing. They do out this to great effect only if designed as hand wound calibres from start, I guess. Best, Magnus P.S.: no argument at all with your last sentence ;-)
Iconic
It is unfortunate, but Tim puts it very well. I say unfortunate because of what others have said about Zenith, ie that Zenith has no iconic watches to boast about, just an iconic movement. Although I disagree with this, there is no arguing what Zenith is ...
Its a kid of its time, thus the industrial look...
I would not be too harsh with the Cal. 420, particularly in respect to finishing. In fact, when the movement was in active production Zenith had only few movements with more than a little decorative finishings (I think the only ones were the Chronomasters...
Funny coincidence ...
... Since my first serious mechanical watch, too, was a Zenith, and it, too, was from that "Class" series, it, too, had the white dial and the mineral crystal on the back, I, too, was still a student (well, I was just a post-graduate) and I also had to st...
Now that you mention it I remember...
the winding feeling and of course the pusher actuation - the two characteristics rather on the rough side compared to others (e.g. - of course! - the Lange Datograph and the Piguet 1185 (both admittedly in a difference league)). As for the frugal appearan...
