Zenith

News: Zenith El Primero Toubillon Skeleton - a rendez-vous with the 'Dark Lord'

 

Alongside the fantastic Zenith El Primero Skeleton Ceramic , the manufacture has now presented a slightly upmarket version, the Zenith El Primero Tourbillon Skeleton Ceramic.  It is a further development of the structural/greyscale theme of last year's titanium El Primero Tourbillon (for a view on the two watches click here and click here , respectively!).

A watch which is inherently bolder and - dare I say? - meaner , with larger blacks and pronounced structural elements.

Like its simpler non-tourbillonised brother, the dial is composed of structural plates as well as subdial rings screwed to the movement's dial-side. The plates are sand-blasted, semi-skeletonised and accentuated with brushed edges:



Central to these architectural design features of course lies the tourbillon cyclops,

Employing a sapphire crystal as the top support bridge to the tourbillon cage, the tourbillon ring actually resembles a silo:



(note the raised 'Zenith El Primero' inscription - a detail I really love!)

Another view on the 'silo' - yet, despite all its boldness, the designers at Zenith have not forgotten about attention of be paid to the smallest components, exemplified here with the shape of the minute counter hand's tip,

The dial (it is actually a real dial plate which is mounted on the movement) reveals fine perlage through its numerous openings. Isn't the plate that supports the hours hand arbor simply stunningly nice (in contrast, I could do no better - photographically, given Baselworld realities...)?

A view on the backside is always rewarding, particularly if, like here, we can admire not only the tourbillon version of the El Primero, but on top even with a monochrome treatment (and thus being consistent with the standard Skeleton Ceramic):



Any tourbillon-powered El Primero is hand-finished in the complications atelier at Zenith, and therefore a closer look has its merits:



The 45mm black ceramic case is the same as for the normal version, but the watch comes with Zenith's very comfortable rubber strap:

Probably not the best match to a fine businesss shirt, but it does not look too large indeed:





However, with slightly more casual attire, you are set and done:

The Zenith El Primero Tourbillon Skeleton Ceramic is undeniably the starker version of the two new watches in black ceramics - both in the technical (tourbillon!) as well as on the aesthetical side. The latter can only work in conjunction with the former, as the two elements convey a balancing momentum to the watch.

With the new structural skeletonisation motif, Zenith has presented itself with a path to modernity; and I see hints of the Thierry Nataf era Defy watches (Oops, hide as fast as you can, Magnus ;-)). Guys, those were wild times, but wild times are often not the worst... in hindsight!

For its marvellous inherent harmony I clearly prefer the non-tourbillon version. That is a watch I could (really!) see on my wrist. For a tourbillon I would opt for a pure classical design. But this is only me!

Thanks for taking the time to read,
Magnus

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