Zenith

AndrewD
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Zenith Prime (Reference 01.0010.420)

Hi All (and bonjour to Jerome),

My example is the Prime, the first of the hand wound chronographs, produced from 1995 to 1999 and then continued as the 40mm Class El Primero HW.

The Prime carries the Calibre 420 column wheel El Primero chronograph movement beating at the trademark 36,000vph. The movement has 25 jewels and a 55-hour power reserve. The case measures 38x11mm and is water resistant to 30m. This is the steel version, but the Prime was also available in 18 carat gold plate.

Although Zenith’s place in history is cemented in the El Primero as the first automatic chronograph, I particularly enjoy wearing the Prime as a ‘dress’ chronograph because of its relatively demure (by today’s standards) 38mm diameter and because it is slightly thinner than its parent automatic (Cal. 400) El Primero. It also has an ‘old world’ design aesthetic that I find very attractive.

Andrew