Zenith - El Primero Lightweight
Launched in 1969, the El Primero calibre is still the world's most precise series-made chronograph calibre. Over the years, Zenith has steadily fine-tuned its legendary movement in order to optimise its precision, its reliability and its performance. In 2010, Zenith reinvented the "jumping seconds" in presenting the El Primero Striking 10th. Equipped with a sweep seconds hand making ten jumps per second and a complete turn of the dial every ten seconds, this chronograph not only measures but also displays tenths of a second with extreme precision. Zenith is now taking a new turn by unveiling a sportier, lighter, more performant, more avant-garde version of the El Primero Striking 10th. The engineers and watchmakers of the Manufacture reduced the weight of the watch to an absolute minimum, yet without making any compromises on its precision, its sturdiness and its reliability. The sizeable feat began with the movement. Zenith chose titanium - a light and resistant metal widely used in aeronautics - to machine the main elements of the movements that are the heaviest parts of the watch when they are made in brass: namely the mainplate and five bridges (barrel bridge, balance bridge, pallet bridge, pallet-wheel bridge and chronograph bridge). Zenith also maintained the silicon double chronograph wheel, while adding a lever and an escape-wheel made from the same high-tech, light, antimagnetic material that is harder than steel and guarantees excellent efficiency. The result is a one-quarter lighter engine weighing just 15.45 g (compared with 21.10 g for a similar classic movement).
Zenith designers reworked and enlarged to 45 mm the original 42 mm case of the El Primero Striking 10th, while also seeking to make it as light as possible on the wrist. The choice of carbon with its fine black colour and its "chequered" effect evoking the world of competitive racing fits the bill perfectly, while also reinforcing the technical and sporty look of the model. The inner structure of the case is made of ceramised aluminium, a cutting-edge material that is at once light, sturdy and hard (1800 Vickers, as against 160-200 for 316L steel). The two chronograph pushpieces are in titanium. The openworked lugs accentuate the aerodynamic profile of the watch and ensure a perfect flow into the integrated black rubber and high-performance Nomex synthetic fibre strap equipped with a triple folding clasp providing optimal security and comfort. The dial of the El Primero Lightweight is a reinterpretation of the collection's design codes. Openworking the central part further enhanced the overall lightness-oriented effect while providing a clear view of the El Primero calibre (also visible through the transparent caseback). The disc-type date display has been lightened and reworked with pierced numerals standing out on a small red disc at 6 o'clock. The facetted hands have been hollowed as much as possible and then highlighted by a luminescent coating. The light grey, blue and anthracite colours recapture the three emblematic colours of the 1969 El Primero chronograph that have become iconic brand features. The red sweep seconds hand with its small Zenith star accurately measures feats to the nearest tenth of a second - just as on the dashboards of the greatest racing champions. The El Primero Lightweight is an edition limited to 100 pieces.
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