Zenith

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Watch Review: Zenith El Primero Sport - Zenith digs deeper and goes wider

The El Primero movement has proven its ruggedness over decades (think of Rolex Daytona, or some Panerai) - but only at Baselworld 2015 did Zenith present its own version of a bona fide sports watch, the Zenith El Primero Sport . Here is my hands-on review of this 46mm timepiece which will happily accompany you to depths of up to 200m:

I remember quite well the original thoughts here on the forum (and elsewhere) when the first press images surfaced on the day before the Basel fair: this watch is humongous! And with a diameter of 46mm, there is indeed little to contradict this notion. I will come to the size later, right here only one impression: it does wear smaller than its diameter suggests!

Zenith offers this timepiece only in steel, but it comes with two different dials and three strap options:

You have the choice of a slate grey (left and middle) or light silver (right) dial - all of them come with the obvious red chronograph seconds hand (and the "36,000 VPH" text below the Zenith logo). The watch can be either strapped on with a  metal bracelet with a triple folding clasp, a rubber strap or a nice brown alligator strap. (from left to right).

Please take a close look at the bracelet: while it shares the overall design with the existing Stratos El Primero bracelet, its surface finish is now inverse (outer sectors polished, inner sector brushed instead of the opposite). I don't have any more images as the bracelet version was not available to me in Basel.

Version 1:

The first version I will examine is the slate grey one on the rubber strap:

 

Despite being the first of a new line of watches (the term 'collection' is stretching it a bit at this point) the Sport is instantaneously recognised as a Zenith watch: the indices, the hands and of course the case. From the overview images as well as the 'soldier' shot above is seems that this timepiece thrives on contrast - and indeed it does!

All important dial elements like hands and indices seem oversized and worked out to the max. But if you look from a different point of view, there is a second element which comes into play, and I would call this 'surface':

There are four different finishes applied to the large dial, and together with the exposed structural elements, they make this watch actually fascinating to look at, and they also make the watch to appear smaller than the technical data provided.

And also, contrast and structure is what delivers for some thrill - given the 'right' light:

Let's delve a bit deeper into this dial:

You find the central large area with a vertical brushing finish surrounded by an opaque grey ring, the seconds chapter with its pronounced concentric rims and the outer scale, tilted and with a matte surface.

The horizontal subdials have carved-in scales, only the hour counter at 6 o'clock is directly printed on the dial plate.

Altogether, the relative dimensions of these areas are actually well-matched to achieve a consistent and pleasant look (and also to conceal a bit the comparatively small movement ticking inside).

The date integrates into both the grey ring as well as the seconds scale, and does so with a nicely executed 'terrace'-like window frame. This is a fascinating little detail that shows the care Zenith applied when designing this watch (actually, I find it a surprising detail on an overall bold watch - well done!). Note also the sharply cut index blocks:

Another view on the applied indices and the outer seconds ring. I really like how well hands and indices correspond in a consistent design language.

This brings us directly to the pushers. Typically for Zenith, the round pushers feature an engraved ring on their outer tube. In this case however they are also screwed down, protecting them during demanding use (outdoor, sports) as well as providing additional water tightness, which in our case is rated for 200m - for Zenith - a first!

Still, they are all Zenith - in every aspect!

Like with several other Zenith watches, there is a small groove in the caseback facilitating grip on the crown.

And while we are already on the flip-side, let's stop for a while and admire the Zenith El Primero Cal. 400B :

The movement is a well-known entity but always a pleasure to look at. Different to other versions, the rotor features a blackened (instead of gold-filled) company logo. Furthermore, you'll notice lots of blue colour here: several screws and even the column wheel are heat-blued by hand.

I have so far tried this watch several times, always dressed a bit different. Yes, it is a huge watch, but it always manages to tame its size to be within acceptable limits. And it seems it does not ant to give a conclusive answer as to which is the Sport's defining element - contrast...

Even Oliver's smaller wrist can carry this weight, so to say. Not out of place, not at all, I'd say!

The entire construction and design of the case is identical to the grey sister watch, but what is immediately apparent: the contrast is much more subtle. While this is certainly a matter of taste, it is however also a question of legibility.

In the following images I tried to illustrate the effect. The timepiece appears flatter and almost monochrome (with some legibility impacts), but the different surface finishings are more prominent, thus the dial effects are more subtle and it takes very specific lights to bring about a change.

Same effect on the wrist:

I like this last image best as it really shows how much the silver Sport watch is defined by its dial finishing:

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