Two great performers make their stage entrance and reveal their legendary mechanism through a fascinating chiaroscuro openworked design. A wide black ceramic case, an openworked dial and an ultra-technical vibe… spiced up by a sprinkling of crimson.
They radiate an imposing and distinguished presence. 45 mm of black ceramic frame a skeleton dial, in an impressive architectural display showcasing the intricacies of El Primero mechanisms. These are complicated models with a fiery temperament: the first combines a tourbillon with a high-frequency chronograph, while the second deploys the spirited energy of a classic “El Primero” chronograph.
Stunning view
A new arrival at Zenith, ceramic no sooner enters the collection than it relinquishes the starring role to the legendary ‘engines’ inside: the El Primero Calibre 4035 automatic chronograph tourbillon movement; and El Primero Calibre 400B, heir to the world’s most precise series-made chronograph developed by Zenith in 1969. Both are revealed through a deep black openworked dial enlivened by red accents. Their swift-paced 5 Hz cadence drives the ruthenium-blackened, facetted and luminescent hands sweeping over matching hour-markers. Openworked counters and a minute ring screw-secured to the movement enhance this three-dimensional display.
Both watches from the Formula 1 collection are powered by a quartz movement The two versions, a three-hand observe using the date and a chronograph, are sports watches that has a 43mm-wide black PVD situation dressed in red and black. The interplay of contrasts guarantees excellent readability. The Carrera Heuer 01 chronograph gives the Zenith watches rating Replica mechanism pride of place with its skeleton dial revealing the workings of its in-house automated calibre in a brushed black PVD steel situation which has a width of 45mm.
Black ceramic armour
Fashioned from black ceramic, their 45 mm-diameter case framing a skeleton dial conveys the image of perfectly mastered complexity. The El Primero Skeleton Tourbillon model associates the tourbillon with a high-frequency chronograph in resolutely futuristic mode. The tourbillon carriage performing one rotation per minute is offset at 11 o’clock, while the openworked chronograph counters form a figure eight. Also beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour enabling a tenth-of-a-second display, the El Primero Skeleton chronograph movement powers central hours and minutes, small seconds, chronograph and date functions. Both models have an over 50-hour power reserve.
The strong character of the El Primero Tourbillon Skeleton and El Primero Skeleton is accentuated by a black rubber strap – perforated for the tourbillon version and carbon fibre-coated for the chronograph – fitted with a titanium and black PVD-treated triple folding clasp.