Tourbillions have, since their beginning, enjoyed the top spot when it has come to complications and the sheer artistry associated with them. Zenith has in its own right interpreted this awe inspiring complication. In Haute Horlogerie, there is no such thing as a basic tourbillion and in Zenith there is no such thing as a basic watch, especially one with the El Primero movement driving it forward.
This tourbillion is encased in 18 karat white gold and carries dimensions of 44mm for the diameter and 15.6mm for the height of the case. This white gold tourbillion is made as a limited edition of just 69 pieces and features a tachymeter on the internal bezel differentiating it from the non-limited tourbillion line up. The case back is of the exhibition variety and uses sapphire crystal to show off the award winning El Primero automatic movement and its 22 karat gold oscillating weight.
The El Primero movement is by far one of the better movements in the watch industry today and can be found in a whole host of other brands such as Rolex, Cartier and so many more. What sets the El Primero movement apart from others is its high frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour. This extremely high oscillating rate makes the El Primero movement more precise than many others that beat at 28,800.
Tourbillions, in essence, are used to nullify the effects of gravity on the escapement. The El Primero Tourbillion from Zenith carries a date around the carriage and uses the standard true second hand attaches to the tourbillion. The other two subdials on this watch are for the chronograph counting the minutes and hours at 3 and 6 respectively. The tourbillion is a little off set at the 11 o’clock position.
The dial window uses sapphire crystal which has been glare proofed on both sides for a clean look at the slate grey dial. The chronograph subdials are blue and grey while the chronograph seconds hand is red with the Zenith Star logo used as a counterweight.
Water resistant to 10 ATM, the El Primero Tourbillion is a sturdy watch that is going to stand the test of time. The watch uses Superluminova SLN1 for optimum readability under any conditions. The Limited edition model is outfitted with a dark brown alligator strap secured using an 18 karat white gold triple folding clasp. The Zenith El Primero Tourbillion retails at $79,300 USD and is guaranteed internationally for 2 years.
TAGS: Automatic Watches, Chronographs, Haute Horlogerie, Leather, Mechanical Watches, Men's Watches, Tourbillion, Water Resistant, White Gold