The Zenith Star 159 days in Space

Zenith El Primero Striking 10th had no need for a tourbillon, as in space there is no gravity to hinder the effective precision of a watch; however, it is interesting to discover how Zenith El Primero fared with absolutely no gravity at all. As it turns out, quite well. After 3 planes and 14 Mi-8 helicopters with 7 rescue vehicles located the soyouz spacecraft reentry capsule on the vast steppes of Kazakhastan , after 159 days on the International Space Station ,they found , ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and his Zenith El Primero Striking 10th timepiece, along with his Russian and American fellow astronauts , doing just fine.

It is very fitting for the Zenith El Primero Striking 10th, based on the world's first automatic chronograph, to spend time up in space where its founder gazed so many years ago to gain inspiration for its identity.

Georges Favre-Jacot, founder of Zenith in 1865 at just 22, desired to make the best watch movement. To achieve his goal he hired the best watch- makers and designers, placed them all under one roof providing them with adequate lighting and heating, a luxury for most working conditions in those days, and set out to make a superior movement. The movement was made, and George Favre-Jacot was very pleased with the result. However, a watch movement of this quality required a proper name to represent its worth. George Favre-Jacot looked to the heavens, teeming with stars. He riveted his gaze towards a constellation rotating around a pole star, and his mind still intensely focused on his new watch movement, compared the celestial movements to the wheels and pivots turning on their axis. Thus he named the company Zenith, a term from the Celestial Coordinate system -referring to a direction pointing directly "above" a location in space, and as his logo, he chose a star.

Just like its ancestor, the original El Primero movement, which was the first chronograph to beat at a rate of 10 vibrations per second greater than the usual 8 vibrations per second, the Zenith El Primero Striking 10th, has its own horological milestone to flaunt. This Zenith El Primero Striking 10th, which won a best watch award, utilizes a flying seconds hand measuring time in 1/10ths of a second increments. The flying seconds hand going around the dial every second is also known as a "foudroyante" - most "foudroyante measure in 1/8ths of a second, but the zenith tracks seconds to the tenth. The movement supporting the 1/10th of a second flyback column wheel 60 minute chronograph is an in-house Zenith caliber 4057B vibrating at 36,000 vph.

But Zenith has not had enough of space, the company has another plan in the works. Zenith has partnered with Felix Baumgartner, Austrian pilot, champion parachutist and record-setting BASE jumper, in a project named Red Bull Stratos. Felix Baumgartner will jump out of a capsule suspended in the stratosphere - at an altitude of 36.5 km - four times higher than planes fly to beat four world records: highest manned balloon flight; highest leap; longest free fall , an an unprecedented first time ever achievement to break the sound barrier with a human body. Strapped to his hand will be a Zenith timepiece. Zenith being one of the main sponsors of this event, which will result in new research data for the improvement of aerospace safety. If any watch can maintain efficiency and reliability under these unearthly conditions, it will be a Zenith.

Basel Sneak Peak: Zenith El Primero Jumping Seconds

The power of Zenith Watches never fail to impress me and the El Primero Jumping Seconds (Foudroyante) chronograph watch is no exception. Beneath the sleek confident dial is cutting edge precision; the result of a rapid balance frequency -36,000 vibrations per hour- rendering the timepiece a master of efficient time keeping. The El Primero movement is in itself an icon of Zenith. First introduced in 1969 as being the first automatic chronograph movement and been noted in horology history as the "first chronograph caliber with automatic winding by an oscillating weight pivoting on a centrally-placed ball bearing mechanism."

With this new Timepiece ,which will debut at Basel World 2010, another first will inspire the watch world - the first automatic integrated chronograph with 1/10th second display or otherwise known as the foudroyante or jumping seconds function. In this function the division of a second is up for grabs, in this case the second is divided by 1/10th of a second. The red hand counterbalanced by the zenith star is the "foudroyante hand" which performs a complete rotation in 10 seconds rather than the traditional 60 seconds, thus the outer most edge of the dial is marked from 1 to 10 enabling one to read in 1/10ths of a second. This function increases precision and enhances readability.

Housed in a 43mm diameter stainless steel or 18k rose gold case (the choice is yours) is an ingenious elaboration of the chronograph mechanism. Utilizing the silicon in crucial components of the El Primero 4052 B Caliber automatic movement, Zenith reduced energy consumption and improved shock absorbency. The chronograph mechanism has a chronograph stop function which utilizes a hand-locking system bringing the hand to a precise stop. A brake lever positions the hand between two of a 100 teeth of the chronograph wheel. The speedy stop and start function of this timepiece requires an enormous amount of energy thus silicon is used. Silicon is three and a half times lighter than other traditional materials.

The Zenith El Primero Jumping Seconds is an attractive timepiece which exudes competency. The remarkable movement can be viewed via a scratch resistant sapphire crystal case-back. The hands and hour markers are coated with Superluminova enabling time display in the dark. Water resistant to 100 meters. Available with either a rubber-lined black or brown alligator strap.

Zenith is a company which accentuates extreme functionality and performance, and thus it comes at no surprise that the El Primero movement takes no less than 9 months of work, performed by 20 watchmakers each an expert in their craft, to complete. Every general El Primero movement ,from conception to completion, takes 5,500 operations of which 50 are general milling operations, 77 milling operations on the bridge side, separate operations for each individual part, 18 different metals.

Own a watch that beats to its own drum - 864,000 times a day.

The Zenith El Primero Moonphase

When one thinks of Zenith, one thinks of the adrenaline rushing, heart pumping Zenith Defy Xtreme.
With this newer model unveiled in Baselworld 2009, an available this Spring, Zenith has toned down its look and become quite conservative. The Zenith Class El Primero Moonphase watch is by no means a step down from the Zenith Defy, it is a classy elegant watch with a unique combination of complications. The Zenith El Primero Moonphase has a full annual calender with moonphase and a chronograph. Within its 40mm and 44mm steel case ,as depicted in the image, a unique movement is at work, the El Primero automatic calibre 4100 which is the only movement baring an annual calender and column wheel based chronograph movement.
The dial is well proportioned and highly legible. The complication sub dials are in an inverted pyramid shape clustered around the center of the face. The Zenith logo, day of the week and month of the year balance the look at the top. The day of the month is placed in the perfect position, between the four and five 'o'clock. This placement makes for quick discrete reference when a date is needed. As with all Zenith timepieces the decorations are exquisite. With the Zenith Class El Primero Moonphase watch, Zenith is targeting a more conservative consumer who appreciates good taste and exceptional timeless quality.

Below is a video of an in depth look at a Zenith El Primero Chronometer and its exceptional craftmanship.