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Zenith
Creator of the El Primero, the first automatic chronograph movement and still one of the highest-frequency movements in the world at 5Hz / 36,000 vph.
- Founded
- 1865
- Founder
- Georges Favre-Jacot
- Country
- Switzerland
- Headquarters
- Le Locle, Switzerland
- Status
- Subsidiary of LVMH
- Signature materials
- Titanium, Aeronith (ultra-lightweight composite), ceramic, Ceratanium
- Signature movements
- In-house El Primero calibre family (3600, 400 series), the world's first automatic chronograph movement introduced in 1969
- Notable designers
- Charles Vermot
- Collections
- 4
Every collection
Collections & specifications
Chronomaster
1969 (El Primero movement)
Zenith's flagship chronograph line built around the legendary El Primero movement, capable of measuring to 1/10th of a second.
- Category
- High-frequency chronograph
- Designers
- In-house design studio
- Case materials
- Stainless steel, titanium, 18k rose gold, ceramic
- Sizes
- 38mm, 39.5mm, 42mm
- Dial
- Tri-color tachymeter dial with panda or reverse-panda layout
- Crystal
- Scratch-resistant sapphire
- Strap / bracelet
- Steel bracelet or leather strap
- Movements
- Calibre El Primero 3600
- Movement type
- Automatic chronograph, 5Hz (36,000 vph)
- Power reserve
- 60 hours
- Water resistance
- 100m (10 ATM)
- Complications
- Chronograph · Date
- Key references
- 03.3300.3600/69.M3300
- Price band
- $8,900–$14,000
Defy
1969
Zenith's futuristic, high-tech line pushing case materials and movement innovation, including the ultra-high-frequency Defy Lab/21.
- Category
- Avant-garde sport watch
- Designers
- In-house design studio
- Case materials
- Titanium, Aeronith, ceramic
- Sizes
- 36mm, 41mm, 44mm
- Dial
- Openworked skeleton dial revealing star-shaped bridges
- Crystal
- Scratch-resistant sapphire
- Strap / bracelet
- Integrated titanium bracelet or rubber strap
- Movements
- Calibre El Primero 9004 (Defy 21)
- Movement type
- Automatic chronograph, 50Hz escapement
- Power reserve
- 50 hours
- Water resistance
- 100m (10 ATM)
- Complications
- Chronograph (1/100th second) · Date
- Key references
- 97.9002.9004/78.R582
- Price band
- $10,000–$20,000
Pilot
1888 (aviation heritage), 2015 (modern line)
Referencing Zenith's early aviation instrument-making heritage, robust oversized cases inspired by early 20th-century cockpit dials.
- Category
- Aviation watch
- Designers
- In-house design studio
- Case materials
- Stainless steel, bronze, titanium
- Sizes
- 40mm, 45mm
- Dial
- Matte black dial with large luminous Arabic numerals
- Crystal
- Scratch-resistant sapphire
- Strap / bracelet
- Leather strap or NATO strap
- Movements
- Calibre El Primero 3620
- Movement type
- Automatic
- Power reserve
- 60 hours
- Water resistance
- 100m (10 ATM)
- Complications
- Date
- Key references
- 29.2430.693/21.C823
- Price band
- $6,900–$9,500
Elite
1994
Zenith's elegant, ultra-thin dress line built around the refined Elite calibre, designed for everyday sophistication.
- Category
- Slim dress watch
- Designers
- In-house design studio
- Case materials
- Stainless steel, 18k rose gold
- Sizes
- 36mm, 40mm
- Dial
- Guilloché or sunray dial with slim baton hands
- Crystal
- Scratch-resistant sapphire
- Strap / bracelet
- Alligator leather strap
- Movements
- Calibre Elite 670
- Movement type
- Automatic
- Power reserve
- 50 hours
- Water resistance
- 50m (5 ATM)
- Complications
- Date
- Key references
- 03.2290.670/01.C493
- Price band
- $5,900–$8,500