In 1969, Zenith launched El Primero, the first ever fully integrated automatic column-wheel chronograph movement, enabling 1/10th of a second precision. This groundbreaking model laid a new milestone in watchmaking history that had never been surpassed – until now. Half a century later, Zenith has once again defied tradition and pushed existing 8,217.boundaries, leading us into the world of 1/100th of a second accuracy.

The new TIMELAB-chronometer certified Defy El Primero 21 Blue features a titanium case with matching rhodium-plated hour markers and hands. The open-worked dial displays a chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o’clock, hours and minutes in the centre, small seconds at 9 o’clock, black 60-second counter at 6 o’clock and the Defy El Primero 21’s trademark blue 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, offset by the unusual and visually striking blue mainplate.

Designed to cater to a variety of tastes, the Defy El Primero 21 Blue offers a choice of three straps from black rubber covered with a blue alligator leather coating; or in titanium, both with a titanium double folding clasp. The watch has a 50-hour power reserve and is water-resistant to 100 meters. In the UK the watch will retail in the region of £8,217. We will be seeing the new watch among others in the Zenith collection at Baselworld next month.

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Zenith’s partnership with high-end cigar manufacturer Cohiba has got off to what it refers to as a  ‘smoking start’ in 2018, with the launch of two new limited-edition versions of the brand’s Pilot Type 20 model: the 50-piece Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition in 18-carat rose gold and the 150-piece Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition in bronze.

The Pilot Type 20 Chronograph is encased in bronze and powered by the high-frequency El Primero ‘engine’ with a black dial bearing green-emission SLN Arabic numerals. Its counterpart, the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Special Edition, is powered by an automatic Zenith Elite 679 caliber.

Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition in 18-carat rose gold

Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition in bronze

As with mechanical watches, Habanos cigars have a long cultural history. Aged, full-bodied and with the classic Cohiba finish, the Maduro 5 is no exception to this rule. Maduro is not a type of leaf, but a color shade achieved through an extra fermentation of the wrapper leaves harvested from the top levels of the shade and ageing longer than is usual for standard wrapper leaves. The wrapper leaves used for Maduro 5 line are aged for five years. This well-aged wrapper yields the top-quality Maduro color and flavor that makes the distinct tasting Maduro 5 cigars.

For 2018, ZENITH has produced the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition and Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition in warm tones of rose gold and bronze respectively. Water resistant to 10 ATM and endowed with a 50-hour power reserve, the trademark striking case, wide ratcheted easily adjustable crown (along with pushpieces in the case of the Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition), and oversized luminescent numerals of the Zenith/Cohiba Pilot watches proudly flaunt all the DNA of a line of airborne conquerors, while emulating the rich tones of the Maduro 5 wrapping.

Produced in a numbered edition of 50 for the Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Cohiba Maduro 5Edition and 150 in bronze for its Pilot Type 20 Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition counterpart, both watches display both the Zenith and the Cohiba logos on their sandblasted black dials.

They also feature gold-plated hour and minute hands with a small seconds hand at 9 o’clock on the Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition, together with a central chrono hand and 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. A special titanium caseback bearing the number of the piece in the series, along with the name ‘Cohiba Maduro 5’ atop an engraving of Cohiba’s “El Laguito” historical factory*.

There’s a brown oily nubuck strap with protective rubber lining, special stitching and titanium pin buckle on the Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition; and a brown alligator leather strap with protective rubber lining and matching 18-carat rose gold pin buckle on the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition.

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Here’s a hands on look at the Zenith PILOT Type 20 Chronograph Extra Special, which features the Zenith El Primero movement in a bronze case with a beautiful matte blue dial.

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The Zenith Swizz Beatz capsule collection comes in the wake of last year’s Defy El Primero 21 Swizz Beatz Edition Unique.

Known for his mature appreciation of watchmaking, world famous hip hop artist and record producer Swizz Beatz revealed three colorful new special editions.

Just three of the Defy Zero G Swizz Beatz will be issued, featuring a 44mm-diameter brushed titanium case framing an open-worked dial featuring orange accents on the hands and hour-markers picking up the bright color featured on the crown ring and the vivid alligator leather coating of the white rubber strap. Both the latter and the bezel inscribed with all or part of an inspirational quote from Swizz Beatz:

“Never let people tell you what you can’t do, because sky’s not the limit, it’s just the view. ”

The same maxim is featured on the two Defy El Primero 21 editions: one a 25-piece white ceramic interpretation, and the other an exclusive five-unit gem-studded white gold variation fully set with 288 spectacular round diamonds and complemented by the baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel.

Swizz Beatz presents the new Swizz Beatz Capsule Collection

39-year-old Swizz Beatz, real name Kasseem Dean, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer from New York who was raised in the Bronx. In May 2014, Dean was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame, where he received a street named in his honor, called Swizz Beatz Street.

Zenith

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From June 29 to September 8, 2018, Zenith takes up temporary residence on Sardinia’s Emerald Coast.

The brand has opened an innovative pop-up pod featuring all the latest technology as well as the launch of the DEFY El Primero 21 Porto Cervo starring an interactive hologram of the Defy Lab.

Blessed with translucent waters and offshore islands, Porto Cervo is a one-of-a-kind location to which Zenith is bringing its celebratory model. Like its predecessors, the 25-piece limited edition TIME LAB-Chronometer certified DEFY El Primero 21 Porto Cervo features a 44 mm titanium case inspired by the shape of the original El Primero models from the early 1970s.

A white ceramic bezel surrounds the DEFY El Primero 21 Porto Cervo’s white skeleton dial revealing the contemporary decor and key identifying characteristics epitomizing the face of the new Zenith range. Deep blue accents on the hour-markers, hands, and crown offset its streamlined white and titanium good looks, with a blue and white chronograph power-reserve indication appearing at 12 o’clock, hours and minutes in the center, small seconds at 9 o’clock, along with white 60-second and 30-minute counters at 6 o’clock and 3 o’clock respectively.

The DEFY El Primero 21 Porto Cervo offers a choice of two straps including white rubber covered with a blue alligator leather coating and supple white rubber both finished with the El Primero 21’s trademark titanium double folding clasp.

On the case back is an engraved design of a yacht on the crest of a wave and the name Porto Cervo, the DEFY El Primero 21 Porto Cervo is a statement piece for a uniquely colorful and confident summer lifestyle.

Limited to just 25 numbered pieces, the watch is driven by a movement enabling 1/100th of a second precision and endowed with a 50-hour power reserve.

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As the sun continues to shine in the UK, without so much as a single rain delay halting play at Wimbledon – an almost unheard-of phenomenon – Zenith welcomes summer with a range of on-trend blue models, the likes of the Defy Classic, the El Primero 21 Blue, the 40 mm Pilot Type 20 Extra Special or the 45 mm Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Chronograph.

DEFY CLASSIC 

With its aqua blue inner bezel ring is at its summery best when teamed with a blue alligator-leather coated black rubber strap.

DEFY EL PRIMERO 21 BLUE 

This watch sports a striking blue mainplate teamed with a choice of straps in matching seasonal shades.

PILOT TYPE 20 EXTRA SPECIAL 

PILOT TYPE 20 EXTRA SPECIAL CHRONOGRAPH

Both the 40 mm and the 45 mm Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Chronograph reach for the skies by adopting a matt azure blue dial. Teamed with sporty blue oily nubuck leather straps, these numbers are also water-resistant to 100 m and thus ready for fun at sea as well as on land and in the air.

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Here’s our Zenith Type 20 Extra Special 40mm Bronze review video.

Back in July 25^th of 1909 a French aviator by the name of Louis Blériot  piloted the first airplane flight over the English Chanel.  Luck would have it for Zenith that he had on one of their wristwatches on his wrist for the crossing.  In this in depth video review I’ll take a look the new for 2018 Zenith Type 20 Extra Special 40mm bronze which takes it’s inspiration from the one worn by Blériot.

The Zenith Type 20 Extra Special 40mm bronze has a retail price of $5,700 USD

For more information, visit www.zenith-watches.com

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September 30, 2018, will see 120,000 elegant gentlefolk take to the streets in style, donning their finest suits and riding their vintage or classic motorcycles in aid of raising money and awareness for prostate cancer research and male suicide prevention on behalf of the event’s official charity partner, The Movember Foundation.

Since its inception, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has transformed over 650 cities in 95 countries across the globe as enthusiastic riders proudly display their elegance on café racers, scramblers, choppers, bobbers or vintage scooters.

Team Zenith partners with the DGR in celebration of timeless style and selfless philanthropy. Keenly supported by Zenith ambassadors and friends of the brand, each driven by the same goal of helping to fund research, it has a proud reputation of being the largest to ride in the DGR.

The event has become one of the world’s biggest charity fundraisers for men’s health,  raising over US$ 13 million to date, and with the goal of adding a further $6 million to the cause throughout the 2018 fundraising campaign.
You can join the Zenith team. The highest fundraiser can win a limited edition DGR 2018 Ton up watch. Zenith will also choose the best Instagram picture using the hashtag #RideWithZenith and reward the winner with a Zenith wall clock.

In supporting this global charity event for the third year running, Zenith has released the PILOT Type 20 Chronograph Ton Up Black. Driven by a legendary in-house El Primero automatic 4069 calibre operating at 5Hz (36,000b VpH), and paired with the right leather jacket, this cool number is this year’s must-have kit for every gentleman biker seeking a watch that combines designer vintage allure with an unmistakably sporty demeanor!

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MR PORTER, the award-winning online destination for men’s style has partnered with Swiss fine-watch manufacturer Zenith and British watch customizer Bamford Watch Department in creating an exclusive 25-piece limited-edition watch, available for sale on 15 November 2018.

George Bamford and his team worked alongside Zenith in the design of this watch, entirely produced in-house at Zenith’s Manufacture. Co-creating a project and product of this nature is a first for all three partners in this undertaking.

Each of these limited-edition watches will feature a special open case-back engraved and individually numbered one to 25.

“Since becoming the official customiser for Zenith in June last year, I have had this project in mind with MR PORTER. I am so excited to see it come to fruition and as always, it was a pleasure designing and working with both brands on the project. The engineering team at Zenith have blown me away with how the beautiful blue on this unique dial has come to life and the way in which the design nods to the past makes it truly special.”

George Bamford, Founder, Bamford Watch Department

How much?

£6,100

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Zenith has launched its first limited-edition watch in partnership with Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP).

The brand is supporting the cause by making a donation to the charitable organization that honors and empowers injured service members who bravely volunteered to serve their nation on or after the events of September 11, 2001. The new Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Flyback USA Edition watch will be sold nationwide in a limited run of just 50 units.

Zenith historically includes models that have made an indelible imprint on watchmaking, notably including its iconic pilot’s watches. The original 1960s TIPO CP-2 is often identified under that name. ‘CP’ stands for cronometro da polso (wrist chronograph). TIPO CP-2 chronographs belong to a circle of legendary chronographs that have earned the status of exceptional timepieces in both military and horological history and are now sought-after collector’s items.

At Baselworld 2016, Zenith presented its tribute to one of the most coveted military pieces, the Heritage Cronometro Tipo CP-2, and is now paying a fresh tribute simultaneously serving a concrete philanthropic purpose.

“In recognition of Veteran’s Day, Zenith is honored to partner with Wounded Warrior Project to launch this very special limited-edition chronograph. We are happy to support the important work that Wounded Warrior Project is doing for the nation’s service members and their families through this project. We could not think of a better way to celebrate this moving annual commemoration.”

Julien Tornare, CEO of Zenith

The 43mm case of the Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Flyback USA Edition features a rotating bezel inspired by the US flag, a theme picked up on the oscillating weight with its Côtes de Genève motif. In addition, for the first time, the watch features a matte blue dial coordinated with a matching aluminum ring inside the bezel.

The triangle marker and hand have both been changed to red. The watch comes on a special blue kudu-hide strap with white and red stitching, the USA Edition puts a modern spin on patriotism and pays tribute to the nation and its soldiers.

How much?

US$8,350.00

Inquire at Topper Jewelers

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Zenith has been associated with Land Rover for the past three years. In 2017 the partnership launched the Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar, a model celebrating the Range Rover name.

A new vehicle deserved a new piece, and the next-generation Range Rover Evoque is paired with the latest Zenith watch from the DEFY Classic collection.

The new Range Rover Evoque is designed to blend city living with country escapism, building on the original’s enduring luxury appeal with a purposeful and precise evolution of its instantly recognizable silhouette. The most compact Range Rover in the line-up has a timeless design placing Evoque back at the top of the segment.

The new DEFY Classic Range Rover features a 41mm case with unisex appeal. Co-developed by design and technical engineering teams together, this 200-piece limited edition of the DEFY Classic Range Rover includes color themes evoking the UK manufactured vehicle, such as the second’s hand and oscillating weight attired in Arctic Petrol (turquoise blue) inspired by the accents on Evoque’s steering wheel and seats.

The open-worked dial of the piece is inspired by the sculptural design of the wheel design of the Evoque, while the quilted-patterned upholstery of the premium SUV is picked up in the ‘diamond’ motif gracing the rubber strap of the watch.

Powered by a new Elite skeletonized movement, this is Zenith’s first reinterpretation of its Defy Classic collection.

How much?

CHF 7,500.00

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With its intricate display of micromechanics, the new DEFY Classic Black Ceramic from Zenith marks the first time the ultra-hard and inherently black material makes its way to the DEFY Classic collection.

The DEFY Classic Black Ceramic’s distinguishing features are brought to life from its subtly nuanced darkness and the sense of volume it conveys through balanced geometry and unique architecture.

Forged from wear-proof black zirconium oxide ceramic, the DEFY Classic’s 41mm case features a combination of polished and satin-brushed surfaces, emphasizing its geometric, contemporary case inspired by the original Zenith DEFY collection first launched in the 1970s. The angular, silhouette of the case is softened by the circular bezel that haloes above it.

Zenith DEFY Black Classic Ceramic

The centerpiece of the DEFY Classic Black Ceramic is its avant-garde open dial. With ultramodern angles, the multi-layered element seamlessly blends the display with the movement.

By day, the faceted hands and applied markers are easily legible and appear as one with the blackened complex of the open dial and visible portions of the movement, with their polished ruthenium-treated surfaces gleaming through the darkness. By night, they emit a subtle green glow from the Super-LumiNova® SLN C1 coating.

Visible through the open dial as well as the sapphire case back of the DEFY Classic, is the automatic Elite 670 manufacture movement. It’s the first time the Elite caliber has been open-worked. Its entire anatomy has been reimagined with restructured and open bridges and cutting-edge finishing. As for performance, the Elite caliber in the DEFY Classic features a silicon pallet-lever and escape-wheel.

The DEFY Classic Black Ceramic comes on a black unistructure rubber strap for both elegance and comfort.

How much?

$7,500

Availability: March/April 2019

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This has to be one of the most ambitious offerings Zenith has ever undertaken. The El Primero high-frequency chronograph celebrates half a century and Zenith is offering aficionados an anniversary boxed set containing three chronographs with emblematic tricolor counters.

A reissue faithful to the first El Primero model of 1969; a Chronomaster El Primero with optimized movement; and a Defy El Primero 21 to 1/100th of a second: the 50-piece limited-edition trilogy ‘conjugates’ high frequency in several tenses.

El Primero, the high-frequency precision timepiece was born in 1969. The anniversary set contains three El Primero models retracing the technical and aesthetic evolution of this precision legend. Presented in a box merging technology with tradition, this collector’s trio with ‘signature’ counters offers vintage, classic or modern. Meanwhile, a still-empty fourth cushion sits ready to welcome the next achievement of Zenith in the universe of very high frequency: 1/1000th of a second!

The El Primero, originally hailed as the first ever automatic chronograph, had innovative features and a rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour, with an integrated column-wheel construction, a central rotor mounted on ball bearings and over 50 hours of power reserve. It made it the most accurate chronograph in the world and the only one capable of measuring short times to 1/10th of a second. In addition, El Primero established new visual codes, with a range of contrasting colors that enhanced the readability of the counters: light grey for seconds, blue for minutes and anthracite for hours.

Original version

While El Primero has constantly evolved since its invention, Zenith had never yet offered a reissue faithful to the original model. The anniversary boxed set, in a 50-piece limited edition, includes in its first compartment a perfect reiteration of the 1969 El Primero chronograph. The 38 mm steel case, curved glass with magnifying effect, tricolor counters, tachymeter scale, font, the shapes of the hands and hour markers, as well as the leather strap: all the original codes are present. The shape of the lugs and mushroom pushers are exactly reproduced on this pure “revival” watch. In fact, the only liberties that have been taken are the initially solid back now reveals the movement and the crown logo has been updated. The movement is the El Primero column-wheel chronograph, beating at a rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour and delivering 1/10th of a second precision as well as a 50-hour power reserve. Like the original, it displays the hours, minutes and small seconds, chronograph, tachymeter and date functions, the latter appearing between 4 and 5 o’clock.

Chronomaster 2.0

A direct descendant of El Primero, the Zenith Chronomaster is its most emblematic contemporary embodiment. A Chronomaster is recognizable at first sight. Its imposing stature, iconic design, and high-frequency mechanism are embedded in the Manufacture’s DNA. Therefore, to celebrate the legendary model from which it originated, the second watch in the case is a Chronomaster, equipped with a new-generation El Primero engine and a new black ceramic bezel. Renamed El Primero 3600, its movement is presented in an optimized version, an update conducted in accordance with the architecture and performance of the legendary El Primero.

With this 2.0 version, the original construction of the El Primero chronograph, consisting of a column wheel and a lever-operated lateral clutch, is visually highlighted and redesigned to enhance its reliability and precision. The most obvious results are the integration of a stop-seconds device for time-setting and a power reserve increased to 60 hours. In addition to its maximized assets, the new Chronomaster has a sportier and more modern look than its contemporaries, featuring a 42 mm steel case topped by a graduated black ceramic bezel, a star-shaped oscillating weight and a rubber strap with contrasting stitching.

Defy El Primero 21 chronograph

The last element of this trilogy heralds watchmaking of the future. Beating inside the 44 mm titanium case is a revolutionary mechanical movement. Oscillating at a frequency of 360,000 vibrations per hour (50 Hz), ten times higher than its predecessor, it measures and displays one-hundredth of a second on a scale from 1 to 100. Its exclusive dynamic signature is the lightning-quick hand making a full turn of the dial in one second. Its skeleton dial features three solid counters in the original colors – the common denominator of this “tribute” edition – and its contemporary lines, formed by a large fluted crown, flat push pieces, and short lugs, merge seamlessly onto the wrist with a black rubber strap covered with black alligator leather.

Grey palette

Each of the watches is issued in a 50-piece limited edition, the three El Primero anniversary watches, as well as the empty cushion designed to accommodate a future 1/1000th of a second chronograph, are presented in a boxed set. Subtle nuances of grey, leather touches, contemporary woodwork: the presentation box is adorned with the anniversary logo, the satin-brushed grey lid with built-in touch screen opens to reveal a reproduction of a miniature watchmaker’s workbench, complete with a watch mechanism on a rest, adjustable lighting system, magnifying glass, and screwdriver. The screw-locked lower part of the box contains a drawer in which the three El Primero chronographs are nestled.

In a nod to the past, the box contains an actual die of the chronograph’s coupling-wheel bridge (one of the emblematic components of the El Primero movement). This die is an invitation to purchasers to come and visit the Manufacture in Le Locle and to hand-stamp two coupling-wheel bridges. One will leave with the purchaser in his box, and the other, engraved with his name, will be placed as historical testimony on the entrance wall of the attic chosen by Charles Vermot, the Zenith watchmaker who – in the midst of the quartz crisis in the early 1970s – saved the elements essential to the production of the El Primero calibre from destruction by secretly keeping them in that same attic thus enabling its renaissance in 1984.

How much?

TBC

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New for 2019, Zenith’s Pilot watches convey an adventurous spirit with intense colors and classic proportions. The Pilot Type 20 lends itself particularly well to vintage variations while never losing sight of its heritage.

The two imposing  45 mm models  Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Blue features a signature bronze case paired with a sober matt blue dial and matching nubuck strap. The titanium case-back is engraved with the hallmark Zenith flying instruments logo. The latest tribute to the café racer biker community (also known as Ton-up boys), the Pilot Type 20 Ton Up Black features an aged stainless-steel case, matt black dial and black oily nubuck leather strap lined with rubber for additional comfort. It offers It’s a pilot’s watch design combined with vintage motorcycle racing style.

Both these variations feature the ratcheted wide Pilot crown and are powered by an automatic Zenith Elite 679 calibre; an accurate in-house movement with central hours, minutes and seconds hands, and a 50-hour power reserve. With no date or calendar information, the dials reveal the minimum with an outsize faceted luminous minute and seconds gold or black ruthenium-plated hands (typical of pilot’s watches) for crystal clear legibility, along with the oversized luminescent Arabic numerals emblematic of the line.

How much?

CHF 6,900

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This has to be one of the hottest tickets in town. Milan was the first stop last night in a series of 12 exclusive El Primero 50^th anniversary dinners hosted by Zenith over the next year in celebration of the half-century of the legendary El Primero high-frequency chronograph.

The city was deemed a natural choice for the kick-off, given that Italy was the first country to receive the El Primero in 1969. Part of a tour entitled “Le Grenier Club” and characterized by their exclusive atmosphere and select, unexpected locations including art galleries and exceptional private properties in 12 of the world’s greatest cities, the dinners will take place at a rate of one a month symbolizing the 12 months of the El Primero 50^th anniversary year.

From London to Dubai, via Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, New York City, Shanghai, Singapore, Moscow, Mexico and Geneva, each dinner will host just fifty guests including retailers, friends of the brand, final customers, collectors, press, and influencers, who will be treated to a number of surprises.

50-Piece Limited-Edition Trilogy 

At each dinner in tribute to the original El Primero, Zenith will present an anniversary set containing three chronographs with emblematic tricolor counters. We featured an article on this collection earlier this month. Until this year Zenith had not offered a reissue faithful to the original model, but it’s now included in the anniversary set, in a 50-piece limited edition, includes in its first compartment a perfect reiteration of the 1969 El Primero chronograph; a Chronomaster El Primero with optimized movement; and a Defy El Primero 21 accurate to the nearest 1/100^th of a second. It also features a deliberately empty cushion destined to welcome Zenith’s next feats in the field of extreme high frequency.

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Havana is a busy city during the month of February as the Habanos cigar festival brings industry insiders, vendors, and visitors from the around the globe.

This is year is the 21^st Habanos Festival where Zenith introduced a new Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Trinidad Edition trilogy for the unveiling of Trinidad 50th anniversary cigars.

The Trinidad 50 anniversary cigar is made at Cohiba’s exclusive El Laguito factory. This anniversary cigar is renowned for its rich, aromatic and medium flavor. The Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Trinidad Edition appears in a trio of 45 mm rose, yellow and white gold cases, each available in 50 piece limited editions and engraved on the back with the Trinidad 50^th anniversary logo.

This limited edition is powered by the El Primero column wheel automatic chronograph movement, a legendary chronograph movements that coincidently also turns 50 this year. The large dial is clearly legible with oversized beige luminescent numerals, a distinctive tobacco leaf pattern, and bears the Zenith and Trinidad logos.

The Zenith Pilot has a matching Trinidad logo patterned Havana brown calfskin leather strap featuring a protective rubber lining with the same logo on the inner side.  The clasp is secured by a pin buckle in 18ct rose, yellow or white gold matching the case. An identical unique piece in platinum will be auctioned during the Habanos festival as a part of an exclusive Trinidad humidor made to celebrate the anniversary of the brand.

Photo Credit: Zenith

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Part of Zenith’s 2019 line-up includes new interpretations for the Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Adventure, which is powered by an automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph movement.

Not to be outdone, the Pilot Type 20 Adventure is equipped with an automatic Zenith Elite 679 calibre, with a 50-hour power reserve.

The watches feature the familiar oversized and easily adjustable ratcheted crown of the original aviation instruments and both Pilot Type 20 Adventure watches have 45mm cases cast in bronze. On the reverse, titanium casebacks bear the ZENITH Flying Instruments logo, while the dials are in grained khaki green with oversized Arabic numerals entirely made of Super-LumiNova®.

As for straps, there’s a choice of camouflage alligator leather or suave khaki matrix calfskin leather, both with protective rubber lining and a titanium pin buckle.

How much?

UK price: Around £5,500

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This year, Zenith honors the 1969 El Primero high-frequency chronograph with a solid gold “revival” trilogy.

The 38 mm case of is celebrating half a century and to mark this anniversary, the three unisex models in white, rose or yellow gold is issued in 50-piece limited editions with a 50-year guarantee.

For this golden jubilee of the El Primero, still regarded as the world’s most accurate automatic chronograph, Zenith presents three 50-piece re-editions of the original model, complete with a 50-year guarantee thereby ensuring an heirloom stature of the anniversary series. The metals of choice white, pink or yellow gold.

El Primero A386 Chronograph in white gold

Beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour; the movement features an integrated column-wheel construction; a ballbearing-mounted central rotor; and over 50 hours of power reserve (a feat for such a high frequency). These have been the signature features of El Primero creations for half a century.

Apart from its precious metal, this anniversary edition faithfully reproduces the initial characteristics of the 1969 El Primero: a 38 mm diameter case, a domed crystal, three-colored counters, a tachymeter scale, as well as the shape of the hands and hour markers.

The mushroom-type pushers and lugs are also identical to the original, thanks to the “reverse engineering” process adopted. In designing the vintage series, each component of an original El Primero chronograph was digitized so as to ensure accurate reproduction of its properties.

El Primero A386 Chronograph in pink gold

The only exceptions are the initially closed caseback that now fully reveals the movement, as well as the updated logo adorning the crown. The movement is the current version of the El Primero automatic calibre powering the hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, tachymeter and date functions, which appear between 4 and 5 o’clock on the white lacquered dial.

El Primero A386 Chronograph in yellow gold

The watch comes on a brown or black leather strap depending on the model in rubber-lined alligator leather and fitted with a buckle made of the same gold as the case, as well as with the composition of the case.

Like the original, in 1969 the watch comes in a bright red travel pouch, as well as a microfibre cloth adorned on one side with an El Primero chronograph movement plan and on the other with a picture of the original user manual.

How much?

CHF 19,900 for all three versions
Available Summer 2019

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September 30, 2018, will see 120,000 elegant gentlefolk take to the streets in style, donning their finest suits and riding their vintage or classic motorcycles in aid of raising money and awareness for prostate cancer research and male suicide prevention on behalf of the event’s official charity partner, The Movember Foundation.

Since its inception, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has transformed over 650 cities in 95 countries across the globe as enthusiastic riders proudly display their elegance on café racers, scramblers, choppers, bobbers or vintage scooters.

Team Zenith partners with the DGR in celebration of timeless style and selfless philanthropy. Keenly supported by Zenith ambassadors and friends of the brand, each driven by the same goal of helping to fund research, it has a proud reputation of being the largest to ride in the DGR.

The event has become one of the world’s biggest charity fundraisers for men’s health,  raising over US$ 13 million to date, and with the goal of adding a further $6 million to the cause throughout the 2018 fundraising campaign.
You can join the Zenith team. The highest fundraiser can win a limited edition DGR 2018 Ton up watch. Zenith will also choose the best Instagram picture using the hashtag #RideWithZenith and reward the winner with a Zenith wall clock.

In supporting this global charity event for the third year running, Zenith has released the PILOT Type 20 Chronograph Ton Up Black. Driven by a legendary in-house El Primero automatic 4069 calibre operating at 5Hz (36,000b VpH), and paired with the right leather jacket, this cool number is this year’s must-have kit for every gentleman biker seeking a watch that combines designer vintage allure with an unmistakably sporty demeanor!

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It’s immediately clear that the DEFY Fusee Tourbillon’s caliber is out of the ordinary.

The spoke design of the bridges is amplified by their bicolor finish, where the top satin-finished surface is given a black treatment, while its polished sides are a lighter grey rhodium tone.

The layout of the bridges offers a balanced layout of the various functions and complications. On the top half of the movement, there’s the fusee and chain constant force mechanism. The chain, which consists of 575 individually hand-assembled components, features a bold blued treatment: a first for a wristwatch fusee and chain system.

On the opposite end at 6 o’clock, a tourbillon cage with a new construction featuring an off-centered balance wheel makes a full rotation every 60 seconds. Like the chain, the tourbillon cage is embellished with a striking blue color, reinforcing the visual effect of the DEFY Fusee Tourbillon’s unique moving parts.

Positioned at the edge of the dial between 4 and 5 o’clock, a red-tipped hand indicates the power reserve, a handy feature when manually winding the DEFY Fusee Tourbillon with its 50-hour power reserve.

As a mechanical movement’s mainspring unwinds, the torque it delivers to the regulating organ drops, resulting in less efficient chronometric performance of the movement.

A centuries-old solution to counter this and achieve constant force lies within the power source and its transmission. Known as the “fusee and chain” a miniature chain is coiled around a conical “fusee” and attached to the mainspring barrel. As the mainspring unwinds, more of the chain wraps around the barrel, detaching itself from the wide conical base of the fusee.

The greater turning movement provided by the fusee compensates the weakening mainspring pull, thus maintaining the torque and, consequently, the amplitude of the regulating organ constant throughout the duration of the mainspring’s autonomy.

 By combining the fusee and chain mechanism with a tourbillon regulating organ, Zenith places precision at the forefront of its unique take on Haute Horlogerie. Highlighting the unique technical and aesthetic prowess of the piece, the DEFY Fusee Tourbillon is produced in two different editions.

Zenith DEFY Fusee Tourbillon in Carbon

The first version features a light yet robust carbon case, crown and buckle head. The carbon fiber treatment even extends to the open dial, with the central skeletal element and surrounding flange ring giving off the unique shimmer of this material. The watch comes on a black rubber strap with a “Cordura” fabric effect and blue stitching. A second strap is also supplied, in black rubber with a woven carbon effect. The DEFY Fusee Tourbillon in carbon is limited to 50 pieces.

How much?

US$80,500

Zenith DEFY Fusee Tourbillon in Titanium

The second version of the DEFY Fusee Tourbillon, limited to just 10 pieces, is crafted in platinum. The exposed movement provides a vibrant, voluminous view, where the mix of materials and tones add visual depth, from the anthracite base plate of the movement to the blued chain and tourbillon cage topped with a set of geometrical bridges in two tones. The watch comes on a strap with a black rubber core coated with black alligator leather.

How much?

Price upon request

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