Zenith Grande Class Open El Primero

By Florian Matrion - June 4, 2010
Grande Class Open El Primero Diaporama
The Zenith Class Open El Primero is an acrobat that allies the extremes : it reflects both the modernity and the speed of our society, as well as relying on classic stylish codes.
Exclusive! review of the Grande Class Open El Primero . Manufacturer data, photos, editor's opinion and watch retail price on thewatchobserver.co.uk
Editor's opinion
65.5/100
Users' rating
72/100

The Zenith Class Open El Primero is an acrobat that allies the extremes : it reflects both the modernity and the speed of our society, as well as relying on classic stylish codes. How does it manage it? I, myself, an urban man of the XXIst century, I wanted to understand.

First of all, the regret of not being built as sturdy as a a remover disappears in front of its generous diameter though not excessive of 40mm, which satisfies the devoid wrist since the arrival of the fashion of the too much large diameters.

 

An elegant dial

Then, the Zenith’s star, the applied markers, the classic hands, the watch shaped case (something that tends to disappear nowadays), and the silver dial remind him that he is a civilized human being.
And furthermore, an elegant one !
And that he belongs to the power and active spheres – economically speaking.

 

A legendary caliber

And there, the El Primero, a fabulous automatic and high-speed caliber chronograph, the first in its generation with 36000 alternations per hour leads the way : the giant’s sound, the fluidity of the seconds hand exalt its taste for technical excellence and challenge.
Futhermore, it unveils its charms through its open dial…

 

The El Primero, a fabulous automatic and high-speed caliber chronograph, the first in its generation with 36000 alternations per hour.

 

The urban man, delighted, show it to his kith and kin.  

The woman of his life, at the first glance on the dial, immediately identifies a smiling smiley that would have a right black eye and questions him about this symbolism from a psychoanalyst point of view…

The engineer childhood friend tells him the little utility of a chronograph caliber that counts down time with such a precision, if there is not a matching scale all around the dial: this scale only marks the minutes.

 

 

Moreover, all these openings in the dial must provoke aerodynamic problems with all these pieces moving on high speed.

At last, the hands are not even bright: how will he manage in the dark?

 

The urban man, upset, isolate himself with his Class Open.
He manipulates the chronograph.
He listens to the beats of the El Primero by approaching it to his ear.
He observes the so fast movements of the balance, at the risk of hurting his eyes.
He is happy and forgets the time and the commentaries that troubled him….

 

Conclusion

Leaving his retreat, he then wants to share his communicative joy by writing these few lines, a joy to own a magnificent technological, play and elegant item.

And no matter the technical specialist if the science rigor is not there at every level !

Life is too short for not indulging oneself some treat…

 

The + :

  • a refined and captivating chronograph
  • a manufactured caliber : the El Primero

 

The – :

  • the absence of scale that allows the reading of the chronograph’s time
  • the absence of readability at night

 

Further information :

  • journalist’s wrist = 17,5 cm
  • brand website : Zenith
Slideshow
8 pictures to see this watch in all its angles
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  • Grande Class Open El Primero
  • Grande Class Open El Primero
  • Grande Class Open El Primero
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  • Grande Class Open El Primero
  • Grande Class Open El Primero
  • Grande Class Open El Primero
  • Grande Class Open El Primero

Manufacturer data

Brand Zenith
Model name Grande Class Open El Primero
Reference number 80 504 021
Case material Steel
Case diameter (without crown) 40 mm
Case diameter (crown included) 42 mm
Movement type Automatic
Calibre 4021H
Calibre base El Primero
Functions Second
Power reserve
Minute
Hour
Date
Chronograph
Crystal Sapphire glass
Power reserve ability 50h
Transparent back Yes
Lug width 22 mm
Length from lug to lug 50 mm
Case thickness 13 mm
Water resistant 50 m
Strap material Leather
Clasp type Deployment clasp
Clasp type Steel
Total weight 45 grammes
Retail price France at 2010/06/04 7,200.00 € calc

Editor's opinion 65.5/100

Confort (/15) 13.5
more Movement (/20) 12.5
Movement Optimisation / Garnishment (/5) 3.5
Ease of handling and adjustment (/5) 4
Movement control proceeded by the Manufacture / horlogical awards (/3) 2
Power reserve ability (/2) 1
Complications (/5) 2
more Finishing (/20) 14
Dial finishing (/6) 5
Case finishing (/6) 4
Quality of garnishment / caseback engraving quality (/2) 2
Crystal quality (/4) 1
Clasp finishing (inner and extern) (/2) 2
more Practicality (/20) 10.5
Diurnal legibility (/5) 5
Night legibility (/4) 0
Water resistant (/3) 0.5
Strap : ease of size adjustment + ease of substitution (/4) 2
Clasp : quality and safety (/4) 3
more Bonus (/10) 4
Limited edition (/3) 0
Watch delivered with several straps (/2) 0
Quality of the watch box (/1) 1
Portability with shirtsleeves buttoned (/2) 2
Goodies included (/1) 0
Understandability of the brochure (/1) 1
Value for money (/15) 11
When to wear it ?
Every single day, in a chic working environment

Users' rating 72/100

Confort (/15) 11.5
Movement (/20) 15.5
Finishing (/20) 15
Practicality (/20) 14
Bonus (/10) 6
Value for money (/15) 10.5
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