The latest watch in the Zenith El Primero lineage is a sort of a turning point in the proud history of the El Primero line. Staying true to its tradition, the latest of the pieces from the collection is running on the high frequency of 5 Hz which still remains the highest rate for a series produced mechanical timekeeper. As it has been the case with other models in the past eleven years, El Primero Synopsis has an opening on the dial which reveals the escapement of its automatic caliber. However, it is at the same time a major achievement and a landmark point in the history of the El Primeros, since its caliber includes silicon components that are used in its construction. Namely, these are the movement’s lever and lever wheel which are visible through an opening outlined with an appliqué fixed with blued screws. The watch with a small seconds display at the left which accompanies its remaining other functions- hours and minutes executed via central hands- will be available in two versions: in red gold and stainless steel.
Zenith El Primero Synopsis Red Gold Watch
Silicon is the material which is nowadays utilized in products of more and more prestigious mechanical watch manufacturers. There are numerous advantages of its use when one compares its traits to steel which was used as its predecessor. Silicon is actually harder and at the same time notably lighter than steel, which means that once you make watch components out of it you get the same results with the far less force. Furthermore, its other advantages are based on the facts that it requires no lubrication and it is resistant to both magnetic fields and corrosion. All of these characteristics which in concert provide much better efficiency are the reason why Zenith designers opted to equip the watch’s Caliber El Primero 4613 with lever and lever wheel made exactly in this material.
Apart from saying that the caliber has silicon parts among its 160 jewels and the recognizable El Primero high frequency of 5 Hz, we should tell a few other details regarding the traits of the automatic movement. It integrates 19 jewels, has the diameter of 13 1 lignes (30 mm) and the very slim profile of just 5.58 mm. When it comes to the supported power reserve of the piece, it has the storage of 50 hours (this is yet another common trait of the pieces from the El Primero lineage). Similarly, it displays some of the usual finishes on it, such as circular graining, blued screws, as well as the presence of a winding rotor with the Geneva striping motif.
Zenith El Primero Synopsis Red Gold Watch Dial
40 mm Case
After concentrating on the essence of the watch, its movement, let us examine its exterior. As for the case, it is round shaped, medium to smaller sized with the diameter of 40 mm and with the height of 11.7 mm. As a proper high-end piece, new Zenith El Primero Synopsis integrates sapphire in its construction. It is used for the transparent rear side of the case, as well as for the crystal. On the front side, sapphire that guards its silver face with a sunray motif is in a shape of a dome and treated with glare-proof coating on its both sides. Its screw-lock crown, among other features, enables the timepiece to possess water resistance of 100 meters.
Zenith El Primero Synopsis Red Gold Watch Front
As it has been said, the watch is available in either red gold or steel. These two versions feature only slight and subtle differences. For example, both variations possess similar hands and hour markers. They are all faceted, rhodium-plated and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1. The only visible difference is the fact that the gold version has gold-plating on these elements, as well as on the appliqué that outlines the opening which reveals the movement’s functioning. There are also discrepancies when the supported types of attachments are concerned.
The steel version (with the reference number 03.2170.4613/02.M2170) can be bought with a steel three-row bracelet (which locks with triple folding clasp) or with a black alligator leather strap with protective inner lining (which locks with a pin buckle). The rose gold version (the reference 18.2170.4613/01.C713) has the same kind of a leather strap as the steel one, only in brown color.
