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News Swiss Replica Watch Review Zenith Replica

Cheap High Quality ZENITH – HERITAGE CRONOMETRO TIPO CP-2 Swiss made

 

zenith heritage  cronometro tipo cp2 watches news

The fake TIPO CP-2, nicknamed “Cairelli” after Zenith’s Roman distributor, which is now highly sought-after among collectors its maker has relaunched production of this famous chronograph. The fake Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2’s signature style may be almost identical to the original but it’s been given modern features and a cutting-edge movement. The famous self-winding El Primero 4069 calibre in the new chronograph brings the functions and 50-hour power reserve to life.

The 43mm steel case is topped by a graduated black bezel. The black dial has large luminescent Arabic numerals tracked by two rhodium-plated phosphorescent hour and minute hands in the centre. The seconds tick by in a counter at 9, the chronograph minute counter lies at 3 and a luminescent triangle-tipped central seconds hand tracks the seconds in the middle.

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Luxury Watch News Watch Review Zenith Replica

Zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition Replica Watch

In 1969, Zenith first produced the El Primero. At that time was very special in that it was one of the first watches to use an automatic chronograph movement. This was a revolutionary discovery in the world of watches and chronographs. Today, this is a very common feature in the world of timekeeping. In 1969, the Zenith El Primero was competing between the Heuer-Breitling-Hamilton-Buren Calibre 11 and the Seiko 6139 for the most formidable fake watch featuring the automatic chronograph movement. The main competitive difference between the Zenith El Primero and the other two is a build in escapement that vibrates and creates a high-beat movement which makes the timepiece more precise than its competition.

lr range rover studio

Today, model of the El Primero Range Rover Special Edition is modeled after the British car model the Range Rover and the fake watch is encased in a 42mm aluminum case that is matte black in color, bringing out the sharp light white colors on the face of the piece. This model fake watch is waterproof up to 100 meters and features the Zenith logo, a star above the logo, and the words “Range Rover” below it. The hands and the hour markers on the face of the piece are rhondanized crystals with luminescent filling in each, which makes them glow in the dark. At 9 o’clock is a hand for timing with seconds, at 3 o’clock is a minutes timer, and a 12-hour register is kept at 6 o’clock. Below the 12-hour register, directly at 6 o’clock, is the date.

zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition

With the replica watch, the buyer has the option of buying either a blue or a white rubber strap coated with ivory-toned perforated calfskin. Both are hand-stitched and very comfortable for the user. Both colors match the matte black finish of the fake watch very well, bringing not only style to the piece but also class to the wearer.

zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition

The caseback of the El Primero is open so the owner can catch each and every precise movement of the fake watch. The metal that makes up the caseback is engraved with “Zenith Al Primero Range Rover,” and a black Star on the back, displaying the Swiss made origins of the piece. The open caseback also shows the sapphire crystals that keep the movement of the piece on par, as well as the rotor and various gears, all of which are beautifully colored, shined, and polished.

zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition

As was the case back in 1969, the Zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition features the 400B movement of the motor. This feature enables the fake watch to have a beat rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour, keeping the time intervals of this piece precise within one-tenth of a second. This is one of the best chronograph movement replica watches out on the market today. Not only is the piece very accurate by function, but it is also very sleek and stylish. A fake watch modeled after a car, enough said.

 

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Hands-on Swiss Replica Technical Watch Zenith Replica

Meet The Zenith El Primero Reference A3817

If you have been following HODINKEE, you might agree with us that Zenith is a manufacturer that produces some of the more value-for-money replica watches these days. There are few totally in-house chronograph movements that can be had for just around $10,000, and which come in such a variety of dial and case designs ranging from sporty, to totally classic, to something in-between.

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But did you know that the reference A386 was not the only replica watch in the El-Primero family with the tri-color dial? There was one other, less well known cousin to the ref A386, which has a more interestingly designed tri-colored dial: the El Primero reference A3817.

While I’ve owned a few vintage Zenith pieces, I’ve personally never had much wrist time with an El Primero (even though I have previously owned one – more on that later). That changed recently when I got to spend about two weeks with this particular replica watch.

In a sentence, I think it’s pretty awesome.


El Primero (Literally, ‘The First’) Self-Winding Chronograph

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But there is little question that Zenith’s El-Primero 3019PHC movement could be considered the most technically advanced of the three. It was a completely integrated movement, as compared to the Caliber 11, which consisted of a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module mated with a base movement from Buren.

If you remember our article from a while back on the Heuer Monaco, you’ll recall we dug deep into the history of the Heuer Caliber 11 and told you why there are different opinions on who actually produced the first self-winding chronograph. While Zenith may have first announced the movement and a few prototypes in January of 1969, Heuer is arguably the first to make it to global production in August of 1969. And in the midst of all of that, Seiko is said to have released their version of the automatic chronograph as early as May 1969, but only for the Japanese market. The history and discussions are well documented, and you can see a good in-depth article called Project 99 by Jeff Stein here.

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The Zenith El Primero 3019PHC.

But there is little question that Zenith’s El-Primero 3019PHC movement could be considered the most technically advanced of the three. It was a completely integrated movement, as compared to the Caliber 11, which consisted of a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module mated with a base movement from Buren. It also featured a seconds, hour, and minute counter and the date function, as compared to the Seiko 6139, which had neither an hour nor continuous seconds counter (though it did possess the day function – and let’s not forget that the 6139 was also the first automatic chronograph with vertical clutch). Back in the day, the El Primero also was a movement used by many other manufacturers, including Rolex and Movado. And it is a movement still used today in many of Zenith’s replica watches, with only a few modifications since 1969 (Caliber 11, and the 6139 are both long gone). All in all, this is pretty impressive movement, to say the least.


A Week On The Wrist


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Now that we’ve covered a bit of history on the movement, how does the replica watch wear on the wrist?

Before everything else, this is a sizeable replica watch. While not on the level of modern Zeniths, the A3817 measures 37 mm excluding the crown but is 47 mm from lug to lug because of the design of the case. It is slightly smaller in width than the ref A386, which measures 38 mm excluding the crown, but having worn both I feel the A3817 actually feels more substantial on the wrist. This is a replica watch that is sizeable, especially by vintage standards, yet it sits very well on the wrist and fits under the cuff with no issues at all. That is because of the 6.6 mm height of the movement; in comparison, the Caliber 11 movement is ~7.7 mm tall.

 

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And of course, like the A386, the A3817 has the distinctive tri-color dial. But the A3817 gets more creative with a very unique blue sub-seconds hand on the 9 o’clock sub-dial, which is also painted with blue indices. The A386, in comparison, has all sub-dials painted with white indices with uniformly white hands.

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The reference A3817 (image via OmegaForums).

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The case itself takes elements from both the ref A386 and ref A78x family. It is still somewhat tonneau shaped, but is a lot more angular than the ref A78x (the A3817 actually has visible lugs, for instance). The edges on the case are distinct and sharp, similar to the ref A386. The surface of the steel case also has a brushed finish, which lends it an interesting look.

The indices also have an interesting pyramidal shape, which I believe is only limited to the A3817 and A3818 in the family of El Primero chronographs (though there are a few non-chronograph Zenith replica watches which have it, such as the Autosport Luxe). At every 5 minute mark is an applied metal marker with a stripe of lume down the middle, something we see in other El Primero references as well.

The case design was an unexpected, but pleasant surprise. It departs from a ‘typical’ case design (such as in the A386), which usually has a circular and symmetric center that envelops the dial. At the same time, it is not too funky, in comparison to the case design of the ref A781/2/3 family. I used to own a ref A783 – now that was a chunky replica watch. It felt like I was wearing a block of metal on my wrist, and as a result that replica watch never really got much wrist time despite the amazing El Primero movement that beat inside. The ref A3817 is a nice balance between the two: innovative, different, but still sleek; retaining a classic elegance with a dash of eccentricity.

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The reference A386 (Image via OmegaForums).

As a note, these replica watches typically came with a hand in a lighter shade of blue than the example in this article (see the picture above on the left). Initially I thought the sub-seconds hand on my replica watch might have been a replacement, but after searching around I’ve come across quite a few replica watches with the same dark-blue hands. The darker hand is also slightly thinner, and some of the examples I’ve seen with the darker hand have the set of all three sub-dial hands just slightly thinner than its counterparts with the lighter blue hand – which again might suggest that the hands are not individually replaced, but rather come as a set.

The replica watch further features a red paddle hand, which can be found in many of the El Primero chronographs made by Zenith in this era. Of note is the white dial surrounded by a grey ring, which displays both a tachymeter and a Base 15 pulsations scale – which are seen also on some other references, such as the ref A3818 and A788.

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Note that this reference should come with a signed crown and case back.

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The “SP 1301” engraved on the inside of the case back is a reference to the type of the case (produced by Spillman – hence SP). There are a few variations (SP 1205 and SP 1301-1, for instance) for different models in the El Primero family.

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Again, recall that this movement beat at 5hz (36,000 beats per hour), which means that it could have a measurement accurate to one-tenth of a second. This is in comparison to most chronographs of that era, which beat at 2.5hz and could only measure to one-fifth of a second. The video below (in slow motion) compares the El Primero 3019PHC with a Gallet Multichron powered by the Valjoux 72. Notice that the El Primero beats exactly twice as fast as the Valjoux 72.

 

The ref A3817 was roughly 30 seconds fast after a week on the wrist – which is not bad at all for a vintage replica watch. Remember, the El Primero beats twice as fast as most other vintage replica watches (18,000 vph vs. 36,000 vph) and thus should, all other things being equal, offer better rate stability. A slower beat classic chronograph movement like a Valjoux 72 should theoretically not perform as well as a faster beat movement, but in practice whether that’s true will probably depend more on how recently, and just as importantly, how well, the replica watch was serviced, adjusted and regulated.

About 1,000 pieces of the ref A3817 were produced, in comparison to around 2,500 pieces for the ref A386, which makes the A3817 significantly rarer. While prices for Zenith ref A386s have been climbing significantly over the past few years, and you probably wouldn’t be able to find a good example for anything less than $10,000, the A3817 can typically be found at some discount. A decent example might be found for less than $8,000, perhaps adding on $500 to $1,000 for examples with a bracelet. For instance, we contacted the seller of this example in pretty decent condition (except for the sweep seconds hand) and learned that it sold for around $8,500. That said, prices seem to be steadily catching up to the ref A386, so we suggest getting one soon if you can.


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Tips For Collectors

One important thing for collectors to note: these cases frequently come very heavily polished. The example that is shown here has likely been polished once, but fortunately still retains most all of the characteristics of the original case. One thing to look out for is some amount of clearance between the upper and lower edges of the crystal and the straight edges of the case. Replica Watches that have the edge of the case immediately meeting the lower or upper edges of the crystal are likely to be heavily polished, regardless of finish or sharpness of the lines.

The date window is at roughly 4-5 o’clock. The date, in this movement, switches instantaneously, and if you blink you just might miss it.  (Hint: it takes place just before the sub-seconds hand reaches the 5 second mark.)

This replica watch would have originally come on a Zenith ladder bracelet (with either ZK or ZKM endlinks). I recently had the chance to purchase one from a friend and he was gracious enough to let me try it on. In comparison, I have to say the strap felt a lot more comfortable. While wearing the A3817 on a bracelet is probably the “original” way to wear the replica watch, I honestly preferred the leather strap just from a comfort perspective (and I thought the bracelet looked a bit fragile to be honest). I decided to stay with the leather strap.

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The paint is also notoriously flaky on the hands – notice the same flakiness on the replica watch presented. Finally, the lume on the paddle hand also seems to fall off surprisingly often – again something to replica watch out for.

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Final Thoughts

Overall the Zenith El Primero reference A3817 was a pleasant surprise, and a very fun replica watch to wear. It definitely added some color to my outfit, especially since most of the vintage replica watches I own have at most two-tone dials. The tri-colored dial of this particular reference adds a casual and fun feel, and is balanced nicely by the larger case. I honestly didn’t expect the angular tonneau-shaped case to grow on me, but it did. The replica watch is both elegant and quirky, and you see that design philosophy embedded in both the dial and case.

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For me personally, the final verdict isn’t out yet. I’ll know in about a month when I arrive in Paris (where my girlfriend currently is). Stay tuned.

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Dress Watch Hands-on Swiss Replica Zenith Replica

Hands-on With Zenith StarMoonphase

ZenithStarMoonphase1

Today’s replica watch is a slightly unusual creature. The Star Moonphase is a 37mm cushion-cased replica watch in stainless steel containing the Elite Calibre 692, which has a power reserve of fifty hours.

 

With a thickness of 10.50mm to the 37mm size this is a what for me, is a more realistically sized modern cushion case replica watch. There are other cushion cases on the market at the moment but I’ve found that many are a tad on the big size for most people. The Star Moonphase however, sits perfectly, with none of the sides jutting out, and no necessity to push it above my wrist to sit properly. I became quite attached to it during my couple of weeks with it, wearing it most of the time. It is, however, very much a dress replica watch. That’s not to say that it doesn’t look good with. jeans and a t-shirt, but they don’t feel like its natural home.

Part of the Star Collection which is clearly targeted at women, it is perhaps the least stereotypically (and overtly) female-targeted piece in the line. After having spent a few weeks with it, and having shown it to a large number of people, I’d even be so bold as to suggest that Zenith either change the strap (more on that later) and market it as a unisex piece, or somehow not categorise it at all.

So, to the strap. It is black alligator leather with protective rubber lining. The lining is a bonus for those who live in warmer climes and worry about the effect of perspiration on leather, and it comes on a very secure triple-folding clasp.

There is, however, one small issue – it is quite short. This is something that is readily rectified with a strap change, but after my weeks with it and letting quite a few people try it on, it became apparent that there were men who would consider buying it for its looks and size, but the strap being so short hinted at it being targeted at women, and whether I like it or not, this will be a factor in the decision-making process of many.

With its shiny rhodium-plated hands the anthracite dial with guilloché motif has more ‘depth’ to it than appears at first glance. Its dial colour almost seems to change colour depending on lighting; occasionally showing hints of chocolate under certain conditions and greyish under others. Without the guilloché this colour (and thus the replica watch) might have felt a bit lifeless, but with the texture allowing the play of light on it, it looks good.

 

This is not to say that there weren’t plenty of men who can wear it on this strap, because there were, but it is noticeably short. Putting it on another strap might just open up a few more minds to what is quite an attractive replica watch.

The Australian RRP for the Zenith Star Moonphase is $7,800.

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Hands-on Men Watch Rolex Replica Swiss Replica Zenith Replica

Zenith El Primero Sport 45mm vs Rolex Daytona116520

JHzenithrlx14

By @initialjh

 

However, it is not just about the design, of course. It is also about the movement when it comes to chronographs.

When replica watch enthusiasts are asked about iconic chronographs a few names are often mentioned in the same breathe : Rolex Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, Breitling Navitimer, and the Zenith El Primero.

What makes these chronographs iconic? Well it comes down to their designs; these are replica watches with quite individual design ‘DNAs’ have proven themselves to have lasted the test of time. In fact, the designs are so instantly recognisable that the manufacturers do not dare revolutionise the design with each upgrade, instead sticking to merely slowly evolving from the original with subtle changes.

 

In 1969 the El Primero 400 calibre was released, to widespread acclaim that the movement was the best automatic chronograph available on the market. Rolex made modifications, reducing the frequency from 36,000VPH to 28,800VPH and arguing that this would increase reliability while reducing the need for maintenance, and improve the power reserve. The date mechanism was removed, new balance and escapement introduced, and Rolex marketed this as the Calibre 4030.

For Rolex, this was a marketing and sales success. The limited supply of base movements and strong demand from the market meant these automatic Daytona rapidly achieved cult status, which also meant that it affected the perception of pre-automatic Daytona models.

The Zenith El Primero chronograph movement is arguably without peer as a chronograph design icon. Development of this fully integrated, high frequency, automatic winding, column-wheel chronograph movement started in 1962 and was realised seven years later with the introduction of the 1969 Zenith El Primero Chronograph A380.

In fact the modern day El Primero is still used by Zenith and several other major manufacturers and, interestingly, was the base movement that Rolex chose for their Daytona in 1988 with the launch of the new reference 165xx.

For a company for whom change occurs so rarely and slowly, Rolex introduced their own in-house developed Calibre 4130 in 2000. This automatic winding chronograph was designed to be easier to service. Beating at 28,800VPH, the same as the Calibre 4030 it replaced, power reserve was increased to 72 hours and a hacking-second feature added.

COMFORT

Firstly a disclaimer : my wrist is on the smaller side (6.75in), and the current fad of going big in terms of wristwatch is not optimal for me.

At 40mm the Daytona is perfect on my wrist; not too big, and not too small. An additional benefit is that the relative slimness of the Daytona means comparative ease when wearing it under my shirt cuff.

The balance-bridge was chosen over the balance-cock as found in the older Calibre 4030. What is interesting with the chronograph mechanism is that Rolex opted for a vertical friction clutch rather than the horizontal clutch system that is found in the El Primero, for the chronograph mechanism. The result? A more accurate seconds hand movement when starting the chronograph.

Putting tech talk aside, what is it like to have both replica watches as daily wearers? I was recently fortunate enough to have these two replica watches in my possession to compare on a day-to-day basis.

As for the Zenith, if I had the choice again I would pick the more traditionally-sized 38mm or the 40mm Zenith El Primero. At 45mm the El Primero Sport is too big for me when worn on the bracelet, but this can be overcome by wearing it on a NATO strap. The El Primero is an elegant replica watch, big, muscular, sporty. When worn on the NATO the size is less noticeable, and it is less heavy. However, the thickness of replica watch is evident and I found myself having to pick shirts to fit the replica watch, not the other way round. From this aspect the Zenith is more likely to be a weekend replica watch than something that I can wear 7 days a week.

So since I’m talking about the bracelet – it’s hands down to the Rolex over the Zenith. The finishing on the edges of the bracelet on the Rolex, whilst still crisp, feel smoother and less sharp to the touch than that of the Zenith.

Micro-adjustments? There is more flexibility on the updated Daytona bracelet, with a clever hidden clasp to be opened should the wrist swell due to temperature variations. The new Daytona bracelet is certainly more solid and an improvement over the older bracelet on the 165xx series Daytona.

 

The Daytona I tested is NOT a standard model. It is a stainless steel model, but the owner had the dial from the white gold model swapped over; the basic dial colour scheme is red on black. Whilst this is pretty during the day, the red hands tend to disappear into the black in low lights, which means, like the Zenith, that time telling is fine, but trying to read the chronograph totalisers in less than optimum lighting is challenging. A point to also note is that the lumed markers are brighter on the Rolex, and lasts longer throughout the night.

When using the tachymeter, I prefer the external scale on the Daytona. The internal tachymeter on the El Primero is slightly harder to read at a quick glance.

However, these are small quibbles.

LEGIBILITY

The benchmark of legibility in chronograph design, in my opinion, goes to the Omega Speedmaster; white on black means legibility is optimal at various angles. The thickness of the hands has been optimised with each iteration of Speedmasters. Reading the totalizer sub-dials is also relatively easy, regardless of ambient brightness.

The two replica watches I have here have very similar colour schemes. The Zenith a mixture of grey scales with the accent of the red chronograph seconds hand. Along with the larger and more muscular case, the hands on the Zenith are also bulked up. Time telling is relatively easy with the larger hour and minute hands. However in certain positions I found that these hands can obstruct the sub-dials. In addition, whilst I appreciate the darken markers as being uniform to the whole design of the replica watch, it does mean the Luminova is not very bright at night.

OPERATION

The operation of both of these replica watches is relatively straightforward.

 

However, the horizontal clutch system does mean the start of the chronograph is not as smooth and can jump at the start when compared to the Daytona’s vertical clutch system. Once started, the sweeping motion of the chronograph hand is smoother than the slower beat Daytona. Whether this bothers anyone is up to the individual wearer. Does it affect accuracy? Not really. After all, we are not timing the re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere…

The El Primero has other quirks, including the date setting. On the El Primero, time is set with first position of crown, and the date in the second position. In many other replica watches, position one of the crown is date, and position two is for time. This does not bother me. The Daytona has no date. One last thing is hacking second, which the El Primero movement does not have. Rolex added the hacking second with the Calibre 4130.

Kudos to Zenith with their half-turn screw-in buttons. With a quick turn, the chronograph buttons can be used quickly. Not so with the Daytona; it takes a few seconds to unscrew before the chronograph can be activated. Why have these screw in buttons, one may ask. There are many conjectures but one plausible reason is to prevent the activation of these buttons while the replica watch is underwater. Even in the unscrewed position, the Daytona is still water resistant to 100m. So why keep it? I guess the screw in buttons are part of the Daytona design, although earlier Cosmographs do not have this design feature.

What is it like to actuate the chronograph? Both of these are column-wheel movements, but that is where the similarity ends. The El Primero is a fine movement to start and stop. The action is precise, and there a delightful ‘click’ when the chronograph is actuated. The reset is also precise.

CONCLUSION

All in all, these are two iconic chronographs that I am happy to wear if given the opportunity to own. However as a daily replica watch, I would pick the Daytona over the El Primero purely based on the factors of size and comfort on my particular wrist.

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Dress Watch Hands-on Swiss Replica Zenith Replica

BASELWORLD 2016 : Introducing Zenith Elite 6150 RoseGold

Basel2016ZenithElite6150RG2

You may recall that a year ago at Baselworld 2015 Zenith launched Elite Calibre 6150 (‘6’ for ‘Elite’, ‘150’ for their birthday of the same), a movement with 195 components, a 100 hour power reserve, 3.92mm high, and released in a time-only eponymous 42mm stainless steel piece.

 

Now it was only recently (due to them not having been available in Australia) that I had even had the chance to look at the (highly successful) stainless steel model but now I have, and with it this new rose gold model.

My conclusions?

Well I have been asked in the last few days about how the replica watch wears, by those who prefer their dress pieces smaller than 42mm.

As I noted at the time, this appeared to be a better looking release than the Zenith Ultra Thin that in a way preceded it. One thing that did make me ponder was their decision to increase the case size to 42mm, 2mm more than their previously existing Elite collection.

This year at Baselworld 2016 not unsurprisingly, Zenith have added to the Elite 6150 range with a new rose gold model.

Firstly, it looks big at first glance. The dial seems expansive, due to the small curved bezel (there is also a rounded crystal, old acrylic-style). If you are used to or prefer smaller dress replica watches then your first response may be to think that it is too big for you.

 

As I noted before Elite replica watches are characterised by conservatism, but there is an important role for this in the Zenith range. I must confess that I had really liked this replica watch in the press photos but been concerned that I might not like it as much (or at all) ‘in the metal’; a plain time-only design can look elegant on paper (as it were) but in real life perhaps a bit well, ‘flat’ as it were, if that make sense.

However, appearances are deceptive. The rounded nature of the model mean that if for example you put it side to side with another 42mm Zenith (I compared it with the 42mm Chronomaster case) it looks smaller. It also sits, in that comparison, smaller on the wrist as well. Which is all just reinforcement of what I know I bleat on about a bit – don’t get hung up on the mm numbers, try if you can, try a replica watch before forming an opinion about whether you can wear it or are comfortable wearing it. Each replica watch sits differently according to case curvature/ shape, and lug length/ design.

It is with some relief that I have discovered that it’s actually better than in the photos, with the proportions on the dial in terms of the lengths of the hands and markers in relation to the size of the dial etc spot on. If you are looking for a slim elegant time-only dress replica watch on the other side 40mm plus then this is worthy of your consideration.

The RRP for the Elite 6150 Rose Gold in Australia is $17,800.

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Zenith Replica

BASELWORLD 2016 : Replica Zenith Elite 6150 RoseGold

Basel2016ZenithElite6150RG2

You may recall that a year ago at Baselworld 2015 Zenith launched Elite Calibre 6150 (‘6’ for ‘Elite’, ‘150’ for their birthday of the same), a movement with 195 components, a 100 hour power reserve, 3.92mm high, and released in a time-only eponymous 42mm stainless steel piece.

As I noted at the time, this appeared to be a better looking release than the Zenith Ultra Thin that in a way preceded it. One thing that did make me ponder was their decision to increase the case size to 42mm, 2mm more than their previously existing Elite collection.

This year at Baselworld 2016 not unsurprisingly, Zenith have added to the Elite 6150 range with a new rose gold model.

Now it was only recently (due to them not having been available in Australia) that I had even had the chance to look at the (highly successful) stainless steel model but now I have, and with it this new rose gold model.

My conclusions?

Well I have been asked in the last few days about how the cheap replica watch wears, by those who prefer their dress pieces smaller than 42mm.

Firstly, it looks big at first glance. The dial seems expansive, due to the small curved bezel (there is also a rounded crystal, old acrylic-style). If you are used to or prefer smaller dress replica watches then your first response may be to think that it is too big for you.

However, appearances are deceptive. The rounded nature of the model mean that if for example you put it side to side with another 42mm Zenith (I compared it with the 42mm Chronomaster case) it looks smaller. It also sits, in that comparison, smaller on the wrist as well. Which is all just reinforcement of what I know I bleat on about a bit – don’t get hung up on the mm numbers, try if you can, try a replica watch before forming an opinion about whether you can wear it or are comfortable wearing it. Each replica watch sits differently according to case curvature/ shape, and lug length/ design.

As I noted before Elite replica watches are characterised by conservatism, but there is an important role for this in the Zenith range. I must confess that I had really liked this replica watch in the press photos but been concerned that I might not like it as much (or at all) ‘in the metal’; a plain time-only design can look elegant on paper (as it were) but in real life perhaps a bit well, ‘flat’ as it were, if that make sense.

It is with some relief that I have discovered that it’s actually better than in the photos, with the proportions on the dial in terms of the lengths of the hands and markers in relation to the size of the dial etc spot on. If you are looking for a slim elegant time-only dress replica watch on the other side 40mm plus then this is worthy of your consideration.

The RRP for the Elite 6150 Rose Gold in Australia is $17,800.

Categories
Zenith Replica

ON THE WRIST : Replica Zenith StarMoonphase

ZenithStarMoonphase1

Today’s elegant replica watch is a slightly unusual creature. The Star Moonphase is a 37mm cushion-cased replica watch in stainless steel containing the Elite Calibre 692, which has a power reserve of fifty hours.

Part of the Star Collection which is clearly targeted at women, it is perhaps the least stereotypically (and overtly) female-targeted piece in the line. After having spent a few weeks with it, and having shown it to a large number of people, I’d even be so bold as to suggest that Zenith either change the strap (more on that later) and market it as a unisex piece, or somehow not categorise it at all.

With a thickness of 10.50mm to the 37mm size this is a what for me, is a more realistically sized modern cushion case replica watch. There are other cushion cases on the market at the moment but I’ve found that many are a tad on the big size for most people. The Star Moonphase however, sits perfectly, with none of the sides jutting out, and no necessity to push it above my wrist to sit properly. I became quite attached to it during my couple of weeks with it, wearing it most of the time. It is, however, very much a dress replica watch. That’s not to say that it doesn’t look good with. jeans and a t-shirt, but they don’t feel like its natural home.

With its shiny rhodium-plated hands the anthracite dial with guilloché motif has more ‘depth’ to it than appears at first glance. Its dial colour almost seems to change colour depending on lighting; occasionally showing hints of chocolate under certain conditions and greyish under others. Without the guilloché this colour (and thus the replica watch) might have felt a bit lifeless, but with the texture allowing the play of light on it, it looks good.

So, to the strap. It is black alligator leather with protective rubber lining. The lining is a bonus for those who live in warmer climes and worry about the effect of perspiration on leather, and it comes on a very secure triple-folding clasp.

There is, however, one small issue – it is quite short. This is something that is readily rectified with a strap change, but after my weeks with it and letting quite a few people try it on, it became apparent that there were men who would consider buying it for its looks and size, but the strap being so short hinted at it being targeted at women, and whether I like it or not, this will be a factor in the decision-making process of many.

This is not to say that there weren’t plenty of men who can wear it on this strap, because there were, but it is noticeably short. Putting it on another strap might just open up a few more minds to what is quite an attractive replica watch.

The Australian RRP for the Zenith Star Moonphase is $7,800.

Categories
Zenith Replica

ON THE WRIST : Zenith Elite Ultra Thin LadyMoonphase Replica Watch

ZenithEliteUTLadyMoonphase16

With the arrival of Australia and New Zealand’s first brand manager for Zenith also came the offer to test drive a few models. As expected, we jumped at the opportunity. Perhaps not so expected, we have not restricted ourself to men’s (and un-gendered, but that is for a later post) models. We endeavour to cover men’s/ women’s and uncategorised luxury replica watches, but this first Zenith ‘on the wrist’ is for a women-oriented piece.

Meet the Elite Ultra Thin Lady Moonphase.

THE REPLICA WATCH

In a 33mm stainless steel case set with a diamond bezel and mother-of-pearl dial, this is one variant of the Ultra Thin Lady Moonphase line. The mother-of-pearl dial gives it more ‘lift’ than the plain dialled relatives, and the bezel’s diamonds are petite and thus not too overt for those who want a small sparkle but to still be discreet. The use of eleven diamonds on the dial – having thought about this for a bit I still think that for some people, there’s a case for plain markers instead. The overall effect of the dial (and the replica watch), however, is attractive.

The hands are rhodium-plated and faceted, giving them a nice flickering sparkle under light.

Perhaps above all else, the thing for which Zenith is most renowned is its movements. The El Primero obviously, but it is always good to see women’s replica watches not being neglected on the movement front (translation : mechanical). Inside this replica watch is the automatic Elite Calibre 692, which is visible through the case back. At 28,800 VPH, it has a power reserve of fifty hours.

Strap-wise it comes on a shiny grey alligator strap with a rubber lining, something that is actually really useful for warmer climes or months. It is also available on a bracelet.

ON THE WRIST

This was worn on and off over the course of a few weeks, trialled both on a very petite wrist and on a female wrist that is more accustomed to men’s replica watches.

As a challenge, it was worn primarily during the day. I use the word ‘challenge’ because the women concerned are not just unaccustomed to wearing replica watches with stones but also because they are by default even less inclined to wear them as a daily replica watch (as opposed to an evening replica watch), preferring something a bit more low key.

What happened was interesting, and an example of how habit normalises even a diamond bezel replica watch.

This is not a replica watch with large diamonds in the bezel, and in that sense it does not stand out overly, for those who want something with no precious stones during the day time. This means that to wear, you can get used to it pretty quickly, forgetting that you have diamonds on your wrist. In that sense it can work as a daily replica watch for some women, just as it can work as a transitional work/ evening replica watch, or just for evenings.

It wears lightly and comfortably; the strap is shiny but not overly so (and I mention this because there are some Zenith straps that perhaps could be slightly more muted), and the grey strap on this particular piece suited it very well. The strap colour choice in this instance gave the replica watch more flexibility in terms of transitional dressing, but you could easily change its looks with a brighter bolder colour. The dial is a neutral enough one that there are many strap colour options that would go with it. As for the dial layout itself, it’s clear and legible, the seconds sub dial is decently sized, and the use of mother-of-pearl, which shimmers nicely in the light, will be appealing not just to those who like its use but also to those who want a simple dial from a function perspective but who want something a bit more from a white dial.

Size-wise/ lug-wise it sat nicely on both the wrists on which it was trialled, with the wrist used to wearing men’s/ larger replica watches not finding 33mm too small despite a size preference of 36mm-41mm replica watches. As mentioned above, it’s interesting how quickly a wrist can get used to something new.

If there’s one thing I would change about this piece it’s to take away the diamond markers (which are quite close to the bezel, but I actually think that this works better than if they were more towards the centre) to give it an even cleaner look, but this is a matter of personal preference.

The Zenith Elite Ultra Thin Lady Moonphase has an Australian RRP of $11,200 on a strap and for those who like bracelets, $11,800.

Categories
Zenith Replica

Review of the Replica Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph

Admittedly, calendar replica watches are convenient, especially when it comes to full calendars (the one that display the day, the date and the month). In a glance, it allows you to have a look at all the calendar datas. So, when you mix it with an icon like the Zenith El Primero (yes it is, both the movement and the replica watch that includes it), with an inspired look and a great quality, it brings you quite a package (something we were sure about at the time of its introduction). This replica watch has a name, the Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph and we had it for a while on the wrist. Hands-on review.

Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph

A sporty, balanced elegance can define Swiss Best Replica Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph. It’s not our first time with this replica watch, as we’ve already covered it in 2014 when Zenith presents it to the public and we’ve been briefly touching it, in a blue dial edition, at Baselworld 2015. However, you know the truth for a long time now: nothing is comparable to a proper test, with the replica watch in question strapped on your wrist for a longer period. And while the blue dial is a nice addition to the catalogue, we’ll stick to the more classical, timeless silver edition today, probably easier to match on a daily basis.

Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph - on the wrist

Before going into this Zenith El Primero 410, a quick historical reminder. The Zenith El Primero (the movement) is born in 1969 and was – alongside 2 other movements from Seiko and Buren / Heuer / Hamilton / Breitling – the first automatic chronograph movement. However, none of these 3 movements are identical and the technical solutions chosen are all unique. The Heuer Calibre 11 was a modular micro-rotor movement, the Seiko 6139 had a classical integrated architecture with column wheel, something shared by the El Primero. However, Zenith’s proposition was very unique in one way, as it featured (and still feature) an escapement that vibrates at 36,000 vibrations per hour, or 10 ticks per second. It’s a so-called high-beat movement – that is supposed to be more precise. Experts do not entirely agree on who was first and there are quite a few factors that count: developing, patenting, introducing, producing, delivering… whatever, the Zenith El Primero was and still is one of the greatest chronograph movements ever made.

Then cames the idea of mixing this movement with a complete calendar complication. This concept had been developed as a prototype in the late 1960s / early 1970s with a very limited production of approximately 25 pieces. Then, Zenith introduced several replica watches with this same movement, including the Triple Date display – replica watches like this Chronomaster. However, this complication has never been seen in the classical case of the El Primero (the replica watch, not the movement) until 2013. For the story, one of the 25 prototype watches had been sold in May 2012 by Christies for 37.500 Swiss Francs and bought by Zenith themselves. The goal of this acquisition: creating a new replica watch based on the El Primero and including this triple calendar. The result was first a limited edition of 500 replica watches launched in 2013, with a slate grey dial and two stars on the dial besides the day and month apertures – just like the vintage edition. Considering the great success of this limited edition, Zenith decided to give its chance to the 410 movement and to launch it in a regular edition, the one you can see here.

Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph - casebands, crown & pushers

Back to the replica watch itself, the Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph. It is a mix of modernity (size-wise especially) and of vintage feels (for the reference to the antique replica watch that inspired this edition, the shape of the case and the layout of the calendar). It also a replica watch mixing elegant design clues with the sportiveness of a chronograph and of a stainless steel case measuring 42mm. Well, this makes a lot of blends and sometimes, it can create a replica watch not strong, resolute or sharp enough – a replica watch that is a bit consensual and that doesn’t stand out of the crowd. No worries, it’s clearly not the case here and we can already tell you that this El Primero 410 Triple Calendar is one of the best editions of the collection.

Design-wise, the Zenith El Primero 410 is faithful to the rest of the collection. The 42mm case in stainless steel features the original shape of the replica watch launched in 1969, with the specific flanks you can see on the photo above, defined by a large chamfer on top of the lugs and a pointy edges. The execution is great, with sharp angles and clean distinction between the different surfaces (polished on the casebands and lug-bevels and satined on the flat surfaces). The bezel is rather thin, leaving a wide opening for the dial. It gives a clear view on the indications and makes the replica watch rather thin and light but on the contrary, it also emphasizes the size of the case (especially on this bright silver execution). The case is already quite large (a bit too large actually – we’d love to see this triple calendar in the vintage 38mm case) and the large diameter of the silvery-white dial makes it virtually bigger. Nothing dramatic though, just be aware that this Zenith El Primero requires a slightly robust wrist.

Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph - dial and hands

The dial also has the same both modern and retro feeling as the case. Retro because of the layout first, composed of a classical tri-compax chronograph (running second at 9, 30-minute counter at 3 and 12-hour counter at 6) together with well placed calendar indications (day at 10, month at 2 and date at 4:30). The moon phases are classically displayed in a sub-dial into the 12-hour counter at 6. Then again, it is very classical but the legibility, even considering the huge amount of indications, remains perfect and elegant. The overall dial is balanced and easy to read. The hands and the applied indexes are made in silver metal and filled with a contrasting blue paint, also visible on the chronograph hand and on the moon disc. The look is cold and quite monochromatic but it is discreet enough to be worn in every situations, making this Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar a perfect daily replica watch.

Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph

One thing can be noticed though and then again, it is related to the size of the replica watch. The El Primero movement isn’t really small at 30mm but as the dial is very large, the sub-dials feel a bit too centered, too clustered. This small issue is intelligently compensated by Zenith, with the use of not one but two scales around the dial. First, there’s a classical tachymeter scale printed on the inner flange. Then, on the periphery of the dial, in-between this tachymeter scale and the applied indexes, we can find a telemeter scale, making the edges of the dial more busy and balancing with the center of the dial. On the overall, this dial is quite classical, monochromatic, cold, a bit busy BUT it works really well. If the blue edition is a bit more lively, this one gains in distinction and vintage elegance.

Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph - Wristshot

Movement-wise, no surprises as we found here the calendar edition of the Zenith El-Primero, so-to-say, an horological icon. This movement was and still is one the very few chronograph calibres to work at 5Hz. It has underwent a few evolutions within the years but the base is faithful to the movement launched in 1969 – why changing something that works? The view from the back is pleasant, due to nice finishes and a open view on all the technical elements (wheels, gears, column-wheel). The only modification on this Calibre 410 compared to a classical El Primero is the extra-calendar module on the top. The 410 is composed of 390 parts when the normal 400 features only 278 parts – quite a complicated module on the top. The several calendar indications are adjusted via pushers inserted on the left side of the case. This calendar is neither an annual or a perpetual one. Thus, it will need to be adjusted every two months – but then again, it’s only every two months.

Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph - movement Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph - movement

The interest of the 5Hz / 36,000 bph frequency is first to have an extremely smooth run of the hands but mainly to gain in accuracy. The faster a movement ticks, the more precise it should be. In the case of the Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase, we can actually confirm you a really precise run, as we tested it on Witstchi device to a mean value of -1.3 second per day. Quite impressive!

Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase Chronograph - Witschi results

On the overall, this Zenith El Primero 410 Triple Calendar and MoonPhase is quite surprising as it is extremely classical at first sight, maybe too discreet and could be seen as to busy. However, it’s a replica watch that needs to be tested to understand its interest. After a few hours on the wrist, you experience an elegant, balanced chronograph, with a legible and practical dial displaying all the required indications (and even more). It has a strong presence on the wrist and doesn’t feel in the shadows of the typical tri-colour, non-calendar edition. Except a case that we’d like to be a bit smaller, it feels goods, looks good and works good. To sum up, a highly interesting alternative. Price: $11,000.