Teddy, thank you so much for not spending most of your time covering Rolex, Omega, and Tudor. All the other channels are sooo boring because it’s always the same three brands over and over again…
As good (and fun) as the Hodinkee review of this timepiece was, I think Teddy did a better, more complete, and more relatable-to-his-viewers presentation of this iconic and timeless chronograph. Now, time to start saving so I can pick on of these up in 5-10 years 😂
Zenith fills the gap between Tudor and Rolex in what way exactly? Price? Not really. Quality? Subjective, but probably not in all models anyway. Your idea rests on the assumptions that Zenith is strictly and completely better and/or more expensive than Tudor and strictly and completely worse and/or cheaper than Rolex. The first assumption is arguably true, the second one is just not accurate nor correct
I had almost chosen the Speedmaster 57 40.5 as a milestone birthday present, but I always thought the Chronomaster 38 was a more interesting and better fitting watch, at least for me. Years ago I almost pulled the trigger on the original for a price that today's newer collectors would not believe, and have regretted not doing it ever since. The Chronometer 38 should arrive in a week or so!
@@ali-tal Now that I’ve had it for a little while, I can say that it is impeccably finished and keeps virtually perfect time. The bracelet is very comfortable, and the watch sits in the wrist very comfortably. I finally tried on the Speedmaster 57, which doesn’t fit quite as nicely as the Zenith as the lugs are longer. The Chronomaster, but for the name, is for anyone not obsessed with the ‘prestige’ of the Rolex Daytona (which I have owned), equal in overall quality. Both have distinctive but different looks. My opinion is that Rolex has a slightly better bracelet and Zenith has a superior movement.
Love this 38mm Chronomaster OG, I was so happy when it launched and I had the opportunity to shoot a video on it too. But man your video blows mine out the water 🔥🔥🔥 I too hope to own this in the future 😉
I have a Zenith el Primero 2 tone that I absolutely love. The quality is way way above Breitling/Tudor/etc. The pusher functions are buttery smooth compared to most clunking pushers on other brands. I have other watches including Rolexes that are wonderful but this watch is perfect. The details are amazing including the little indent under the crown for easy access to set the watch. Little things like that are very rare. Thank you Teddy for a wonderful review. Keep up the good content!
Thank you for this great video. The El Primero is at the top of my wish list for a chronograph to add to my collection someday. The piece is absolutely gorgeous. I have large wrists, so the 42mm version is a better fit for me. Still, to be able to pack that much into a 38mm case that is 13mm thick is very impressive.
I know it might sound funny but I deal with that with my Speedmaster by sticking a piece of cut out tape on the case back. First it protects the back and second it creates a tension with your skin to stop the watch moving around.
You may be very pleasantly surprised by the 38 mm EP. The 42 is a giant. I can usually rock everything from 37-44 mm and I find that the 38 EP is the sweetspot
I own the Manufacture Edition and I think the watch tends to sit up high on my wrist. I think this has to do with the lug placement, which Teddy touches on in this video. The result is the watch tends to slide around my wrist. Not a deal breaker but a minor inconvenience. Otherwise, the El Primero is the best.
I owned the prior generation 38m El Primero and had exactly the same issue. It seemed like the ratios were just a little off and the watch was too tall for its width. Sound like this version is a bit thinner so maybe they acted on that feedback.
Did you try a different strap with the Manufacture Edition? I find the original strap to be too stiff, which I think contributes to the “sliding”. On a Molequin strap, it fits perfectly for me, no sliding.
I own the Manufactre Edition. I was already sold on the brand but what got me was the three different shades of blue for the sub dials. Pictures just don’t do it justice, looks amazing. My only concern was the size as my other watches are between 40 and 42, but I was pleasantly surprised after getting it that it wore so well. It is a solid piece and I have enjoyed it immensely. You can’t go wrong with the El Premiro!
Zenith hit this revival series 1/10 Chrono out of the park. Chrono dial design and colorways are outstanding. Case size maybe could of been a little larger but i'll wait till i see one in person. Excellent review!
Be advised that Teddy sells Zenith watches in his online store. As such, he has a financial interest in giving Zenith a positive review; otherwise, who would buy the watch from him after reading a negative review. Teddy, you might want to post a disclaimer at the beginning of any review of a watch or watches that you sell.
A great alternative to the Daytona, but you will lose your a$$ on a resale. I can’t lay out this kind of money for a watch that doesn’t hold its value.
The El primero is such a amazing watch. When I read the story about Charles Vermot hiding the tools and plans to the El primero movement. I bought 1 ASAP what a awesome story to have attached to the watch the man is a HERO. My favorite Zenith is the pilot Flyback and the Shadow El primero
Love your show. Just tried this at my local AD today, and it’s now definitely my grail watch. Finally, I have found a better alternative to the Speedmaster, which «everybody» has!
If you want to see a Teddy 'look-alike', look for someone who is walking around the city that is always checking his watch or looking into the distance, and is rubbing his hands together. Still, this is a great channel.
I'd love to know if the water resistance is the new ISO rating, or the pre-2010 one. That would mean the new one, with its lower WR is still a watch that can be worn in most situations.
Great watch ... and some great final thoughts introduced by Teddy with the words : "So now that we’ve completed kind of looking a little bit deeper into this watch, some back story into where is the context of this piece from a modern context." ... Absolutely classic Teddy verbal diarrhoea. 🤷♂
I have the luck to have it on my wrist and I have to say Teddy is spot-on. It weares like a globe and the movement is betifull. I like it more than the speedmaster profesional ( not the new white). one).
7:23 What does he say here? Sounds like decimeter scale but that doesn't make sense. I'm curious because I don't see the point of having two scales that appear to indicate the same exact thing.
This one is starting to grown on me. Not usually a fan of the pump pusher aesthetic but the total package of the El Primero is on another level. One question, was the chronograph second hand moving faster than the second hand sub dial? I could just be crazy but it looked like it was moving almost 1.5x faster
Late reply, but yes. The center chronograph seconds makes one rotation every 10 seconds to measure 1/10 of a second, while the runner seconds and other chrono seconds are the normal 60-second subdials
Very nicely presented.I think it is important to try it on. For me the classic Chronomaster was too much a dress watch for me, but I was lucky to get his sporty brother....
quick note for anyone seeing this now - Teddy's completely wrong here. It's not "wearable". The lug situation is so catastrophically bad the lug to lug is effectively more like 52-54mm. You'll need a substantially wide wrist to wear this and not look stupid.
How do you think a 38mm with look/fit on my 7.3 to 7.5 wrist? Too small or just right? I don’t want it to be too small but certainly not too big with the larger iteration. Thoughts?
People get this twisted - Zenith does not need to be validated by “Rolex”, Zenith are a real watch manufacture unlike Rolex which for most of its life has been and arguably still is a jumped up watch assembly company. It says more about Rolex than it does Zenith that they had to parasitically get a movement from another company because they did not have the capability to make their own.
They have to make this watch w/o the date window. It throws off the entire symmetry of the design. I know it was a crucial thing to have but given that watches are now primarily about aesthetics, im surprised more of them dont lose the date complication. You tend to see it lacking more in micro-brands, or higher end dress watches.
I had to stare at that black chapter ring for a while before it clicked for me that numerically it represents tenths of a second. I think that this is more confusing than helpful. Someone could easily assume from the numbering that the chrono measures in hundredths of a second (even though the hourly beat count contradicts that). I think that that there should be just the one chapter ring that numerically represents whole seconds. While at it, make the decimal format consistently 0.0, and omit the "1/10th of a second" text, which takes the place of useful numbers and is even grammatically redundant. This all would look cleaner and would even leave more room for the sub-dials to be spaced apart. Just my opinion. I would not buy the watch for these reasons.
WHY would the average watch wearer need a chronograph except for looks: and even then, it takes up too much face... Same logic for divers that take up too much face and irrelevant for MOST wearers
One topic that I rarely see coming up in the reviews---Is this dial white or actually a brushed silver? I prefer the lacquered white I've seen in their other models (Revival A384 model in cushion case). From pictures I've seen, I believe the Manufacture Edition with blue subdials uses a true white dial.Does anyone have any insight?
It's one of the most beautiful watches I saw all of this year. and like you say, for the real watch aficionados who aren't running with the pack. I do love the reverse panda as much or more...I will say this; I kinda prefer these on the leather option. Anyone else feel that way?
Zenith El Primero and Omega Speedmaster are the best chronographs. Longines Spirit and Omega Aqua Terra for the everyday. Omega Aqua Terra best new watch of 21st century
Hey teddy! You mentioned 100m WR on this piece, based on your video the shots you took of this pieces shows 50m WR on the caseback. Can i check which is the correct spec?
This is one of my Grail watches.... I think it's incredibly original and super-stylish without being over-the-top. The different colored sub-dials is a gorgeous style choice.
Hi Teddy, would like to ask an opinion! For past few months i was aiming to buy B17 movement (ETA) 44mms Breitling SO - love the visuals, owning COLT with same movement - really happy. BUT i have a chance to buy Zenith El Primero 45mm - 03.2520.400/69.C713 - for nice money from official AD (as watch was not much success and is already discontinued). I know that these are two totally different watches, toolwatch vs nice chronograph, but it still somehow touches my heart. Know its more money, but still thinking if its worth of thinking. To be honest its not only about nice deal - i always liked El Primero as Daytona is somehow not reachable here in Slovakia :) So was thinking about El Primeros in past - but were not reachable still for me. Now it is but ... i dont know what to think about this particular model. What do you think of em? Ever tried 45 mm from Zenith? Thank you!
The only thing comparative in size is the Sinn356 but that’s a much more a toolish type of fleiger chrono with its head blasted 38mm case and bracelet.
Would you swap a Chronomaster Sport for this watch? @Teddy I have a similar wrist size to you hence the consideration. Even at 41mm it still fits my wrist well, but with a thicker case I perhaps would be more comfortable if I were to own/wear this piece
This is my grail chronograph at the moment for the vintage sheen and sheer novelty of it. I'm gonna have to stick with my trusty little Seagull 1963 for now while I save, and hope I don't give up the ghost and get a Speedmaster reduced in the meantime.
you can put more colors and curves on a three hands watch, but for a chrono, the design needs to be as simple as possible, if the dial is already colorful, the watch needs a more plain bracelet with less shiny curves.
Teddy. I'm your fan for a long time. Almost every video you make is very appreciated and personally I can take a lot from it. Nevertheless there is a brand that I am a fan but you never even mention it so I wonder why and I would love to know what is your opinion about it. The brand name is EDOX. I own Edox North Sea 1978 and can't really fault it. And thanks for all your work, really good job you doing here.
