Zenith El Primero Striking 10th under the microscope (82 pics)

[curiousMan]

famous icon, mechanical feast beating 36 000 bph! Going for $7.4k on Amazon, google the fame, bow in respect. And look at the work of the good folks at Le Locle - magnified for your convenience.

Here it is - pics from Amazon:




and here are details. Summary - boy, oh, boy! I owe an apology to the hard working folks at the 1st Moscow Watch Factory, anywhere I looked here I got some kind of scratch, speck of dust, dial indices treated badly, cracked bearings, even some red thread peeking out from under the indice at 3...

[bluloo]

You could have found human poo inside, and I'd still want this one.

Another excellent pictorial.

[curiousMan]

You could have found human poo inside, and I'd still want this one.

Another excellent pictorial.

thank you! As for the enhancement you request - it'd be extra 2500 Swiss francs

[merl]

Wow, thanks for sharing! Still like it! Probably being badly serviced

[curiousMan]

Wow, thanks for sharing! Still like it! Probably being badly serviced

recently sold as new on Amazon by Amazon

[curiousMan]

poll added to the top of the thread, vote! :)

[ckot]

It probably shows a less modern watchmaker than the ultra-automated, clean room, factories owned by ETA/Swatch. An entry-level watch from a higher end maker like PP might have even more faults.

How to explain why it is wo much worse than the B&M, however??? B&M does have a relatively new factory. They are also owned by a corporate master that is a little smaller and might still care more about details (vs. marketing).

I'd like to see how these compare to a (similarly priced) Seiko or Orient automatic chronograph.

[Levelman]

Amazing watch!
But how is this in the "Affordable Watches" section? You must swim in a very deep pool.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[curiousMan]

psst, this is part of the Affordables conspiracy, poor man guerilla investigations, don't tell rich snobs, they won't like it ;)

Amazing watch!
But how is this in the "Affordable Watches" section? You must swim in a very deep pool.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gagnello]

Hmmm. Interesting indeed. I agree with Bluloo that you could have found anything in there and I'd still want one, but it is a bit disappointing I think. I would expect a Zenith to be pretty pristine on the dial as well as the movement side. I find it hard to understand how the 60 year old GP was nicer under magnification. I would love to see a higher end Japanese watch under magnification such as a GS or Ananta. Man, I love this series you have put together. Great stuff.