Words: Charlie Thomas
Established in 1865, Zenith are one of the best-respected Swiss watch brands. They are renowned for their classic designs and highly accurate movements, the likes of which were regularly used by Rolex until they started making their own in 2000.
Georges Favre-Jacot founded the brand at the age of 22, and with insatiable drive and energy, he quickly drove it to the forefront of the watchmaking industry. He did this by, among other things, producing every aspect of his watches in-house. By doing this, he created the very notion of a manufacture, and in time, other elite watch brands followed suit.
Zenith’s movements are what cemented their legendary status. Introduced in 1948, the Caliber 135 was their first truly major movement, and with its chronometer certification and small seconds function, it earned 235 awards. Then came the Caliber 5011K, which dazzled with its accuracy, going on to power marine chronometers and pocket watches from the world’s most highly acclaimed watchmakers.
The year of 1969 was the biggest for Zenith, however. They introduced the El Primero, which was and arguably still is the most accurate manufacture-made calibre ever. It can measure time to the nearest 1/10th of a second and boasts a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour, which back in the summer of ’69, was simply unheard of.
Today Zenith still produce the El Primero, and like Rolex’s Submariner, or Omega’s Speedmaster, it is the timepiece that has come to define the brand. Its sporty, vintage looks resonate with today’s buyer more than ever, and of course, knowing that such an iconic movement lies beneath the case is a plus too. Zenith have recently added to their line of Pilot’s watches and now, under the watchful eye of the LVMH group, they’ll continue to innovate for many more years to come.
For more information, visit Zenith’s website by clicking here.
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