In the midst of its much-talked-about transition, Zenith introduces a new El Primero with an entirely openworked dial.

by Sarah Jordan

To say we?ve had conversations about Zenith in 2017 is perhaps a bit of an understatement. Back in January, news that Zenith?s CEO, Aldo Magada, was stepping down ? to be replaced by LVMH?s head of watchmaking, Jean-Claude Biver ? resulted in a flurry of talk about the brand?s future. Fortunately, whispers of behind-the-scenes strategizing hasn?t dampened anyone?s opinion of Zenith?s watches. Its El Primero, for example, is regarded as one of the finest chronograph movements ever made, a high-frequency industry juggernaut that has driven everything from Panerais to Parmigianis (by way of Rolex’s own Cosmograph Daytona) and in recent months El Primero has been at the centre of its partnerships with Cohiba and Range Rover. The Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38mm in steel
Now, Zenith is adding to its El Primero empire with the automatic Chronomaster El Primero Full Open featuring an openworked dial. This new dial neatly rounds-off the El Primero collection, which already includes a mixture of solid and porthole dials.
Described as ‘the most contemporary’ of the three El Primero dial options, Full Open certainly has Biver’s fingerprints upon it using the same design language we’ve seen from stablemate TAG Heuer’s Calib...