![]() ![]() The silicon clutch wheel has 100 teeth on it, which translates into 100 beats per the ten second rotation, or ten strikes per second - which provided Zenith with a little naming inspiration for this model. It is also driven by a small wheel for less inertia. Silicon was used because it is 3.5x lighter than a tradtional wheel, and since this one is continually running, it would cause less wear on the movement. Zenith's beautifully finished caliber 4052 B can be seen through a sapphire caseback The blue double-layered clutch wheel, which can be seen at the top in the picture above, is made completely of silicon and runs both the continually running seconds register and sweeping hand. I found myself timing everything to a 1/10th of a second, just because I could. Essentially, the sweeping hand here moves at 6x the pace of a normal chornograph's hand, and thanks to the clearly marked flange on the rim of the dial and a chronograph clutch-wheel that is perpetually engaged (even when the chrono is not running), stopping the 1/10th second hand and reading it precisely is incredibly easy. The idea behind this watch is to have a center seconds hand that rotates around the dial not once every 60 seconds, but once every ten seconds, allowing the reader to measure 1/10th of a second accuracy with ease. ![]() These 11 new components allow the El Primero, which has had a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour since its launch over forty years ago, to take full advantage of this incredibly high frequency (FYI - when Rolex used the El Primero movement in its Daytona, they modified it to beat at a slower 28,000 vph). And, inside is not your standard El Primero - it's your standard El Primero plus 11 new components. ![]() This El Primero isn't about tracking hours, it's about tracking a fraction of a second. Here, you'll see that there exists no hours register, and that is because the Striking Tenth does not account of hours at all with its chronograph function. A subtle difference but it was a decisive factor for the owner of this particular watch.The Striking Tenth's Sub-Dial Layout Is Different Than Other El Primeros To Accommodate The Innovative Movement 40 Years + 11 Components The 38mm version has the date located in-between the 4 and 5 hour markers just like the new Chronomaster Sport, while the 42mm version has the date at 6 o’clock. If you’re looking into buying an El Primero Chronomaster pay close attention to the date location on the small and large size. WATCHPOD Display Stand & The El Primero Conclusion Instead of a cam derived of two pieces, the column wheel is one single piece that is quite difficult to manufacture, but provides a much more precise function for the chronograph. Partly due to it’s excellent column wheel which is essentially an upgraded “cam”. The chronograph is super sharp, with clean – crisp clicks when starting and stopping the chronograph hand. The El Primero Chronomaster is the ideal gentleman’s racer watch, sporty and elegant with precise functions to back it up. It even has a solid amount of retro flare, evident by its skeletonized hands dating back to the very first original model, as well as its unprotected chronograph pushers where no crown guards have been implemented – unlike on its rival the Rolex Daytona. This is a watch that you cannot get bored of, it has a little of everything, without coming off as busy and disorganized. The silver sunburst dial is beautiful and the intricate hour markers suit the general complexity of the dial, bringing all of the design facets together in one harmonious time keeping instrument. Aesthetically pleasing, but also serving a clever functional purpose allowing you to differentiate between the elapsed seconds, minutes, and hours with colour coordination – a subtle increase to the chronograph legibility. Maybe the first thing you’d notice is the tri-coloured sub-dials, a trademark of the El Primero. There’s so much happening on the dial, you could practically write a novel about it. Namely the quality of finishing and the uniqueness of the dial layout. Owning it is like owning a piece of watchmaking history, but there’s so much more beyond that. This is a true connoisseurs watch, a watch very well known within enthusiast groups, but not so well known to the masses. One of the main reasons people buy this watch is simply for its historic one of a kind movement. ![]()
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