El Primero Range Rover Special Edition
CASE : ceramized aluminum, cambered glareproofed sapphire crystal, sapphire caseback, water-resistant to 100m
DIAMETER : 42mm
MOVEMENT : mechanical self-winding (El Primero Caliber 400B, minimum 50-hour power reserve), special oscillating weight with circular satin-brushed motif
FUNCTIONS : hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph, tachymeter scale on the dial
DIAL : brushed gray, rhodium-plated, faceted hands and hour-markers coated with Super-LumiNova SLN C1
STRAP : black rubber coated with ivory-toned perforated calfskin or black rubber coated with blue perforated calfskin, black DLC-coated titanium triple folding clasp
The El Primero Range Rover special editions marks the start of a broad-scale partnership between Zenith and the car manufacturer Land Rover, whose most iconic models date back to 1969.
1969 was a milestone in the history of Zenith and Land Rover. That was the year that the British carmaker unveiled the Range Rover, the world’s first luxury all-road vehicle, heralding a new era for the automobile industry. In parallel, the El Primero chronograph movement introduced by Zenith that same year was a new landmark in precision timekeeping, by providing a high-fequency mechanical chronograph function capable of displaying elapsed times with tenth-of-a-second precision. In 1972, the destiny of these two legends converged, when John Blashford-Snell, with an El Primero chronograph on his wrist, crossed the Darién Gap at the wheel of a Range Rover. And it was half a century later that the two companies, both pioneers in their respective industries, set the seal on their union and jointly celebrated these two legendary creations that have made an enduring mark on the history of carmaking and watchmaking.
To launch this dynamic partnership, Zenith is unveiling the El Primero Range Rover Special Edition, a watch paying tribute to the first luxury SUV. For Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, “the model is unmistakably an El Primero, one of the most distinctive watch designs ever produced, while also alluding to Range Rover DNA”. The minimalist aesthetic of the Range Roger dashboard is reflected in the understated appearance of the watch featuring a slate gray brushed dial, and a matt finish evoking discretion, sophistication and durability, very much like that of the British car. The black ceramized aluminum case combining lightness and resistance is also a nod to the Range Roger chassis. Finally, the sapphire crystal caseback bearing the inscription “El Primero Range Rover/Special Edition” reveals an oscillating weight engraved with the names of the two brands instead of the traditional “Manufacture Le Locle” wording.
