In 1969, Zenith launched the world’s first automatic chronograph movement, El Primero. The same year, Land Rover also released the prototype of the first luxury off-road vehicle, the Range Rover. And now, half a century later, the two manufacturers join forces to launch this limited edition watch.
Both Zenith and Land Rover are makers dedicated to research and product development. Zenith’s in-house automatic El Primero 400B movement is naturally the heart of this limited edition. Following the design essence from 1969, the 326-part movement has 36,000 vibrations per hour, enabling it to display as precise as a tenth of a second and can reserve power for up to 50 hours. The caseback bears the “El Primero Range Rover / Special Edition” engraving while the oscillating weight is adorned with the Zenith and Range Rover logos.
The 42 mm-diameter matt black ceramised aluminium case is a nod to the Range Rover chassis and is strong, lightweight, anti-corrosive and water-resistant to 100 metres. The dark, brushed dial features rectangular hands and hour-markers, with signatures of the two brands sitting subtly right below 12 o’clock. The strap is made of either ivory or blue perforated calfskin combined with rubber and matched with DLC-coated titanium triple folding clasp. The design of the special edition very much aligns with Range Rover’s robust, low-key yet luxurious image that they are famous for.