daytona zenith or 4130?

[slimq]

which do you guys thinks is better ? in terms of movement quality craftmanship and accuracy

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by slimq

which do you guys thinks is better ? in terms of movement quality craftmanship and accuracy

Rolex 4130 in house movement without a doubt - Rolex only make improvements, so if they felt the Zenith was as good as it could be, they wouldn't have improved the Daytona (IMO of course)

[esm]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

Rolex 4130 in house movement without a doubt - Rolex only make improvements, so if they felt the Zenith was as good as it could be, they wouldn't have improved the Daytona (IMO of course)

I thought it wad the case if Rolex weren't able to get enough Zenith movement so they had no choice but to make the 4130 movement.....

Everyone know Zenith makes one of the best Chrono movements.

[HL65]

Zenith for me as well!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

Rolex 4130 in house movement without a doubt - Rolex only make improvements, so if they felt the Zenith was as good as it could be, they wouldn't have improved the Daytona (IMO of course)

Not quite true the main reason for Rolex to design there first ever chronograph movement was quite simple.Zenith could not, or would not supply Rolex with enough ebauche Zenith movements.While I agree the Rolex in-house is a fantastic movement main bonus its 72 hour power reserve.But the Zenith Elprimo in its standard 36000BPH or the modded to the Rolex standard 28000BPH.Is as accurate and long lasting as the now in-house made movement, the Elprimo has been around for decades so a well tested accurate movement, as the in-house is now.

[TempoKing]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

Rolex 4130 in house movement without a doubt - Rolex only make improvements, so if they felt the Zenith was as good as it could be, they wouldn't have improved the Daytona (IMO of course)

The Zenith based movement
is the unrepeatable success...of all times.

Rolex introduced their own (inferior IMO - BUT quicker/easier to service)
movement for reasons of... non-dependency to outside manufactures.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Please do not take this as knocking Rolex.

Rolex detuned the El Primero to 28,800 bph for one reason - to stop the question - so why are all other movements not 36,000 bph?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by mrbill2mrbill2

Please do not take this as knocking Rolex.

Rolex detuned the El Primero to 28,800 bph for one reason - to stop the question - so why are all other movements not 36,000 bph?

The main reason for Rolex to fit there own escapement in the Zenith Ebauche.Was one it was cheaper to buy without the escapement parts,two with the 28800BPH it would fit in with the normal 5 year service like the rest of the Rolex line up.High beat movements in general would need servicing a little sooner than the 5 years.

[Prince]

Daytona Zenith for me. Mine is the most accurate Rolex I own.

[Cabaiguan]

Zenith hands down. Their chrono movements are top notch and, while I love my Lemania-based Speedie with an 1861, I would love to pick up a Zenith Daytona one day.

[sherwin]

Zenith for the history and what is undoubtedly one of the best chronos. However, I wont discount the 4130 either.

[rolexertion]

Movement quality, craftsmanship and accuracy? That's a more involved question to answer than you might think. To begin with, both movements, the 4030 and the 4130, are actually Rolex movements. The majority of the parts in the 4030 were replaced with Rolex parts. The escapement was changed to a 28.8K setup and the balance wheel was replaced with a larger one to retain the same isochronism. So what you're asking is, did Rolex improve their own quality, craftmanship and accuracy between these 2 movements? I'd say the answer is yes. Rolex does not make changes in order to reduce quality. The 4130 also has the Parachrom Blu hairspring, which has shown itself to be amazingly stable and consistent over the years.

[Rolex2]

Seems that Zenith is back on top, or near the top, after many years out of the business.

My first watch was a solid gold Zenith, bought by my mother in Italy in 1950. She was told at the time that Zenith was the best Swiss watch. At the time it was the watch of the Italian national railroad.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by slimq

which do you guys thinks is better ? in terms of movement quality craftmanship and accuracy

"Better" is subjective. Different would be the only adjective that applies here..

[GolfPunk]

Dont forget the question was not just about the movement, it asked about the movement, craftsmanship, quality etc etc. I personally like look of the 116520 more than the Zenith, its both a sports watch and a dress watch with the slightly more blingy dial. Also, the clasp is better as is the bracelet itself (solid links etc)

[TheVTCGuy]

Two points:

1. My understanding is that (one of) the reasons Rolex decided to go with the in-house, is the Zenith is a pain to service.... and

2. (More of a question) Doesn't the Zenith El Primero have a date feature? Why wouldn't Rolex incorporate that?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Two points:

1. My understanding is that (one of) the reasons Rolex decided to go with the in-house, is the Zenith is a pain to service.... and

2. (More of a question) Doesn't the Zenith El Primero have a date feature? Why wouldn't Rolex incorporate that?

1. Rolex went with the Zenith because it was the first Chronograph movement to successfully incorporate a self-wind module in ~69. Before that they used manual wind Valjoux movements.. I don't think that they really care about the difficulty in service; they began at that time to develop their own in-house movement from the ground up.

2. They don't really use the "el Primero" movement.. They use the Zenith ebauch (base movement) on which the final "el Primero" movement is based. Zenith adds the date module in their watches. Rolex modifies and refits the base ebauch to their own standards/requirements (which apparently doesn't include a date)

[Art 1]

According to top watch makers who would know the 4130 is a much better movement. Longer power reserve, less parts, faster winding, column wheel, flatter which gives it a better dial layout IMO, smoother starting chrono and some other things. The 4130 is just a better movement as compared to the 4030.

[hennabav]

Zenith for me!!

[DT14]

the movement may be better in the 4130 but the Zenith white dial is so much more impressive, that to me, the Zenith is far and away the choice. And, as a bonus, every stock broker and wannabe you see will not be wearing your watch!!

[applebook]

Rolex all the way.

The EL Primero is one of the best movements out there and has stood the test of time, but all things being equal, I would choose the Rolex for its simplicity, longer power reserve, and in-house status. You won't find this movement in other brands, unlike with the EP.

[horseco]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

Dont forget the question was not just about the movement, it asked about the movement, craftsmanship, quality etc etc. I personally like look of the 116520 more than the Zenith, its both a sports watch and a dress watch with the slightly more blingy dial. Also, the clasp is better as is the bracelet itself (solid links etc)

the case & bracelet are leaps & bounds better on the new model, that said the movement on the Zenith model is still better in my opinion. & I have owned both...

[Passionata]

116520 much better in all aspects comparing to the 16520 except the white dial version looks better with the black counter circles.

[slimq]

how accurate have you guys found the 2 movements to be in plus minus secs a day?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by slimq

how accurate have you guys found the 2 movements to be in plus minus secs a day?

Thats like saying how long is a bit of string,both bare uncased movements were tested at Swiss COSC.And both pass the same chronometer test,that is at the time of testing to average between -4 to +6 seconds over any 24 hour period.While one watch on say your wrist could be say +2 on someone else's wrist watch could be quite different.And no matter what the movement any brand its only as good as what it was regulated too its that simple.

[yessir69]

Another Zenith vote.

[guyrolex]

The main reason that I bought my V serial 4130 vs. a Zenith is that the Zenith does not have a hacking mechanism for the seconds, so you can never accurately set the watch. I find the inability to stop the second hand a big negative. Plus, the 72 hour vs. 54 our power reserve sealed the deal

[landroverking]

If I could have only one Zenith. I have had one since 1998. It is just now in for it's 2nd service. That said my next one will be a white gold 4130 on a strap.

[springer]

I have the Zenith in my 1992 Daytona and it is a very reliable movement. A great watch indeed.

[htc8p]

the new daytona has funny pusher position. its probably better

but it really looks funny.