Zenith El Primero or Speedy

[Sidmind]

Soon will be the time of year when I get some extra money, around $4500

I have been wanting to add to my Chronograph collection, all of my current chrono's are vintage from the 60s or older such as a 13-20 Minerva, lots of Landeron' movement no names, a Seiko 6139B Pogue, and a Valjoux 92 no name.
I do not have any that are super accurate and reliable. (Well the Seiko works very well, like all Seikos do)

My short list for a modern reliable chronograph is Speedy, Zenith El Primero, Valjoux 72xx auto no name, and long list = Daytona ceramic years from now.

Of course I might eventually get both, but I only buy a nice watch about every other year.

Thoughts?

[koz123]

I'd say speedy.

[Hairdude1]

Speedy

[osamu]

I personally would rather have an el primero, specifically the 38mm tricolor 36000 vph. But that is just me, don't think you can go wrong either way. Would be a much tougher choice for me if talking the 35th anniversary panda dial speedy or the Alaska project.

[Goin2drt]

Depends what you want and like the most. Both great watches. If you like them both equally then do you want a watch that every other single person has? Go with the Speedy.

[lapince]

Speedy

[Andad]

Zenith

The 36000 movement is a beauty.

Any pix if the Zenith?

[Hollister]

Originally Posted by osamu

I personally would rather have an el primero, specifically the 38mm tricolor 36000 vph.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ha...ic-chronograph

This is what I chose.

[osamu]

Originally Posted by Hollister

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ha...ic-chronograph

This is what I chose.

looks perfect to me, but still haven't seen one in the flesh.

I've tried on the 42mm, and it was certainly wearable, I just feel like it was bordering on too large, and I am finding myself more and more would rather have something that is almost too small than almost too large

on my 6.5" wrist:

[regnant]

Zenith El Primero, one of the best in the business

[1William]

A pre-owned Speedy. Save $1500 toward your next one.

[RUK]

Had that same dilemma 4 years ago when starting my collection - decided on the speedmaster and I haven't looked back since.

Great watch

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

[Hollister]

Originally Posted by osamu

looks perfect to me, but still haven't seen one in the flesh.

I've tried on the 42mm, and it was certainly wearable, I just feel like it was bordering on too large, and I am finding myself more and more would rather have something that is almost too small than almost too large

on my 6.5" wrist:

I agree entirely, the 42mm is just edging towards the "wrist-clock" look, which is why I chose the 38mm.

[J!m]

If you don't have a speedy, it is required!

That said, the Zenith is one of the most under-appreciated watches out there, and I always look when they are posted here for sale.

So I guess you do need both; however the Speedy is the one to get now I'd say.

[Maiden]

Both great watches. For me, Zenith El Primero hands down.

[Peterandwatches]

I do think the Speedy feels a bit common and unexciting, where as the Zenith has a uniqueness factor. I went with the 38 tri color, but eventually, the overlapping subdials, minor issues with winding, and poor date design (the window is cut in a way that overlaps the tens digit) made me move on. Also, when I bought the watch (maybe 3 years ago?), Zenith was a brand on the rise, but I just don't see the same energy, especially since Dufour moved onto Rolex.

Speedy may be a boring choice, and they are (relatively) commonplace in the watch world, but it's tried, true, dependable, super easy to flip, and an absolute classic. Speedy all the way here.

[J!m]

Speedmaster is to Chronographs as Submariner is to diver watches.

Both absolute icons.

[Sidmind]

The tri-color is what I would like to find, not sure if it will fit in my budget of 4500, I guess if I have to I could sell a few other watches and bump up my budget, I just don't want to do that.

One thing that is important to me on a Chronograph is the round pushers, I do not like the oval ones that barely stick out.

[Hollister]

Originally Posted by Peterandwatches

I do think the Speedy feels a bit common and unexciting, where as the Zenith has a uniqueness factor. I went with the 38 tri color, but eventually, the overlapping subdials, minor issues with winding, and poor date design (the window is cut in a way that overlaps the tens digit) made me move on. Also, when I bought the watch (maybe 3 years ago?), Zenith was a brand on the rise, but I just don't see the same energy, especially since Dufour moved onto Rolex.

Speedy may be a boring choice, and they are (relatively) commonplace in the watch world, but it's tried, true, dependable, super easy to flip, and an absolute classic. Speedy all the way here.

No, the date window is in its original (69) position, not overlapping any digits.

[Peterandwatches]

Thanks Hollister- I think that picture is from David on Ablogtowatch?

I didn't explain it very well, leading to confusion. I had some legiblity issues with the actual date. In the picture, the 5 is quite clear, but, if it were the 15th, the tens digit is so close to the window border, that the 1 becomes overshadowed, and it just looks like just a 5. It doesn't help that their "1" font is basically just a straight line, and so date ranges from the 11th to the 19th are affected. Could just be an isolated issue with mine, but I had another IG friend confirm they had the same legiblity issue.

[Peterandwatches]

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

I see the issue on these Hodinkee pictures at the link below. It was always extremely hard for me to read whether it was the 3rd or the 13th on the wrist. Perhaps this is nitpicking, but it became a factor for me, and hopefully it's worth sharing.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/co...ng-old-vs-some

[HobokenRolex]

I was between those two. I picked up a Speedmaster with hesalite about a month ago and I'm very happy with it. The Speedy works great on the bracelet or a strap. It really is a great part of a collection, much like a Sub.

[mdgrwl]

Speedy for sure!

[arcadelt]

I would go Speedy before El Primero, but intend to have them both in my collection eventually as the El Primero movement is legendary.

[maxbaris]

Between the two, I would go with El Primero! Good luck.


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[mps354]

Speedy for me

[Emmanuel69]

I would go with the speedy first! But both are iconic

[rolehex]

Originally Posted by 1William

A pre-owned Speedy. Save $1500 toward your next one.

This is a tough question because they are both are great but in the end I would follow Williams suggestion above.

[mickyd329]

Originally Posted by Sidmind

The tri-color is what I would like to find, not sure if it will fit in my budget of 4500, I guess if I have to I could sell a few other watches and bump up my budget, I just don't want to do that.

One thing that is important to me on a Chronograph is the round pushers, I do not like the oval ones that barely stick out.

Zenith for me. Yes, it can be had for $4500 BNIB.

[ThomG]

Both are great watches, but I would go with the Zenith. I have two El Primero Chronomasters, and they are beautiful, sturdy, accurate, and have some exclusivity that the Speedy just doesn't have.