How do you perceive Zenith watches?

[BaronVonVaderham]

Hoofy said:

BaronVonVaderham said:

http://zenithhome.co.uk/

So what you're saying is that people have probably looked through a Zenith window to see premium brand watches? The watchmaker's windowmaker.

now that's deep.

I was more alluding to the window brand being the first thing that will pop into most peoples minds when they hear the word zenith.

Before I started reading these forums I too would have put zenith in the timex bucket

[Hoofy]

BaronVonVaderham said:

Hoofy said:

BaronVonVaderham said:

http://zenithhome.co.uk/

So what you're saying is that people have probably looked through a Zenith window to see premium brand watches? The watchmaker's windowmaker.

now that's deep.

I was more alluding to the window brand being the first thing that will pop into most peoples minds when they hear the word zenith.

Before I started reading these forums I too would have put zenith in the timex bucket

You think that's bad? When my friend said she was going up Everest, I imagined she was going to purchase a set of suction cups.

[nikaiyo2]

Nice article here about the el prim movement

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/charles-vermot-t...

[marcosgt]

I must admit for a long time I assumed "International Watch Company" was a cheap, knock off brand from Hong Kong, it has the ring about it...

M.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

TheJimi said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

el stovey said:

TheJimi said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

In all honestly until I read this forum I thought they were a budget brand alongside Timex etc.

I'm struggling to believe this, tbh.

Unless you've *never* looked in the display window of a decent jewellers, it would be fairly obvious that Zenith are just a wee bit more high end that Timex!

They're not that well known as a brand really. You don't see them plastered all over Grand Prix tracks and tennis courts or on James Bond, They're certainly not the go to watch brand for Russian criminals or anyone else out to show they can afford a nice watch like Rolex or other "I've made it" brands. I just asked my wife if she'd heard of zenith watches and she hadn't. I've certainly pointed them out on many occasions to her.

This, advertising works evidently.

No, the Mk1 eyeball works. In that all you need to do is glance in a display window to see that they aren't Timex competitors.

What I find confusing is that you seem to be someone with at least a passing interest in watches. I just find it very hard to believe that you've never seen them in a display window.

I have now, but as we don't have any jewellers in my city that don't go beyond the Rolex, Tag and the other main makers they aren't a brand I had explored as I hasn't really heard of them, which I can only assume is down to their lack of advertising.

If it helps, until recently I presumed the same about Tudor.

[13m]

There are some pretty examples of the El Primo, which comes in a bewildering range of formats and sizes.

[gregd]

Lovely Limited Edition Hodinkee example now available.. Very tempting but a Speedmaster is next on my wanted list..

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/introducing-the-...

[Wills2]

I wasn't really aware of them until recently, they do have some lovely watches like this:

http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Zenith/El%20Primero/6...

[13m]

[13m]

In fact there are numerous variants that I'd be quite happy to own.

[addey]

gregd said:

Lovely Limited Edition Hodinkee example now available.. Very tempting but a Speedmaster is next on my wanted list..

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/introducing-the-...

Absolutely love that, its gone straight to the top of my wish list. Shame they've only made 25 so highly unlikely I'll ever get my hands on one

[Podie]

I know they are good watches, with great movements, but the designs do nothing for me.

Brand wise, they're a bit odd.

TAG Heuer - Monaco
Omega - Speedy / Seamaster
Rolex - Sub
Zenith.....

[13m]

Podie said:

I know they are good watches, with great movements, but the designs do nothing for me.

Brand wise, they're a bit odd.

TAG Heuer - Monaco
Omega - Speedy / Seamaster
Rolex - Sub
Zenith.....

...El Primero?

[jshell]

13m said:

Podie said:

I know they are good watches, with great movements, but the designs do nothing for me.

Brand wise, they're a bit odd.

TAG Heuer - Monaco
Omega - Speedy / Seamaster
Rolex - Sub
Zenith.....

...El Primero?

...pilot?

[Podie]

jshell said:

13m said:

Podie said:

I know they are good watches, with great movements, but the designs do nothing for me.

Brand wise, they're a bit odd.

TAG Heuer - Monaco
Omega - Speedy / Seamaster
Rolex - Sub
Zenith.....

...El Primero?

...pilot?

Kinda missed the point gents. Ask a non-watch person and they'll name an Omega, TAG or Rolex. Zenith just doesn't have that brand recognition (IMO).

[jshell]

Podie said:

jshell said:

13m said:

Podie said:

I know they are good watches, with great movements, but the designs do nothing for me.

Brand wise, they're a bit odd.

TAG Heuer - Monaco
Omega - Speedy / Seamaster
Rolex - Sub
Zenith.....

...El Primero?

...pilot?

Kinda missed the point gents. Ask a non-watch person and they'll name an Omega, TAG or Rolex. Zenith just doesn't have that brand recognition (IMO).

Which may actually be the beauty of them...

[whoami]

jshell said:

Podie said:

jshell said:

13m said:

Podie said:

I know they are good watches, with great movements, but the designs do nothing for me.

Brand wise, they're a bit odd.

TAG Heuer - Monaco
Omega - Speedy / Seamaster
Rolex - Sub
Zenith.....

...El Primero?

...pilot?

Kinda missed the point gents. Ask a non-watch person and they'll name an Omega, TAG or Rolex. Zenith just doesn't have that brand recognition (IMO).

Which may actually be the beauty of them...

[sas782b]

I agree they don't have the recognition but that is part of the appeal for me. Zenith did have a wayward period about 5+ years ago when some of the designs were frankly hideous.

Some years ago the El Primero movement was used inside the Rolex Daytona.

I'll try and upload images of a couple of my favourites - sorry they seem to be sideways on.

Edited by sas782b on Wednesday 12th October 21:59

[Podie]

whoami said:

jshell said:

Podie said:

jshell said:

13m said:

Podie said:

I know they are good watches, with great movements, but the designs do nothing for me.

Brand wise, they're a bit odd.

TAG Heuer - Monaco
Omega - Speedy / Seamaster
Rolex - Sub
Zenith.....

...El Primero?

...pilot?

Kinda missed the point gents. Ask a non-watch person and they'll name an Omega, TAG or Rolex. Zenith just doesn't have that brand recognition (IMO).

Which may actually be the beauty of them...

True, or maybe it's that it's the movement that's iconic and not the watch design...

[TheJimi]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

TheJimi said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

el stovey said:

TheJimi said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

In all honestly until I read this forum I thought they were a budget brand alongside Timex etc.

I'm struggling to believe this, tbh.

Unless you've *never* looked in the display window of a decent jewellers, it would be fairly obvious that Zenith are just a wee bit more high end that Timex!

They're not that well known as a brand really. You don't see them plastered all over Grand Prix tracks and tennis courts or on James Bond, They're certainly not the go to watch brand for Russian criminals or anyone else out to show they can afford a nice watch like Rolex or other "I've made it" brands. I just asked my wife if she'd heard of zenith watches and she hadn't. I've certainly pointed them out on many occasions to her.

This, advertising works evidently.

No, the Mk1 eyeball works. In that all you need to do is glance in a display window to see that they aren't Timex competitors.

What I find confusing is that you seem to be someone with at least a passing interest in watches. I just find it very hard to believe that you've never seen them in a display window.

I have now, but as we don't have any jewellers in my city that don't go beyond the Rolex, Tag and the other main makers they aren't a brand I had explored as I hasn't really heard of them, which I can only assume is down to their lack of advertising.

If it helps, until recently I presumed the same about Tudor.

What I don't understand is that you've heard of both Zenith and Tudor. Where did you hear about them?

You don't read or hear about something without context, and any context involving a mention of Tudor or Zenith isn't gonna involve budget watches.