Zenith EL PRIMERO series User manual

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

ZENITH, BRANCH OF LVMH SWISS MANUFACTURES SA,
BILLODES 34, 2400 LE LOCLE, SWITZERLAND
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 5
INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEE 6
LEGAL PROVISIONS 8
EL PRIMERO 10
ELITE 23
EL PRIMERO 21 31
ZENITH OSCILLATOR CALIBRE 9100 43
HAUTE HORLOGERIE 49
COMPLICATIONS - EL PRIMERO 68
COMPLICATIONS - ELITE 81

ZENITH,
THE FUTURE
OF SWISS
WATCHMAKING
SINCE 1865

INTRODUCTION
Since 1865, authenticity, daring
and passion have been Zenith's
perpetual guiding star as it has
sought to push the boundaries of
excellence, accuracy and innovation.
Founded in Le Locle by visionary
watchmaker Georges Favre-Jacot,
Zenith very quickly became known
for the accuracy of its chronometers:
in just one and a half centuries of
existence, the brand has amassed
2333 chronometry prizes – an
all-time record. Since being made
famous by the legendary El Primero
calibre, which measures short
intervals to a tenth of a second, the
Manufacture has developed more
than 600 different movements.
Today, Zenith offers a fascinating new
perspective on time measurement,
including the one hundredth of a
second display on the Defy El Primero
21, adopting a brand new approach
to precision mechanics for the world's
most accurate watch – the
21st century Defy Lab. Inspired
by newly reinforced links to
the traditions of dynamism and
inventiveness it holds so dear, Zenith
is charting not only its own future,
but also that of the entire Swiss
watchmaking industry. You can
further share our passion for this fine
craft by visiting our website www.
zenith-watches.com. We also invite
you to sign up as a Zenith watch
owner, which will entitle you to an
extra year's guarantee cover.
Your watch features a mechanical
movement that is the product of
more than 300 years of watchmaking
tradition. We ask that you take care
of it and are careful when making any
adjustments. In the following pages
you will find information on how to
use your watch and its functions.
The functions available depend on
your watch model.
5

INTERNATIONAL
GUARANTEE
Zenith watches are the product of our Manufacture and
are high-precision, high-tech products. Before your watch
leaves the Manufacture, it is subjected to numerous
stringent quality checks. However, should there be any
manufacturing faults, an international guarantee means
your watch is covered for two years starting from the date
of purchase. This guarantee is observed by service centres
approved by Zenith worldwide if the following cumulative
conditions are observed:
- Thewatchhasbeenpurchasedfromanofcialdealer
asapprovedbyZenith;youcanndthelistofall
authorised point of sales on our website, zenith-
watches.com. The name or stamp of the authorised
retailers, the date of purchase and the watch reference
are clearly detailed on the guarantee card.
- Your watch must have been worn under normal
conditions and maintained in accordance with Zenith's
recommended maintenance instructions; it must not
have been handled incorrectly.
- The guarantee card, the only valid proof of purchase,
must be sent along with your watch to an authorised
Zenith service centre.
6

7
Please be aware that Zenith's international guarantee does
not cover normal ageing of your watch, natural wear and
tear of the leather, fabric or rubber straps, nor any scratches
that may appear on the case or sapphire crystals during
use. The decision to repair a Zenith-watch or take any other
appropriate measure under this guarantee is at the sole
discretion of Zenith, Branch of LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA
oritsofcialservicecentres.
This guarantee automatically cancels and replaces all other
guarantees incorporated in national legislation. Certain
local regulations (especially within the European Union)
may forbid the exclusion, in which case the exclusion of
the above-mentioned guarantee does not apply. In such
cases, especially within the European Union, the consumer
has – in addition to this guarantee – legal rights under
the applicable national legislation governing the sale of
consumer goods, which are not affected by this guarantee.
Sign up on our website, zenith-watches.com,
to receive an additional year's guarantee
(i.e. three years in total).

LEGAL PROVISIONS
Zenith guarantees the availability of spare parts for
a period of ten (10) years from the date of purchase
(excluding Zenith Icons models).
DIAMONDS AND PRECIOUS STONES
Zenith, a branch of LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA,
certifies that the diamonds in your watch have been
purchased from legitimate sources not involved in
the financing of armed conflict and in accordance
with United Nations resolutions. The seller thus
guarantees that these diamonds are not used to
finance armed conflicts, at least to his knowledge
and/or according to written guarantees issued by
the supplier of these precious stones. These gems
have been carefully selected from the best in
the world.
LEAD
Certain internal and inaccessible components
of the movements in these watches may be
manufactured with alloys which contain small
quantities of lead. The use of lead is necessary in
our current manufacturing processes to guarantee
the machinability of certain components. The use
of the substance does not present a danger of
migration or exposure for downstream users or
consumers and is authorised by the applicable
legislation.
8

RESPONSIBLE WATCHMAKING:
ZENITH IS RJC-CERTIFIED
The RJC is an international organisation working
to promote ethical, social and environmentally
responsible practices, with respect for human
rights, from one end of the jewellery industry to
the other, from extraction to the sales counter.
The Swiss Watchmaking Manufacture Zenith is
proud to be RJC-certified for having fulfilled
the standards established by the organisation’s
certification system.
KIMBERLEY PROCESS: "CLEAN" DIAMONDS
The Kimberley process is the product of a joint
initiative between governments, the industry
and civil society. Adopted in 2003 by more than
75 countries, it aims to curb the trade of rough
diamonds from areas of conflict, as defined by the
United Nations. The Kimberley certification process
ensures, through the issuance of a certificate, that
no rough diamond that has crossed an international
border between two signing countries has come
from an area of conflict. Based on the written
guarantees provided by its suppliers, Zenith
certifies that all of its diamonds are cut from
legitimate sources and are not involved
in armed conflict.
9

EL PRIMERO

You are looking at the most famous movement
in watchmaking history, a movement familiar to
every aficionado and currently the most accurate
mass-produced movement in the world. Its secret
lies in the frequency of its balance. While most
oscillate at a rhythm of 8 vibrations per second,
the El Primero calibre performs 10 vibrations in the
same time. Its development gave rise to numerous
major inventions, and its power reserve had to be
optimised to compensate for the increased energy
consumption caused by this higher oscillating
rate. All Zenith watches are equipped with a Zenith
Manufacture movement. There are few brands
in the world that can pride themselves on having
an approach as rigorous as ours. From the very
moment you invest in a Zenith watch, you can be
absolutely certain that you are in possession of a
watch that has been produced from start to finish
at the Le Locle Manufacture. This fundamental
requirement imposed a need for calibres that led to
the creation of more than 600 different movements.
EL PRIMERO
MOVEMENT
11

THE PRODUCTION OF AN
EL PRIMERO MOVEMENT REQUIRES:
MONTHS
OF WORK
EXPERT
CRAFTSMANSHIP
MULTIPLE SUCCESSIVE
OPERATIONS
MILLING OPERATIONS
OF THE DIAL SIDE
MILLING OPERATIONS
OF THE BRIDGE SIDE
VARIOUS METALS
IN THE CLASSIC VERSION
IMPRESSIVE
NUMBERS
12

MOVEMENT
CALIBRE: 13¼ ```
DIAMETER: 30 MM
THICKNESS: 6.5 MM
FREQUENCY: 36 000 VIBRATIONS/HOUR (5 HZ)
NUMBER OF COMPONENTS: 280 MINIMUM
NUMBER OF JEWELS: 31 MINIMUM
INDEX-ASSEMBLY WITH FINE ADJUSTMENT
POWER RESERVE: 50 HOURS MINIMUM, 60 HOURS MINIMUM
FOR THE EL PRIMERO 3600 VERSION
CENTRAL ROTOR ON BALL BEARING
BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOMATIC WINDING
QUICK DATE CORRECTION
CHRONOGRAPH FUNCTION (EXCLUDING SYNOPSIS MODELS)
SYNCHRONISATION OF THE CHRONOGRAPH CONTROLS
VIA A COLUMN WHEEL
STOP SECOND ON THE EL PRIMERO 3600 VERSION
CHARACTERISTICS
13

Your watch is fitted with an automatic winding
mechanical movement. The movement is wound
via the crown or the effect of the oscillating
weight. When the watch is worn, the motion of the
wrist activates the oscillating weight to wind the
movement. In order for the automatic winding to
work properly, the watch must be worn for at least
12 hours per day, for several days.
WINDING
THE WATCH

WHEN YOUR WATCH HAS STOPPED
Not wearing the watch enough causes it to stop.
Hold the watch in your hand and turn the crown at
least 30 times clockwise. The barrel that contains
the mainspring has now been wound. If you do not
wear your watch during the night, turn the crown
a few times the following morning before you put
it on.
Note: for models equipped with a screw-down
crown, unscrew the crown before winding the
watch. Screw in the crown after the operation.
15

Tip: it is easier to set the time while holding the
watch rather than wearing it. We recommend
gentle, regular turns when rotating the crown.
Important for models with a date display:
- Always set the time in a clockwise direction to
avoid damaging the movement.
- Start by performing one complete rotation to
12 o'clock to check the part of the day for which
you are setting the time: if the date changes
when the hand passes 12 o'clock, your watch is
showing the morning time. If the date does not
change, your watch is showing the afternoon
time.
Important for models with a minute repeater:
To avoid damaging the movement, do not set the
time when the chime mechanism is engaged.
SETTING
THE TIME
16

For the El Primero 3600 version:
Pull the crown out to position (2). Rotate the hands
clockwise to indicate the desired time. At the time
signal, push the crown back against the case.
(1) (2)
17
(1)
Pull the crown out to position (1). Rotate the hands
clockwise to indicate the desired time. At the time
signal, push the crown back against the case.

SETTING THE DATE
STANDARD DATE
OR LARGE DATE (2 DISCS)*
Important: before changing the date, pull the crown
out to position (1) and move the hands to between
2 o'clock and 6 o'clock by rotating them clockwise.
For models with an annual calendar, move the
hands to between 4 o'clock and 6 o'clock.
Pull the crown out to position (2). Rotate the crown
until the desired date appears.
* Depending on the model
18
(1) (2)

For the El Primero 3600 version:
Pull the crown out to position (1). Rotate the crown
until the desired date appears. Once the date has
been set, you can set the time. Push the crown back
against the case.
19
(1)

20
SETTING
THE TRIPLE CALENDAR
MONTH
For models that indicate the month, scroll through
the dates to the desired month and set the date.
The month changes at midnight on the 31st.
Push the crown back against the case.
(1) (2)