Zenith Heritage 146
Zenith is presenting a new vintage series: the Heritage 146 chronograph inspired by a 1960s watch and now equipped with an El Primero movement.
It features a retro look, a tropical brown or blue dial, a 38 mm-diameter steel case and a column-wheel El Primero movement chronometer. Subtly reinterpreting an historical model, the Heritage 146 is a unique offering combining the best of the Manufacture’s past: design, history and true rarity.
The 1960s model was equipped with Calibre 146D featuring a balance-wheel oscillating at a rate of 18,000 vibrations/hour, ensuring a 38-hour power reserve and displays of the hours, minutes, with small seconds at 9 o’clock.
Like the Zenith El Primero HODINKEE limited Edition launched in 2016, the new Heritage 146 offers a chronograph with central sweep-seconds hand and 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, as well as a tachymetric scale. This two-counter dial without a date window reflects a configuration typical of 1960s chronographs.
The case of this exclusive edition now frames two dial options: tropical brown or blue sunray-patterned with rhodium-coated baton hands. However, its key difference lies in the fact that it beats to the lively rhythm of 36,000 vibrations per hour, dictated by the automatic high-beat El Primero Calibre 4069.
Regulated and adjusted to meet chronometer standards, this 254-part column-wheel chronograph calibre – wound by an oscillating weight adorned with “Côtes de Genève” – drives an extremely accurate tenth-of-a-second display and has an over 50-hour power reserve. Its high-frequency mechanism is housed in a 38 mm-diameter vintage-style steel case that is water-resistant to 50 meters and features a fluted crown as well as two round pushers.
The screw-down sapphire crystal caseback has an anti-reflective treatment on both sides. The final touch is set by a racing-style strap in a choice of brown or blue rubber-lined calfskin leather.
Technical details
Model: Zenith Heritage 146
Movement
El Primero 4069, Automatic
Calibre 13¼“` (Diameter: 30 mm)
Movement thickness: 6.60 mm
Components: 254
Jewels: 35
Frequency: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz)
Power-reserve: Min. 50 hours
Finishes: Oscillating weight with “Côtes de Genève” motif
Functions
Hours and minutes in the centre
Small seconds at 9 o’clock
Chronograph:
– Central chronograph hand
– 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock
Tachymetric scale
Case
Material: Stainless steel
Diameter: 38 mm
Diameter opening: 33.10 mm
Thickness: 12.45 mm
Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
Case-back: Transparent sapphire crystal
Water-resistance: 10 ATM
Dial
Blue sunray-patterned (03.2150.4069/51.C805) or Brown sunray-patterned (03.2150.4069/75.C806)
Hour-markers: Rhodium-plated & faceted
Hands: Rhodium-plated & faceted
Strap
Blue perforated calfskin leather with protective rubber lining (03.2150.4069/51.C805) or Brown perforated calfskin leather with protective rubber lining (03.2150.4069/75.C806)
Stainless steel pin buckle
