Review: Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 38mm 03.2150.400/53.C700

A chronograph with an iconic 3-subdial design and an iconic movement

The Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 38mm (ref 03.2150.400/53.C700) was released in 2017, but the movement inside, El Primero 400, is the same one which was first launched half a century ago.  For collectors who long for historical pieces but are concerned about vintage watches for various reasons (like myself), this is a perfect choice.

The Zenith was among the first to release an automatic chronograph in 1969 and the name “El Primero” literally means “first” in Spanish.  Rolex’s Daytona 16520, the first self-winding reference released in 1988, was equipped with Calibre 4030, which was based on the El Primero 400 movement.  The contract between Zenith and Rolex was signed for 10 years, after which Rolex switched to a fully in-house movement 4130.   Rolex  Daytona with El Primero inside has developed a following during the recent years, as that was the reference that defined the iconic Daytona look.  Zenith meanwhile continues to ship automatic chronographs with El Primero 400 to this day.  

Zenith also ships a 42mm version in its Chronomaster El Primero collection.  One visible difference (aside from the sizes of the dials) is that the date window on the 42mm model is located at 6 o’clock, while the date window on the 38mm model is located between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock.  I selected the 38mm model for its compactness.  The blue dial and blue strap just look great to me.  

The chronograph operations on this watch work smoothly.  There is a crisp sound when starting or stopping the chronograph.  One sub-dial provides 30-min measurement, while the other sub-dial provides up to 12 hour of time-keeping.  The red second hand is quite visible and facilitates reading even at sub second level.  The transparent case back offers a good view of the chronograph operations which is fun to watch. 

The El Primero 400 beats at a high speed of 36,000 bph, or 5 Hz, which in turn makes it possible to display the time in 1/10th second accuracy.  Even with this high-beat frequency, the power reserve is at 50 hours.  The movement doesn’t hack, which is quite understandable for a movement that was designed half a century ago. 

The Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 38mm 03.2150.400 is listed at a suggested price of $7700, while discount is readily available.  This watch offers an iconic 3-subdial design, smooth and time-tested chronograph operations, and a lot of value for the bucks.   

Additional information and reviews:

• Official product page (different dial/strap colors)

• WatchBase product page

• Review by Hodinkee

• Video review by Watchfinder (comparison with Rolex Daytona)

• Video review by Chrono24