ZENITH – El Primero Lightweight

Whether it be on the water or in the factory, the idea is the same: shed excess weight and replace heavy materials with ultra-light ones. That’s exactly what the crew on the maxi trimaran Spindrift 2, with Dona Bertarelli at the helm, is doing: designed to be manoeuvred by 12 crew members, the ship is setting off on a solo voyage on the Route du Rhum this year. Their partner on the adventure Zenith, has decided to do the same: the new El Primero Lightweight is the epitome of high-tech weightlessness. The case is made of carbon and ceramised aluminium; the mainplate, bridges, buttons and crown are in titanium; the escape wheel and pallet fork are made of silicon. The rest of the watch has shed excess weight: it has an openwork dial, skeletonised El Primero 400B calibre and lighter date display. Weight loss: 25%. Limited edition of 250 models. Price: 17,500 CHF.