The past few years have certainly treated the Zenith El Primero well. We’ve seen the introduction of the several great new additions to the collection, including the avant-garde, El Primero Lightweight Striking Tenth, and just recently the reissue of a quite rare, vintage triple-date version of the famed column wheel chronograph, in the El Primero 410. Now, as we approach the end of the summer, Zenith has lifted our spirits through unveiling a reinterpretation of one of their most celebrated modern watches, the El Primero Stratos Flyback Rainbow. These past 17 years have gained this watch a loyal following, and we’re confident this new offering will surely please.
Vintage Zenith El Primero Rainbow Flyback — photo courtesy of Xupes
Zenith’s Rainbow can be considered as somewhat of a military piece, as the original pieces were built in 1997 to the standards of the Armée Française. It was a truly tough timepiece, possibly even rivaling the standards of the Omega Speedmaster Professional, as it was able to maintain composure and accuracy at forces up to 11 G’s, along with various temperature and pressure conditions. The same strength goes for the reissue, as it’s based upon the same Flyback Stratos that accompanied Felix Baumgartner as he broke the sound barrier in a free fall from outer space.
One of the most loved aspects of the Rainbow from ‘97 was as the name would suggest, the rainbow of colours featured throughout the dial and bezel. Zenith made a smart move by keeping the colors, and their arrangement the same, which will undoubtedly please fans of the original. Not only do the colors give this piece a playful and exciting aesthetic, but it adds to the overall legibility, which is always a plus, in our books.
Although this release has greatly excited us, and the rest of the watch-loving world, the size of this piece is the one gripe we have. Coming in at close to 46-millimeters wide, and a rather bulky 14.1-millimeters thick, this is one piece that will definitely not go unnoticed on your wrist. Whilst the general industry trend these days seems to be producing larger watches, the fact that this release is almost 6-millimeters larger than the first Rainbow is quite shocking. 42 to 43-millimeters could’ve possibly been the perfect size for this watch. Having said that, the El Primero Rainbow represents a tremendous value in the grand scheme of things, since at the end of the day, you’re getting an in-house column wheel flyback chronograph for just over $9k.
For more info on the Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Rainbow, head on over to www.zenith-watches.com.
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