An overlooked classic revived

WITH this classic and elegant timepiece, Zenith wants to raise the profile of an ultra-thin in-house calibre that's long been overshadowed by the brand's legendary El Primero chronograph movement. The Elite base, as the movement is called, was launched in 1994 and picked as the Best Movement of the Year that year.

And for the next 20 years, it has been used to drive Zenith's ultra-thin and gem-set models. In this latest timepiece, the Elite 6150, the Zenith base movement, housed in a 42mm steel case, has been updated. Its performance has been improved and its power reserve doubled to 100 hours. Zenith says that the Elite 6150 is to be "the basis of future variations". And it was created with that in mind. Price: US$8,300 (S$11,371).