With a gold bezel, blue dial and the legendary El Primero chronograph movement, this Zenith Rainbow is hugely desirable. Model reference 41-0370-400.
HOW DO WE DATE THIS WATCH?
Zenith launched the Rainbow line of El Primero watches in Basel at the 1993 show. The earliest advert we can find for the blue dial, gold and steel version is from 1994, so we have said this watch was likely made circa 1994. The Rainbow name refers to a sailing boat, depicted on the case back.
CONDITION
The El Primero is a classic movement, and the Rainbow models are some of the most recognised designs that utilise it. But it nearly never happened – in 1975 Zenith’s American owners at the decided that quartz was the future and ordered the tooling to be sold to the highest bidder! But a senior employee hid the tooling instead, and likely saved the company once they changed their mind again. In 1981, Ebel wanted to use the El Primero movement in their ranges, and the tooling was recovered. By 1988 Rolex also signed a 10 year agreement to also use the El Primero base for their updated Daytona models. With the higher quantities now required, Zenith re launched the El Primero in the De Luca models, which look very similar to the Rainbow model here. Other companies valued the El Primero movement more than Zenith did, because there was no other competitor with the same qualities – despite the El Primero being launched in 1969 as one of the very first automatic chronographs, but nineteen years later Rolex still hadn’t got an automatic chronograph movement and preferred to use Zenith’s movement rather than develop their own (although they did simplify their watch by reducing the speed of the watch from 36.6 to 28.8kbph, and removed the date mechanism).
This watch is a very wearable example, but not perfect. The dial has slight bled around the sub dials, the unpolished case carries signs of use, and the bezel insert has a couple of marks too. But it is keeping good time, and functioning well including the quick set date (unusually at position 2 when pulled out, swapping with the time set – a Zenith thing). This watch has just been to the LVMH workshops for a new screw down crown and tube, as well as new screw down chronograph pushers and a case back seal. The leather strap is new, and could be swapped for a different colour or material if preferred. The watch is signed on the dial, case, movement, buckle and crown.
This watch will be supplied with a Zenith service box and our Certificate of Authenticity.
Please see the HD video for more detail. All photos and videos are part of the description and are of the actual watch unless mentioned. We do not photoshop any pictures, and the images are copyright of birthyearwatches.com and should not be used without permission.
SIZE
Width with crown 43.7 mm
Width without crown 40.0 mm
Between lugs 20 mm
Lug to lug length 45.8 mm
Case Thickness 12.4 mm
All sizes are approximate. The watch is photographed on a wrist of 190mm/7.5 inches.
Included with this watch is a 3 month guarantee and free delivery to UK addresses. If you live outside the UK we can still deliver to most countries. Please see our Worldwide Shipping information, or Contact Us. Payment can be made by most credit or debit cards, bank transfer or PayPal.
From 1st September 2021 we will be planting a tree for every watch we sell, working with the International Tree Foundation (Est 1922) to make this business positive on carbon. By buying anything pre owned you are effectively reusing what already exists, but this takes it further and makes us feel good.
