So you are thinking about investing in a good watch with high value, and considering a Zenith watch? Well, if you are not, you should.

This is not the first time I write about Zenith watches. By now, I think everyone is reassured about the quality of this luxury brand. But when it comes to investing, there are a few more things we need to take into consideration, aside from the watch quality.

So, are Zenith watches a good investment? Zenith is a watch brand that you can safely invest in. Zenith has a long history of being mechanically premium, highly valued for their uniqueness and precision. Zenith watches carry the heritage of the company that made a significant impact in the watchmaking industry which holds their value through time.

There are so many stories about watches sold on auctions for millions of dollars. These are usually rare watches that were owned by a celebrity or have a similar very personal mark.

But if you want to invest in a reasonably affordable watch and have a potentially high increase in value in a few years, the choice is not as simple.

In this article, I will try to address all the main reasons/questions-to-be-answered before investing in a watch, and explore how do Zenith watches comply with rules of a safe investment.

5 Reasons Why Zenith Watches Hold Their Value

First of all, the watches that will increase in value are often considered classics. They get placed into that category for excellence in quality which has to represent a significant impact in the watchmaking industry. So they have to be either the first, or an icon of a brand or an era. Those are the watches that carry a personal story about the watchmaking world.

Here are several facts about Zenith watches that assure their value in the market:

1. Accuracy of Zenith’s El Primero

Zenith’s chronograph movement (El Primero, first released in 1969.) is a highly-precise, high-beat automatic calibre that resonances at 36,600 VpH, entirely manufactured in-house.

Investment wise, it’s essential to add that this impressive precision is not all that is important. The fact that El Primero is a legendary chronograph first of its kind in the history of watchmaking is what adds to its value.

Furthermore, this same calibre used to power the famous Rolex Daytona a long time ago, before Rolex started producing their own in-house mechanisms.

2. Zenith redefines the limitations of the watchmaking industry

The Company takes pride in adding innovations to their historical achievements.

With new Defy Lab, Zenith outgrew the balance spring principle, which was the personification of mechanical movements since the 1660s. Instead, they created a single-piece oscillator out of monocrystalline silicon, which makes it ten times thinner.

The new Defy Lab movement beats at 15 Hertz (10% improvement on iconic El Primero), has a 60 hours power reserve and it is 10 times more accurate than El Primero. These are the reasons Zenith claims that this is the most precise watch movement in the world.

3. The complexity of Zenith’s movement

Watches are often judged by the complexity, or as it’s called in horology world, by their “complications”. This is where Zenith really excels.

Complications include perpetual calendars and similar advanced features and tourbillons are considered the top of a game. Only a very small number of manufacturers managed to produce such a complex mechanism.

Not only that Zenith made the first mechanism with high-frequency tourbillion, in already mentioned El Primero, but in years they managed to double it with the Defy.

Rolex, for example, does not manufacture any turbillion watches, so complexity wise, Zenith is a star.

4. Price of Zenith watches

On top of its fascinating qualities and precision where Zenith can compete with the best-known luxury watches, like Rolex, their prices are more accessible.

You can find an entry-level men’s Zenith watch for around $4,000, or even as low as a few hundred dollars for ladies Zenith’s watch.

5. Exclusivity of Zenith watches

When it comes to investing in a watch, the common recommendation is to go for high demand watch.

The supply of Zenith watches is not as high as some other well-known brands. One of the reasons is that they do not have recognition as they deserve.

Zenith also, because of their in-house manufacture and time placed into every timepiece they make, produce way fewer watches per year than their competitors; hence less supply but high demand.

The fact that there is less of these top-quality watches out there guarantees that they will hold their value. Many collectors are searching exclusively for Zenith watches, so if you know where to find and sell, you will not be in loose.

Plus, in the past few years, Zenith is working hard on their marketing strategies and the ways to maximize their presence and offer in the market. In 2016 alone, they produced 20,000 and that number doubled by 2019, which implies that Zenith is a rising star and that timing is right for making an investment.

What Makes a Zenith Brand a Good Investment

Here is a short and simple overview of the things you should consider when deciding about investing in a luxury watch/brand, and how Zenith compares to each category:

Overview table of Zenith watch as an investment timepiece

How Does Zenith Compare With Other Brands

Proper research is essential for making a sound decision about investment.

Just as a short introduction to more in-depth research, let’s see how does Zenith compares with some of the top brands on the market.

Zenith vs Rolex

The quality of the watches is not in question here. Zenith, Rolex (and other brands that we will compare) all make excellent watches.

Rolex is definitely a more popular brand than Zenith, has much higher demand and supply, but the prices (even for entry-level timepieces) are higher as well.

Aside from the obvious, few more differences can determine your personal choice:

• Zenith is an older brand and more valuable for those who prefer heritage over the popularity
• Rolex is an independent brand, and also fully in-house manufacturer
• Supply and demand for Rolex are very high (Rolex has the biggest production volume of all luxury Swiss watches).
• Zenith has better complications.

The choice really depends on personal taste, and on how much you want to spend. Rolex has a high resale value, so if you are going for a quick investment turnaround, you won’t make a mistake with Rolex.

If you are more in collection timepieces that have a story and history or prefer rare pieces with the same quality and accuracy, consider Zenith. You might have to wait a bit longer to see your investment pays off, but you will also pay less for it.

Zenith vs Breitling

When it comes to these two brands, for me, it’s the question of personal choice. Breitling is more popular than Zenith, and also produces high-quality, high-precision durable watches. They have a long history and are known for being innovators when it comes to chronographs.

Not like Rolex, Breitling also has complications for their chronographs.

Although they have a good market presence, their resale value is mediocre, and the price range is from medium to high.

So, what’s the difference?

The difference is in the taste. Zenith watches are more classic looking while Breitling is focused on the specific target audience with their bigger, bulkier watches and professional appeal of dials.

Breitling has one of the most accurate Quartz movements. Although they do produce some mechanical movements as well, those cannot compete with Zenith’s El Primero.

If you are interested in classical and mechanical watches, Zenith is a better choice. If you want more colorful features (like a smart Pilot watch, for example) and a quartz mechanism, Breitling is a good choice.

Zenith VS Omega

Omega, being a major competitor to Zenith for decades, is an undisputably one of the leading watchmaking brands.

It is still a dilemma about who makes the most accurate mechanical movement in the world: Omega or Zenith?

Standard Omega’s Chronometer measures time with +4/-6 seconds per day deviation, while their Master Chronometer is even more advanced with fascinating -0/+5 seconds per day.

Which means Omega might be the most accurate for the timekeeping, while Zenith’s El Primero is probably the most precise chronograph (with stopwatch function).

Omega is also hard to beat when it comes to historical recognition. Omega Speedmaster actually landed on the moon in 1969! It is also a signature brand for the James Bond movies and has a whole list of celebrities that wore this watch brand, which no-debatably made the brand so famous.

Zenith also shined through some historical moments: with Felix Baumgartner (in 2012.) Zenith’s El Primero Stratos Flyback broke the sound barrier in the freefall from an altitude of  39,045 and landed, still ticking perfectly despite extreme deferences in temperature, pressure and altitude.

Omega has high production; hence, significant market presence and average resale value. The price range for Omega starts lower than Zenith’s (at  $2,400 for Omega and $4,300 for Zenith).

However, don’t forget that when it comes to investment brand often does not play much of a role (except maybe for Rolex) but the significance of the unique timepiece.

I personally believe that every true horology enthusiast should own El Primero.

Why Are Zenith Watches Expensive? Here’s why Zenith is a Luxury Brand

When we talk about Zenith and other brands of luxury watches, we do expect high prices. But what makes these watches expensive?

If you have decided to own a luxury watch, for your own collection or as an investment, it’s important to know what you are paying for. Don’t make a mistake and decide about the watch solely according to its price!

So, why are Zenith watches so expensive? Zenith’s El Primero is a first in history automatic chronograph movement and still, more than 50 years later, one of the most accurate chronographs you can find. This high-frequency, high-accuracy movement is a legend and icon of the watchmaking industry. Not to mention the upgraded Defy Lab version that can measure 1/100 of a second).

Bear in mind that the most basic El Primero Calibre consists of 278 components, 31 jewels and 36,000 VpH and a 50 hours power reserve.

Even today, for assembling a Zenith watch from start to finish, it takes around 9 months of work; 18 types of materials, 300 hands and thousands of operations.

Taking into consideration all these facts: the quality and precision of the mechanism, complications, and time and effort invested in these all in-house made timepieces; you must acknowledge that Zenith watches hold their value and that their prices are not high for what they offer. (you won’t easily find watches of this calibre for under 10k).

A Few Final Tips For Investing In Watches

There isn’t a “sure thing” when it comes to investing in watches.

If you are completely new in the horology world and think just about investment, there is a good chance you won’t make the right choice.

You need to know your watches and do the research; stick to the collection/brand you love, and hopefully, in time, this might even become a great and valuable investment (so be patient and play it for the long game)

For adding to your collection, you don’t have to get a new watch. Finding a reliable source for second-hand watches can give you affordable options for high-value timepieces.

The resale value of a pre-owned watch will depend on certain things, like:

• Is the watch in new condition and is it under warranty?
• Does it come in the original box and with original documentation?
• How many times was it serviced and by whom?
• The significance of the watch ( is it an iconic watch of a brand? (like Zenith’s El Primero), is there a story behind the watch (like if anyone famous owned it)?
• What’s the demand ? (is it a limited edition, and a rare wristwatch)