Zenith Elite watches

The Zenith Elite collection shares its name with the Elite movement. Zenith began developing the movement in 1990 and presented it in 1994, in an automatic version, calibre 670, and a hand-wound one, calibre 650. It was voted Best Movement of the Year at Baselworld 1994 and was first used in a dress watch called the Class.

In January 2020 Zenith presented a redesigned Elite Classic and Elite Moonphase in 36 mm and 40.5 mm cases, in steel or rose gold, with a diamond-set bezel on the 36 mm versions. The Classic uses the automatic Elite 670 with a date at 6 o'clock. The Moonphase uses the automatic Elite 692, essentially the 670 with a moon phase added, shown at 6 o'clock with the seconds at 9. Both run at 4 Hz. Zenith also made the Elite Moonphase Romeo (40.5 mm) and Julieta (36 mm) with Habanos for the 145th anniversary of the Romeo y Julieta cigar brand, each limited to 145 pieces, with one of the lovers' faces laser-engraved on each moon.

Beyond the 2020 models, the Elite name covers a wider family in steel and rose gold, from 33 to 42 mm. The Ultra Thin includes the 33 mm Ultra Thin Lady Moonphase at 8.65 mm thick, and moon phases recur across the range. Alongside them sit the Elite Classic, Power Reserve, Central Second, Dual Time, Tourbillon and the Elite 6150, plus the 42 mm Chronograph Classic at 11.8 mm thick. A Power Reserve Boutique Edition was limited to 50 pieces.