The storyWhy this reference matters
In the early nineties Zenith had an elegant problem. It was the house of the high-frequency chronograph and it had no thin movement for a dress watch. The project started in 1990 and the Elite calibre was shown in 1994, an ultra-thin automatic of modular construction that took best movement of the year at Basel. It made no noise, it timed no tenths and it had no legend behind it. It was simply very well made, which at that moment was exactly what was missing.
The family line runs further back. The Elite name has its roots in the Captain of 1952, the watch Zenith sent out against Omega's Constellation on the ground of everyday accuracy and a suit. It is the other half of the company, the half without the fast escapement and the tricolour registers, and the half that tends to be left out of collector conversation for the simple reason that it does not put on a show.
In 2020 the collection got the facelift it had needed for years: 40.5 mm, a dial stamped with a radial ray pattern that takes the dullness out of the previous generation, dauphine hands in polished and matte finish, and the same Elite 670 inside. The one thing the press kept pointing at was the date window at 6, sitting too high up the dial for almost everybody's taste.
SpecificationsThe numbers, in one table
| Brand | Zenith |
|---|---|
| Family | Elite |
| Reference | 03.3100.670/02.M3100 |
| Years made | desde 2020 |
| Calibre | Zenith Elite 670 |
| Movement | Automatico |
| Frequency | 28.800 alt/h (4 Hz) |
| Power reserve | 50 horas |
| Jewels | 27 |
| Complications | Fecha |
| Diameter | 40.5 mm |
| Thickness | 9.1 mm |
| Lug width | 22 mm |
| Case | Acero inoxidable pulido y satinado, bisel fino |
| Crystal | Zafiro delante y detras |
| Water resistance | 50 m |
IdentificationHow to tell it apart
An honest warning first. In the official catalogue and through the retail network, the only references we could document are the alligator-strap ones: 03.3100.670/01.C922 with the silver dial and 03.3100.670/02.C922 in blue. By Zenith's own naming the M3100 suffix means the steel bracelet, but we have not been able to confirm that version in an official source. Check the number against the warranty card before you buy.
What is confirmed about the model: a case of 40.5 mm by 9.10 mm, a thin polished bezel, 22 mm lug width, sapphire crystal front and case back, and 50 metres. Through the display case back you get the rotor, openworked into the star and brushed.
The blue sunray dial carries rhodium-plated, faceted hands and markers, no luminous material, and the date at 6. Inside, the Elite 670 beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz, with 27 jewels and around 50 hours of reserve. Nothing like the 5 Hz of an El Primero, and that is the whole point.
CollectingWhat collectors check
The Elite is the Zenith nobody talks about, which is where both the opportunity and the risk sit. It carries none of the El Primero's demand, so a good complete example usually turns up in reasonable condition. In exchange it is less liquid and slower to sell on.
First job: confirm that the reference engraved on the watch matches the strap or bracelet fitted to it. A watch sold as an M3100 on a leather strap, or the other way round, means going through the paperwork carefully. On this particular model that single check saves the most trouble.
After that, the usual for a thin watch. At 9.1 mm, the edge of the crystal and the corners of the lugs are the first things to mark, and aggressive repolishing visibly thins the bezel. Check as well that the hands and markers carry no lume, because that is how it left the factory. Do not read it as an incomplete piece.
Common questionsWhat people ask us about this reference
What is the difference between the Elite calibre and the El Primero?
The El Primero is the 5 Hz high-frequency chronograph of 1969. The Elite, launched in 1994, is an ultra-thin three-hand automatic at 4 Hz made for dress watches, with no chronograph.
Is the Elite 670 an in-house calibre?
Yes, it is Zenith's own movement, developed from 1990 and launched in 1994. It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour, holds 27 jewels and gives around 50 hours of reserve.
Is there an Elite Classic on a steel bracelet?
Zenith's naming reserves the M3100 suffix for the metal bracelet, but the references we have been able to document in the official catalogue are the alligator-strap ones, suffix C922. Verify the exact reference on the warranty card before closing a deal.
Does the Elite Classic have lume?
No. The hands and markers are rhodium-plated and faceted, with no luminous material. A consistent decision for a dress watch, but worth knowing in advance.
Keep readingWhere to go from here
Close relativesThe ones it gets confused with
Confidence: media — this page was checked against the sources below. If a detail looks wrong to you, write to us and we will fix it.