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Zenith Elite Moonphase Automatic Ladies Watch 36mm
Ref. 16320069201C832
The Elite calibre has been at the heart of Zenith's dress watches for more than a quarter of a century, and the 692 that runs this piece is among the thinnest automatic movements the manufacture produces — which is why a moonphase complication at this scale feels composed rather than crowded. The subdial at nine and the lunar display at six are well separated across a silver dial that shifts in sunray-patterned light, the rhodium-plated dauphine hands reading cleanly against it at any angle. Seventy-five diamonds set into the bezel account for roughly 0.6 carats in total and sit in a fixed ring rather than a separate chapter, so the stone-set edge and the case read as one piece. The jean-blue alligator strap is rubber-lined on the underside, which matters in daily wear more than it sounds — it lies flat, does not lift at the edges, and resists the effect of skin contact in a way unlined leather rarely does over time. A 50-hour power reserve means a weekend off the wrist does not reset the moon.
- Reference
- 16320069201C832
- Brand
- Zenith
- Collection
- Elite
- Case size
- 36mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Elite 692
- Functions
- Small seconds, Moonphase
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Blue
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 50 hours
- Warranty
- 2 years
Learn more about Zenith
Georges Favre-Jacot founded Zenith in Le Locle in 1865, aged twenty-two, with an idea that was radical for the Swiss industry: bring every trade needed to make a watch — movement, case, dial, hands — under one roof and one management. The integrated manufacture was largely his invention, and the Le Locle site he built is still in use.
The approach produced results at observatory trials, where Zenith accumulated more precision awards than any other manufacture. The name itself came from a calibre Favre-Jacot considered the summit of his work.
Its defining achievement is the El Primero of 1969, developed over seven years and announced in the same year as the Heuer-Breitling consortium's Calibre 11 and Seiko's 6139. It was an integrated automatic chronograph beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, allowing measurement to a tenth of a second — a frequency almost nothing else matched for decades.
It nearly did not survive. When American owners ordered the mechanical tooling scrapped during the quartz crisis, a watchmaker named Charles Vermot hid the plans, presses, and cams in a walled-off attic. When demand for mechanical chronographs returned, Zenith could restart production because of him. Rolex used the El Primero in the Daytona from 1988 to 2000.
LVMH acquired Zenith in 1999.
- 1865
- Georges Favre-Jacot founds the integrated manufacture at Le Locle.
- 1969
- The El Primero automatic chronograph debuts at 36,000 vph.
- 1975
- Charles Vermot hides the El Primero tooling from destruction.
- 1988
- Rolex adopts the El Primero for the Daytona.
- 1999
- Acquired by LVMH.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,847), Stainless Steel Watches (3,197), Automatic Watches (1,736), Watches Under 37mm (1,704), Women's Watches (1,622) and Leather Strap Watches (1,049).
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 36mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Zenith Elite Moonphase alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 16320069201C832 | 116000 | 278559-3025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,945 | £6,455 | £7,990 |
| Case size | 36mm | 36mm | 36mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 100m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 50 hours | 48 hours | 42 hours |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 50 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's, though at 36mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £5,945, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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