Zenith El Primero Range Rover 24.2040.400/27.R797

A Road-Ready Partnership Forged in 2016

When Land Rover revealed the high-performance Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic in September 2016, the brand chose Zenith to create a companion wrist-instrument that matched the vehicle’s lightweight engineering and muted luxury. The result was the Zenith El Primero Range Rover reference 24.2040.400/27.R797—an all-terrain chronograph dressed in ceramised aluminium and powered by the El Primero calibre 400B. 

Ceramised Aluminium Case: Lightweight Strength

The 42 mm case is milled from aerospace-grade aluminium that is subsequently treated in a ceramic plasma bath, fusing the surface with zirconium oxide to create a dark matte shell harder than untreated steel yet lighter on the wrist. The finish kills reflections, shrugs off minor scuffs and visually mirrors the Graphite Atlas trim used on Range Rover interiors. A knurled crown and piston-style pushers sit flush, maintaining a 100 m water-resistance rating, while a double-domed sapphire crystal delivers modern scratch protection without distorting dial details. 

Dial: Brushed Slate Grey with High-Contrast Registers

Under the crystal lies a slate-grey brushed dial that nods to the Range Rover’s aluminium body panels. Zenith retains the classic tri-compax El Primero layout—30-minute counter at 3, 12-hour totaliser at 6, and running seconds at 9—each sunken and snailed for crisp legibility. Chalk-white Super-Luminova hour markers, faceted rhodium hands, and a date window discretely placed at 6 complete the practical cockpit look. The Zenith wordmark appears at 12, while a subtly engraved “Range Rover” script on the rehaut reminds the wearer of the watch’s automotive muse. 

Straps with Automotive DNA

Zenith paired the R797 with an ivory-toned perforated calf-skin strap backed by robust rubber. The leather is the same grade used inside Range Rover cabins, giving tactile symmetry between wrist and steering wheel. A titanium triple-fold clasp keeps weight down and resists corrosion. Owners can swap to a khaki or black rubber option without tools thanks to conventional spring bars. 

Engine Room: El Primero Calibre 400B

Inside ticks the El Primero 400B, a direct descendant of the 1969 original. This column-wheel, lateral-clutch chronograph beats at 5 Hz—allowing tenth-of-a-second timing—and stores 50 hours of autonomy on a full wind. The calibre is visible through a sapphire back secured by a ceramised-aluminium ring laser-engraved with “EL PRIMERO - RANGE ROVER”. The oscillating weight features both brand logos, finishing a design that celebrates mechanical and automotive excellence without gaudy colour accents. 

Wearing Experience: Performance without Heft

Thanks to its aluminium shell and open case-back, the watch weighs noticeably less than a comparable steel El Primero, easing daily wear while preserving a reassuring 14-millimetre thickness that seats the movement securely. Curved lugs hug the wrist, and the strap’s rubber underside resists sweat—useful when gripping a steering wheel for long stretches. Combined with the high-beat calibre’s smooth sweep, the tactile experience is one of refined utilitarianism rather than flash. 

El Primero: A Brief High-Beat History

Zenith stunned the industry on 10 January 1969 with the debut of the El Primero, the world’s first fully integrated automatic chronograph beating at 36,000 vph, accurate to one-tenth of a second and only 6.5 mm thick. Unlike modular rivals of the era, the El Primero placed its winding rotor, column wheel and chronograph works on a single main-plate, reducing height and boosting reliability. The movement survived the quartz crisis thanks to watchmaker Charles Vermot, who hid tooling until mechanical chronographs returned to favour; in 1984 Zenith restarted production, and soon even Rolex adopted an El Primero base for its Daytona. 

Over the next four decades the calibre evolved in finish and function—open-worked rotors, flyback variants, even double-tourbillon editions—yet the 5 Hz escapement and tri-compax architecture endured. The 400B powering the Range Rover edition stays faithful to the blueprint, adding hacking seconds and a quick-set date to meet modern expectations. 

Design Synergy with Range Rover

While many automotive-inspired watches lean on overt branding, Zenith chose nuance. The slate dial mirrors the SVAutobiography Dynamic’s graphite body inserts; the ivory strap recalls Oxford leather seats; the dark matte case evokes black anodised trim pieces. Even the watch’s lightweight build parallels Land Rover’s all-aluminium monocoque. In both machines, performance gains arise from reduced mass rather than added horsepower or complications. 

Modern Relevance

Nine years after launch, the reference 24.2040.400/27.R797 remains unique within Zenith’s catalogue: the only full-production El Primero encased in ceramised aluminium and one of few watches to bear the Range Rover name. Its restrained colour palette keeps it wearable beyond automotive events, and the robust 100 m sealing means it copes with weekend activities without fuss. Enthusiasts of British motoring appreciate the subtle nods, while purists value the movement’s untouched 5 Hz pedigree. 

Final Thoughts

The Zenith El Primero Range Rover 24.2040.400/27.R797 proves that a collaborative watch needn’t shout to be effective. By focusing on shared engineering principles—lightweight construction, high performance and understated luxury—Zenith delivered a chronograph that honours both the El Primero legacy and the Range Rover design language. Its ceramised aluminium case, brushed grey dial and high-beat calibre create a cohesive instrument ready for open highways or city streets, ensuring the spirit of 1969’s chronograph revolution meets the modern road in confident stride.

Case and bracelet in good condition. Hairlines visible around case.

In flawless condition.