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Short answer: The 2020 Zenith Elite Classic refresh gives buyers more case-size and dial options, but the published specifications do not establish a universal mechanical upgrade over the earlier 39mm model. “New” here means the four 36mm and 40.5mm versions introduced in 2020; the Elite 6150 is a separate comparison, not that refresh’s direct predecessor.
What “new Zenith Elite Classic” means
Zenith’s 2020 refresh presented four versions as new iterations of its existing 39mm Elite Classic line. Hodinkee’s January 14, 2020 launch coverage describes two 40.5mm models and two 36mm models. These are launch-era details, not confirmation that every reference remains available today.
The other plausible comparison is the 39mm Elite Classic against the 42mm Elite 6150. Zenith Boutique Osaka’s 2018 comparison treats those as distinct watches with different movements and specifications. That comparison can help explain the Classic’s place in the range, but it should not be mistaken for a before-and-after comparison of the 2020 refresh.
What changed in the 2020 refresh?
Case sizes and appearance
The earlier Elite Classic reference cited by Zenith Boutique Osaka, 03.2290.679/26.C493, has a 39mm case. The refreshed models shift to 36mm or 40.5mm. Hodinkee reports stainless-steel and rose-gold cases at 40.5mm, plus steel and rose-gold versions at 36mm with diamond-set bezels. The steel models use blue sunray dials and the rose-gold models silver-toned dials, across the corresponding size options. Hodinkee’s 2020 launch report is the source for those launch details.
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This is the refresh’s clearest practical difference: it broadens the size and styling choices rather than simply replacing the 39mm case with one new standard. A buyer deciding between a 39mm predecessor and the refreshed line should compare the specific reference’s diameter, metal, bezel, and dial rather than assuming all versions are otherwise identical.
Movement and power reserve
Hodinkee identifies the movement in the 2020 launch information as the automatic Elite 670 SK, with a 4 Hz frequency, 27 jewels, and a 48-hour power reserve. The Fondation Haute Horlogerie’s entry for a 40.5mm gold Elite Classic lists an Elite 670, 27 jewels, and 50 hours. These are not identical calibre labels or source entries, so the figures should remain attached to their respective descriptions; they do not support one reserve figure for every refreshed Classic. The Foundation’s listed model is pink gold, 40.5mm, and rated to 50m water resistance. Fondation Haute Horlogerie’s 40.5mm model entry provides that specification.
Water resistance
Hodinkee reports 5 ATM for the 2020 variants. Zenith Boutique Osaka likewise reports 5 ATM for both the 39mm Classic and the Elite 6150 it compares. A rating alone does not establish suitability for a particular activity, so it is best treated as a specification to verify against the exact reference rather than a promise about use.
How the earlier 39mm Classic compares with the Elite 6150
If “predecessor” means the watch against which the 39mm Classic was originally positioned, the Elite 6150 is relevant but distinct. In its February 22, 2018 comparison, Zenith Boutique Osaka lists the Classic as reference 03.2290.679/26.C493 and the 6150 as 03.2270.6150/01.C493. The Classic is 39mm; the 6150 is 42mm. The retailer says the 6150 has a folding clasp and the Classic a pin buckle, and notes that they use different Elite movements.
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- Zenith Defy Classic Automatic Skeletal Dial Titanium Men's Watch 95.9000.670/78.M9000
| Comparison point | Elite Classic, 39mm | Elite 6150 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference in the 2018 boutique comparison | 03.2290.679/26.C493 | 03.2270.6150/01.C493 |
| Case diameter | 39mm, as reported by Zenith Boutique Osaka | 42mm, as reported by Zenith Boutique Osaka |
| Clasp | Pin buckle, as reported by Zenith Boutique Osaka | Folding clasp, as reported by Zenith Boutique Osaka |
| Power reserve | More than 50 hours, according to the retailer | More than 100 hours, according to the retailer |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM, according to the retailer | 5 ATM, according to the retailer |
| Movement | Different Elite movement from the 6150; the comparison does not give a calibre name in its cited statements | Different Elite movement from the Classic; the comparison does not give a calibre name in its cited statements |
The reserve figures in the table are the boutique’s statements about the compared models, not results of an independent timing test. Zenith Boutique Osaka’s comparison is also the source for the references, clasp types, and water-resistance ratings.
Does the refreshed Classic live up to its predecessor?
For someone who wanted a more compact or more contemporary size choice, the refresh makes a credible case: it adds 36mm and 40.5mm options around a line previously represented by the 39mm model, with distinct metal, dial, and bezel combinations. That is a meaningful choice-oriented update, though not proof that the watch is better in every respect.
The mechanical comparison is less conclusive. The launch coverage’s 48-hour figure for the Elite 670 SK and the Foundation’s 50-hour listing for a 40.5mm Elite 670 show why a blanket specification claim would be misleading. Against the Elite 6150, the boutique’s comparison reports a longer reserve for the 6150, but that is a comparison between different models, not evidence that the refreshed Classic regressed from the 39mm Classic.
Nor can the available launch coverage answer how the watch feels on the wrist or whether its finishing is better in person. Jon Bues wrote in the 2020 Hodinkee article, “I haven’t yet seen these watches in the metal.” That accurately describes the limits of that launch piece at publication, not a current hands-on assessment. No comparative accuracy study or market-performance statistic is established by the cited material.
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- Zenith Defy Classic Automatic Skeletal Dial Titanium Men's Watch 95.9000.670/78.R584
So, against the earlier 39mm Elite Classic, the refresh lives up to its predecessor if the added size and design choices match what you want; the published evidence does not demonstrate a universal movement upgrade. Against the Elite 6150, the answer depends on whether you prefer the smaller Classic format and its particular styling or the larger 6150 and its retailer-reported reserve and folding clasp.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check when comparing specific references
- Confirm the exact reference and case size; “Elite Classic” covers multiple variants, and launch availability should not be assumed to reflect current stock.
- Match movement and power-reserve claims to the specific reference and source instead of treating the 48- and 50-hour listings as interchangeable.
- Compare the metal, dial, bezel, and clasp of the actual versions under consideration.
- Use the cited water-resistance rating as a specification, not as a substitute for guidance about a particular activity.
Zenith’s official page, for example, lists reference 22.3200.670/01.C831 as a 36mm rose-gold Elite Classic with a diamond bezel and a stated 50-hour reserve. That is a useful reminder that a model name alone does not identify every specification. Zenith’s official listing for reference 22.3200.670/01.C831 gives the manufacturer’s details for that one version.
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