Zenith refreshed the Elite Classic and Elite Moonphase for 2020 with redesigned 36mm and 40.5mm cases, sunray dials, faceted applied hour markers and slim Dauphine hands, while retaining the collection’s in-house automatic movements. The choice between them is chiefly about the display: the Classic has a date at 6 o’clock and central seconds; the Moonphase replaces the date with a moonphase display and puts small seconds at 9 o’clock.
What was new on the 2020 Zenith Elite watches?
Zenith introduced the refreshed Elite collection at LVMH Watch Week in Dubai in January 2020. The brand described it as a unisex line, with Classic and Moonphase models in 36mm and 40.5mm case diameters, in stainless steel or rose gold. Dial colors and strap options varied by model and reference; the launch coverage does not establish that every color and finish was offered in both sizes. Zenith’s 2020 launch material and Swisswatches’ January 2020 report describe the collection’s range.
The update focused on case proportions and dial presentation rather than a new movement family. Both watches have sunray-finished dials, prominent faceted applied markers and slim Dauphine hands. The Classic’s date window sits at 6 o’clock, a placement that the hands-on author noted some readers might not prefer; that is a design reaction, not a consensus finding. The January 2021 hands-on account describes the author’s observations at the Dubai launch event.
Zenith Elite Classic vs. Moonphase: displays and key differences
| Feature | Elite Classic 40.5mm | Elite Moonphase 40.5mm |
|---|---|---|
| Steel launch reference and dial | 03.3100.670/02.C922, blue | 03.3100.692/03.C923, slate grey |
| Rose-gold launch reference and dial | 18.3100.670/01.C920, silver | 18.3100.692/01.C922, silver with blue accents |
| Main display | Central hours, minutes and seconds; date at 6 o’clock | Central hours and minutes; small seconds at 9 o’clock; moonphase at 6 o’clock; no date listed in the 40.5mm launch description |
| Movement | Automatic Elite 670 / 670 SK | Automatic Elite 692 |
| Case and crystal | Stainless steel or 18k rose gold; sapphire crystal front and caseback | Stainless steel or 18k rose gold; sapphire crystal front and caseback |
| Water resistance | 50m, according to 2020 launch specifications reported by Monochrome Watches | 50m, according to 2020 launch specifications reported by Monochrome Watches |
| Strap | Alligator leather with protective rubber lining | Alligator leather with protective rubber lining |
The specifications and references above are for the 40.5mm launch versions, as reported in Monochrome Watches’ 2020 specifications coverage and Zenith’s launch material. Check the reference when comparing listings: color and material combinations differ, and the broader collection’s 36mm options should not be assumed to share every 40.5mm pairing.
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Movements, dimensions and wearing considerations
The 2020 launch specifications list both movements at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with a 48-hour power reserve. The Moonphase is adjusted by the crown. The hands-on publication reports the Elite 670 as a 3.47mm-thick, 144-component movement and the Elite 692 as 3.97mm thick with 195 components. It gives case thicknesses of 9.1mm for the 40.5mm Classic and 9.35mm for the 40.5mm Moonphase; these measurements are from that publication, not the cited official press excerpt.
Zenith offered both 36mm and 40.5mm sizes across the collection and called it unisex. Choose by the proportions you prefer on your wrist rather than treating either diameter as assigned to a gender. If you are considering a 36mm model, verify its exact reference and configuration instead of extrapolating from the detailed 40.5mm launch variants.
How much did the 2020 Elite Classic and Moonphase cost?
These are historical prices reported at launch or in period coverage, not verified current prices. The currencies represent separate reported markets and are not conversions of one another.
| 40.5mm model | Swiss-franc launch price, Monochrome Watches (2020) | Euro launch price, Swisswatches Magazine (January 2020) | US-dollar price reported by hands-on article (January 2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel Elite Classic | CHF 5,900 | €5,800 | $5,700 |
| Rose-gold Elite Classic | CHF 12,900 | €12,700 | $12,400 |
| Steel Elite Moonphase | CHF 6,900 | €6,800 | $6,700 |
| Rose-gold Elite Moonphase | CHF 13,900 | €13,700 | $13,400 |
The dollar figures are the prices given by the hands-on article in its January 2021 publication context, not current U.S. retail prices. For the exact 2020 references, current availability and pricing have not been established here; confirm with Zenith or an authorized retailer before making a purchase decision.
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- Zenith Defy Classic Automatic Skeletal Dial Titanium Men's Watch 95.9000.670/78.M9000
Which 2020 Zenith Elite should you choose?
Choose the Elite Classic if you want a date
The Classic is the more conventional daily display: central seconds and a date window at 6 o’clock. Its 40.5mm steel launch version pairs a blue dial with reference 03.3100.670/02.C922; the rose-gold version has a silver dial and reference 18.3100.670/01.C920. Consider the date-window position as part of the dial’s symmetry, since it is visually prominent at the bottom of the face.
Choose the Elite Moonphase if you prefer the complication and layout
The Moonphase exchanges the date for a moonphase display at 6 o’clock and relocates seconds to a subdial at 9. The steel launch reference, 03.3100.692/03.C923, has a slate-grey dial; rose gold reference 18.3100.692/01.C922 has a silver dial with blue accents. The asymmetric seconds-and-moonphase arrangement makes the dial less conventional than the Classic’s.
Compare exact references, not just model names
Both models share the refreshed design language, but the material, dial color, size and complication affect the specific reference and historical price. Zenith’s 2020 material also mentions strap choices through boutiques and authorized retailers; compatibility and dimensions for replacement straps depend on the exact watch and should be checked before ordering.
Quick Recap
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- Zenith Defy Classic Automatic Skeletal Dial Titanium Men's Watch 95.9000.670/78.R584
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
