Zenith Class 18.1125.685/01.C490

When you’re looking for the watch that’s right for you, it’s easy to be swept up in the hype of those top few default choices. Say you’ve set your heart on a chronograph; chances are your shortlist may contain a Speedmaster or a Daytona. Both superb watches, no doubt about that, but there are others that you might not know about—and they’re equally worth consideration.

The top news stories from all the best watchmakers in the world, including Ressence, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Omega, plus Watchfinder wins 'Watch Retailer of the Year' at the 2014 UK Jewellery Awards.

In light of news that former Zenith CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour - the man who turned Zenith around following some less prosperous times (and pieces) - has moved to the captain's chair at Rolex has sprouted a certain nostalgic desire to dig out one of Zenith's transcendent pieces, the Ultra Thin. The Ultra Thin is, second to the El Primero itself, a bedrock for Zenith, a steady pulse in times both good and bad. Inspired by the clean vintage look popular for most of the twentieth century, it leaves the clutter of modern design behind in favour of saying few words, but choosing them well.

We've talked previously about the chronograph in its various forms within these pages; now we're going to expand on one of the most desirable - yet least understood - components of a high-end stopwatch: the column wheel.