Zenith El Primero 'TV Case'

For many years, the name El Primero held little meaning outside of hardcore watch enthusiast and collector groups. But following the release of the El Primero Striking Tenth Chronograph in 2010, the flagship model from Zenith returned to its rightful place as a topic of conversation in broader horological circles.  The original El Primero Calibre 3019 debuted in 1969, offering a high-beat automatic chronograph movement that challenged Seiko's Reference 6139 and Project 99's Calibre 11 for the title of the world's first automatic chronograph wristwatch. The advent of the automatic chronograph was a huge technological achievement and it changed the face of the industry, opening the door for many brands to introduce their own models. While the Calibre 11 found its way into a slew of watches from a variety of brands, Zenith made their El Primero movements available to only a handful of other manufactures.  Of the three movements that were released that year, only the El Primero was high-beat, offering much greater accuracy - a selling point Zenith was cautious in sharing. The Zenith Reference A386 took center stage during the release of the  El Primero movement back in 1969, and today commands a hefty premium amongst collectors for its horological import. But the. A386 was far from the only timepiece Zenith presented with the movement. Take this incredible piece for example. Capturing the era of the 70s with its whimsical TV case, this El Primero features an integrated bracelet vaulted tachymeter scale, and a whimsical date window at roughly 4:30. The lovely blue dial contrasts with the steel case while silver chrono registers add contrast to the design. The El Primero wasn't just a brilliant movement. It was the foundation of an entire collection of designs and pieces that continue to remain incredible values to this day. If you've had your ear to the ground for a high-quality vintage El Primero, look no further!