Zenith El-Primero

Zenith, while not a household name, is certainly a known name in the world of watches - particularly in collecting circles. The primary reason? The El Primero. The movement was a culmination of a years-long research and development process undertaken by Zenith to develop the world’s first automatic chronograph movement. While other brands had sought to achieve the same feat — including Heuer (in concert with Breitling and Hamilton) and Seiko — Zenith intended to make the El Primero something entirely unique. Instead of taking an automatic module and merely sandwiching it onto the chronograph, Zenith fully integrated the two; moreover, the movement would be a high-beat calibre, offering significant added accuracy. Zenith announced the El Primero on January 10, 1969, at a press conference. This was four years later than Zenith had intended: the brand had begun developing the calibre in 1963, hoping to bring it out for Zenith’s centennial in 1965. Nevertheless, on that winter day in 1969, Zenith proudly displayed a working model of its chronograph. This piece, a Reference A3817, features the same tonneau shaped case as popular the A384/A385 models (the former of which was just reissued for 2019), a signed crown and pump pushers, but has a few small differences which amount to something just a bit different. Inside the case, it has a white Tritium dial with applied indices and a 'tri-colore' sub register layout with a blue hand on the 9 o'clock register, and an exotic and totally awesome, wave-like minute track. Powered by the legendary Calibre 3019 El Primero automatic chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to a correct 'ladder' link bracelet with a signed fliplock clasp, and the virtually unobtanium, matching 'ZKM' endlinks — all manufactured by Gay Freres. In short, this is the one you want. This is one of the more uncommon and most desirable executions from the 1970s, and there is no saying when another in this condition will surface again. For the collector who desires a chronograph with a fascinating history, breathtaking looks, and proper pedigree, the El Primero needs to be on your radar.