Lot 390

Zenith

El Primero

A rare vintage wrist chronograph with date and later original box

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"El Primero surely is one of the best known calibres in the watchmaking industry. Even non-insiders or those who take only a fleeting interest in watches are likely to have heard of El Primero - it is a name that stands for supreme quality chronometers. This should not come as a surprise; it is after all a movement built to meet the requirements for over 40 years. Today’s collectors are particularly keen on the models with featuring 3019. As only small series of the individual models were produced that also had a lot of variants, some watches from this time are almost impossible to find nowadays and the prices asked for them are suitably high."
Source: Manfred Rössler, El Primero - der Chronograph, Forstinning 2015, p. 10f
This timepiece is one of the earliest automatic El Primero models, from a limited edition of 1,950 watches produced from1971 to 1973. The arrangement of the case represents the general taste of the time very well and takes its inspiration from the eccentric, bold design prevailing in that era. The case is in excellent condition; the satin-finished dial has a lovely silver sheen, which creates a fine background for the red central chronograph hand. This is altogether a very attractive timepiece for the discerning lover of rare vintage watches.