Lot 387

Zenith

El Primero DEFY

An extremely rare vintage wristwatch with chronograph, tachy bezel and date

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This is one of the earliest automatic El Primero models dating from the 1970s of which only about 500 examples were made. 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 delicately shimmering blue dial is in marvelous condition and has a red paddle chronograph hand, which was very popular with Zenith El Primero watches at the time. Inside sits the legendary El Primero 3019 PHC high-beat calibre Zenith launched in 1969 as one of the first ever automatic chronograph movement, thus laying the foundation for the El Primero range of movements. The automatic movement beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour, allowing a measurement accurate to one tenth of a second and making the El Primero the most accurate serial production watch movement in the world to this day.