Lot 461

Zenith

El Primero

A legendary, impressive, extremely rare vintage wrist chronograph with date and tachy scale

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Only 250 of this Zenith "Chronograph Automatic El Primero" reference G 382 B were produced between 1969 and 1971. The watch was fitted with the novel calibre 3019 PHC and certainly one of that prestigious range of very first automatic chronographs.
The gold case measures 40 mm in diameter, has a wide bezel with a brushed finish, large chronograph pushers, an original crown with a Zenith star and unusual lugs. The three-coloured dial has a charming colour configuration: the subsidiary dials as well as the inner scale 0-100 are black, the tachymeter scale is white and has acquired a an attractive off-white hue over the years; the luminous material has darkened a little. The watch also boasts the 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.