107th Auction

2022/11/19

Lot 216

Zenith
El Primero

A rare vintage wrist chronograph with date, tachy and pulsation scale

Sold

estimated
4.0007.000 €
Price realized
4.000 €
specific features
Case
Steel, push back.
Dial
Blue.
Movement
Automatic.
Case no.057E548
Ref.A788 / PA 53031
Cal.3019PHC
Diam.38 x 41 mm
Circa1971
Ctry.Switzerland


This timepiece is one of the earliest automatic El Primero models, from a limited edition of 2,300 watches produced from 1971 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.
Whereas many of the vintage sports watches usually show the telltale signs of excessive stress, this timepiece is in remarkably good condition. The 38 mm steel case has large chronograph pushers and the original crown with the characteristic Zenith fluting. Likewise, the two-colour dial is in excellent condition, if charmingly aged – the luminous mass is slightly darkened. The watch also features a red paddle hand, which can be found in many of the Zenith El Primero watches of that 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.


"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