109th Auction

2023/11/18

Lot 366

Zenith
El Primero

A rare vintage wrist chronograph with date

Sold

estimated
7.0008.500 €
Price realized
8.800 €
specific features
Case
Steel, push back, original steel bracelet with deployant clasp and diver's extension link, bracelet length 160 mm, total length 200 mm.
Dial
Silvered.
Movement
Automatic.
Case no.057E078
Ref.A787-01.01210.415
Cal.3019PHC
Diam.38 x 41 mm
Circa1970
Ctry.Switzerland


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 original steel bracelet and the case are in excellent condition. The 38 mm steel case has large chronograph pushers and the original crown with the characteristic Zenith fluting. Likewise, the dial is in excellent condition. It is satin-finished and has a lovely silver sheen, which creates a fine background for the red paddle hand, which can be found in many of the Zenith El Primero watches of that time. The luminous mass is slightly darkened.
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. This is altogether a very attractive timepiece for the discerning lover of rare vintage watches.


"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