{"product_id":"zenith-el-primero-a386-mk-i-as02888","title":"Zenith El Primero A386 MK I","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy We Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the first model to be fitted with the El Primero automatic chronograph movement, the Zenith A386 was—visually and technically—a standout. And 2019 marks 50 years since its debut!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe example we have here is a truly special 'MK I' version of the groundbreaking A386 El Primero. The included extract from the Zenith archives pinpoints its original delivery between May and August of 1969. Furthermore, it comes complete with a period correct box, leather strap with signed buckle, and a period Zenith catalog for the Italian market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn absolutely pristine condition, this is a collector-grade example you won't want to miss!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIn 1969, as the Soviets and the Americans raced to put a man on the moon, watch brands raced to develop the first automatic chronograph movement. The fiercest competition was among the Swiss, with two camps vying against each other for supremacy: Hamilton, in concert with Heuer, Breitling, Dubois-Depraz, and new Hamilton acquisition, Buren, who would use Buren's Intra-Matic to develop the \"Chrono-Matic\" (or Caliber 11) under the mysterious title of Project 99. Then there were Zenith and Movado, who'd already made a name for themselves as producers of fine \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/watches\/products\/zenith-a278-chronograph-box-and-papers\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003echronographs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eZenith’s journey to develop the \u003ci\u003eEl Primero\u003c\/i\u003e began in 1962, for a target date of 1965, the company’s centennial. Although Zenith would overshoot the date by four years, the movement that they produced would break the mold as far as chronograph movements were concerned—both literally and figuratively.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIt would be the first automatic chronograph movement. Furthermore, it would be the first chronograph movement where the construction would fully integrate the chronograph complication, rather than containing it in a module. Instead, the El Primero would contain a column wheel and a rotor mounted on ball bearings. Moreover, of the three automatic chronograph movements that were released in 1969, only the \u003ci\u003eEl Primero\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ewas high-beat, meaning that it beat at a rate of 36,000 bph. This offered significant added accuracy, down to one tenths of a second.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Zenith","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":19763252199511,"sku":"18040088","price":30000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Zenith_El_Primero_AS02888__5.jpg?v=1559853093","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/zenith-el-primero-a386-mk-i-as02888","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}