{"product_id":"zenith-el-primero-as01751","title":"Zenith El Primero","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo that part of the population who are not Watch Idiot Savants, 1969 marks the year of the moon landing. But to the more horologically-inclined, 1969 marked a year of revolution in horology as well. As the Soviets and the U.S. raced to put a man on the moon, watch brands vied against each other to be the first to produce a self-winding chronograph drivetrain. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn one side of this contest was Hamilton, working with \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/heuer\/products\/heuer-autavia-siffert-colors\" target=\"_blank\" title='Heuer Autavia Reference 73663 \"Siffert Colors\"'\u003eHeuer\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/breitling\/products\/breitling-reference-777-chronograph\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Breitling Reference 777 Chronograph\"\u003eBreitling\u003c\/a\u003e, Dupois-Dupraz, and new Hamilton acquisition, Buren. In the wings of the contest sat Seiko, working diligently, if not silently, on its own distinct design. Last, but certainly not least was Zenith and its subsidiary, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/watches\/products\/movado-datron-hs360-18k-gold-chronograph\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Movado Datron HS360 18k Gold Chronograph \"\u003eMovado\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe journey to develop the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eEl Primero\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e began in 1962, for a target date of 1965, Zenith's centennial. Although Zenith would overshoot that date by four years, the movement that they produced would break the mold as far as chronograph movements were concerned--both literally and figuratively. It would be the first automatic chronograph movement. Furthermore, it would be the first chronograph movement where the construction would fully integrate the chronograph complication, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003erather than containing it in a module. Instead, the El Primero would contain a column wheel and a rotor mounted on ball bearings.  \u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe advent of the automatic chronograph was a huge technological feat and it changed the face of the industry. It opened the door for many companies to offer their own models. But while the Heuer and Hamilton brainchild, the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/watches\/products\/heuer-autavia-gmt-1\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Heuer Autavia GMT\"\u003eChronomatic\u003c\/a\u003e, found its way into a slew of watches, Zenith made their \u003cem\u003eEl Primero\u003c\/em\u003e movements available to only a handful of other manufactures (including Rolex).  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor many years, the words \u003ci\u003eEl Primero\u003c\/i\u003e held little meaning outside of high-intensity watch enthusiast and collectors groups. But a few year ago, Zenith brought those words back into the fore with the release of their heritage piece, the El Primero Striking Tenth chronograph. The piece was a success in its own right and got \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hodinkee.com\/articles\/a-week-on-the-wrist-the-zenith-el-primero-striking-tenth-chr\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ea lot of attention in industry publications\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut it also marshaled the growing body of watch enthusiasts, urging them to look back at the history of the \u003cem\u003eEl Primero \u003c\/em\u003eand the pieces produced around the legendary movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Zenith A386 was the first model to be fitted with the \u003cem\u003eEl Primero\u003c\/em\u003e movement and commands a hefty premium among collectors for its horological import. Subsequent to the A386 was the A385, which debuted in the mid 1970s. Where the A386 was hallmarked by its three different-colored sub-registers, the A385 was known for its fumé, or smoke, dial--a gorgeous light brown gradient coloration.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe beauty of the A385 is in the details. Aside from that gorgeous smokey dial, the front of the case is adorned with a beautiful sunburst finishing, which tapers off to a brush finish on the sides of the case and sharply-polished lugs. There's something downright elegant in its proportions, in the way the lugs hug the wrist, that makes it a worthy companion to your day-to-day adventures. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Zenith","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":28340062017,"sku":null,"price":4800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Zenith_El_Primero_A385_AS01751_2.jpg?v=1478555385","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/zenith-el-primero-as01751","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}