{"product_id":"zenith-el-primero-as08279","title":"Zenith El-Primero","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eZenith, while not a household name, is certainly a known name in the world of watches - particularly in collecting circles. The primary reason?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eEl Primero.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe movement was a culmination of a years-long research and development process undertaken by Zenith to develop the world’s first automatic chronograph movement. While other brands had sought to achieve the same feat — including Heuer (in concert with Breitling and Hamilton) and Seiko — Zenith intended to make the El Primero something entirely unique. Instead of taking an automatic module and merely sandwiching it onto the chronograph, Zenith fully integrated the two; moreover, the movement would be a high-beat calibre, offering significant added accuracy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZenith announced the El Primero on January 10, 1969, at a press conference. This was four years later than Zenith had intended: the brand had begun developing the calibre in 1963, hoping to bring it out for Zenith’s centennial in 1965. Nevertheless, on that winter day in 1969, Zenith proudly displayed a working model of its chronograph.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis piece, a Reference A3817, \u003c\/span\u003efeatures the same tonneau shaped case as popular the A384\/A385 models (the former of which was just reissued for 2019), a signed crown and pump pushers, but has a few small differences which amount to something just a bit \u003cem\u003edifferent. \u003c\/em\u003eInside the case, it has a white Tritium dial with applied indices and a 'tri-colore' sub register layout with a blue hand on the 9 o'clock register, and an exotic and totally awesome, wave-like minute track.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowered by the legendary Calibre 3019 \u003cem\u003eEl Primero\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eautomatic chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to a correct 'ladder' link bracelet with a signed fliplock clasp, and the virtually unobtanium, matching 'ZKM' endlinks — all manufactured by Gay Freres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eIn short, this is the one you want.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the more uncommon and most desirable executions from the 1970s, and there is no saying when another in this condition will surface again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor the collector who desires a chronograph with a fascinating history, breathtaking looks, and proper pedigree, the El Primero needs to be on your radar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Zenith","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40177978605655,"sku":"40991267","price":18990.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/files\/AS08279_40991267_ZENITH_ELPRIMERO_A3817-6_d9dedf33-8d61-4e34-be3b-c88d55418247.jpg?v=1683658895","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/zenith-el-primero-as08279","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}