{"product_id":"zenith-el-primero-as08832","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 particular piece, a Reference A386, is likely-the watch that you think of when you hear \"vintage El Primero.\" This MK3 example \u003c\/span\u003efeatures a 38mm stainless steel case with an acrylic crystal, a signed crown, and pump pushers\u003cem\u003e. \u003c\/em\u003eInside, it has the prototypical white Tritium dial with applied indices and a 'tri-colore' sub register layout with \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ea gray outer minute track and a silver tachymeter scale, and a red center chronograph hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFantastic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowered by the legendary Calibre 3019 PHC \u003cem\u003eEl Primero\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eautomatic chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to one of our grey Analog:Shift leather straps with a likely-original signed pin buckle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent examples of these early El Primero don't surface all that often, 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 absolutely needs to be on your radar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Zenith","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40263224819799,"sku":"40991510","price":18500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/files\/AS08832_40991510_ZENITHELPRIMEROMK3-A485-7.jpg?v=1696439485","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/zenith-el-primero-as08832","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}