{"product_id":"zenith-el-primero-as09210","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 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 an existing chronograph mechanism, Zenith fully integrated the two; moreover, the movement would be a high-beat calibre, offering significant added accuracy - and it offered a quickset date mechanism, to boot!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZenith announced the El Primero on January 10, 1969.. 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 example from the first generation Reference A386, is the watch that collectors and enthusiasts probably visualize when they hear the name 'El Primero', This early MK1 example \u003c\/span\u003efeatures a tidy 38mm stainless steel case with an acrylic crystal, a signed crown, and pump pushers\u003cem\u003e. \u003c\/em\u003eInside, it has the archetypal white dial with applied indices, tritium luminous plots and handsets, and the iconic 'tri-colore' overlapping subsidiary register layout with a gray outer minute track and a silver tachymeter scale, and a red center chronograph hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowered by the Calibre 3019 PHC \u003cem\u003eEl Primero\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eautomatic chronograph movement, this piece comes fitted to a correct stainless steel Gay Freres 'ladder' bracelet with a signed flip-lock clasp dated 1971.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\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":40373829304407,"sku":"40991714","price":24000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/files\/AS09210_40991714_ZENITH_ELPRIMEROMK1_A386-3.jpg?v=1701120978","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/zenith-el-primero-as09210","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}