This Lot is to be Sold with No Reserve
820
Zenith
Ref. 03.2066.405/69.M2060
El Primero Stratos Flyback
An attractive stainless steel flyback chronograph wristwatch with warranty and presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$80,000 - 150,000•€9,400 - 17,700$10,000 - 20,000
HK$156,250
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Zenith
- Year
- Circa 2012
- Reference No
- 03.2066.405/69.M2060
- Movement No
- 434’513
- Case No
- 293’611
- Model Name
- El Primero Stratos Flyback
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic
- Bracelet/Strap
- NATO
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel buckle
- Dimensions
- 45 mm diameter
- Signed
- Case and dial signed
- Accessories
- With International Warranty stamped in 2019, Zenith wooden presentation box, product literature, leather cardholder and outer packaging
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
It is incredible to think that there was a time when one could walk into a manufacturer's boutique or authorized dealer, and buy a watch that is identical to one that fell from the edge of the atmosphere, and survived. But this was exactly the case when Zenith offered the El Primero Flyback at standard retail, which was exactly the same as the watches worn by Felix Baumgartner when he fell 39.45 km in 4 minutes and 19 seconds, at a maximum speed of 1,357.6 km per hour.
Prior to the jump, Zenith rigorously tested half a dozen watches to ensure that they could withstand the extreme conditions. The process included low-temperature testing in liquid nitrogen at -78°C, which proved that the "regular" sapphire crystals were perfectly up to the task. Next up was a pressure test and vacuum test, to ensure they could withstand the absence of atmosphere, and the wind force during free fall, which the watches passed with flying colours.
Prior to the jump, Zenith rigorously tested half a dozen watches to ensure that they could withstand the extreme conditions. The process included low-temperature testing in liquid nitrogen at -78°C, which proved that the "regular" sapphire crystals were perfectly up to the task. Next up was a pressure test and vacuum test, to ensure they could withstand the absence of atmosphere, and the wind force during free fall, which the watches passed with flying colours.
Zenith
Swiss | 1865Since Zenith's beginnings, founder George Favre-Jacot sought to manufacture precision timepieces, realizing quality control was best maintained when production was housed under one roof. Zenith remains one of the few Swiss manufacturers to produce their own in-house movements to this day.
Today, the brand is best known for the "El Primero," the firm's most successful automatic chronograph movement. In an interesting twist of fate, the company that owned Zenith during the 1970s decided to move on to quartz movements and therefore sought to destroy the parts and tools necessary to make mechanical movements. One watchmaker realized this folly and hid the tools and parts before they were destroyed. In 1984, he returned them to Zenith so they could once again make the El Primero movement.
Browse MakerToday, the brand is best known for the "El Primero," the firm's most successful automatic chronograph movement. In an interesting twist of fate, the company that owned Zenith during the 1970s decided to move on to quartz movements and therefore sought to destroy the parts and tools necessary to make mechanical movements. One watchmaker realized this folly and hid the tools and parts before they were destroyed. In 1984, he returned them to Zenith so they could once again make the El Primero movement.