134
Zenith
Ref. A386
El Primero
A very fine and rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with date and tachymeter scale
- Estimate
- CHF5,000 - 8,000€4,700 - 7,500$5,200 - 8,300
CHF22,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Zenith
- Year
- Circa 1969
- Reference No
- A386
- Case No
- 8'62D'142
- Model Name
- El Primero
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3019PHC, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 37.5mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Bücherer fitted box
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
This year Zenith is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their iconic automatic chronograph caliber El-Primero. A movement so reliable and well-made that when Rolex decided to introduce the Daytona in an automatic version they turned to the El Primero.
With the El Primero, meaning "the first" in Spanish, Zenith not only wanted to create a high frequency precision wristwatch, but also sought to advance the state-of-the-art of horology with a fully integrated, automatic chronograph caliber.
The reference A386 was presented in 1969 and housed this new revolutionary caliber. The case is a masculine 37.5mm in diameter with long angled lugs and an almost non-existent bezel giving greater visibility to the dial. The dial is also in line with the aesthetic freedom of the 60s-70s with its overlapping blue, grey and anthracite subdials. The red chronograph hand bringing a touch of vivid color. This created a modern and colorful new look for sports watches, and a move away from the more subdued aesthetics of the 1940s and 50s.
From the family of the original owner, the present watch has been sitting in a safe for the past decades. In very well preserved condition, it has most probably never been polished, the case number is perfectly crisp and comes with its original buckle.
So iconic is the reference A386 that Zenith and Phillips chose this model to jointly design a unique version in platinum with a lapis lazuli dial to celebrate this incredible watch and movements 50th anniversary (see lot 136).
With the El Primero, meaning "the first" in Spanish, Zenith not only wanted to create a high frequency precision wristwatch, but also sought to advance the state-of-the-art of horology with a fully integrated, automatic chronograph caliber.
The reference A386 was presented in 1969 and housed this new revolutionary caliber. The case is a masculine 37.5mm in diameter with long angled lugs and an almost non-existent bezel giving greater visibility to the dial. The dial is also in line with the aesthetic freedom of the 60s-70s with its overlapping blue, grey and anthracite subdials. The red chronograph hand bringing a touch of vivid color. This created a modern and colorful new look for sports watches, and a move away from the more subdued aesthetics of the 1940s and 50s.
From the family of the original owner, the present watch has been sitting in a safe for the past decades. In very well preserved condition, it has most probably never been polished, the case number is perfectly crisp and comes with its original buckle.
So iconic is the reference A386 that Zenith and Phillips chose this model to jointly design a unique version in platinum with a lapis lazuli dial to celebrate this incredible watch and movements 50th anniversary (see lot 136).
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.