Zenith El Primero*** 01.0140.415*** 1972

OUR ARCHIVE » Zenith El Primero*** 01.0140.415*** 1972

ZENITH Ultra Rare Vintage EL PRIMERO Chronograph, Ref 01.0140.415, 1972
Serial # 249E830
Circa: 1972

DESCRIPTION: Extremely rare vintage El Primero chronograph with date and tachymeter bezel. Beautiful natural wear and vintage look. Only 500pcs ever made!!

MOVEMENT: El Primero 3019 PHC automatic chronograph with date, 31 jewels

DIAL: Blue with 3 counters, blue date, Luminous hour markers, red chrono seconds hand with square luminous marker, silver baton hour and minute hands with luminous center

CASE: 38mm tonneau shape, stainless steel with round pushers, case back with square star logo

BRACELET: Nylon NATO Strap & Original stainless steel Zenith bracelet with folding clasp and Zenith name logo included.

PRODUCER: Zenith

NOTES: It was in 1962 that the basics of the El Primero movement first took shape on the drawing board. The idea was simple: to create an iconic watch that would be launched in time for the centenary of the Manufacture in 1965. The idea was simple, but the technical specifications were not. It was to be the first automatic chronograph ever. Better still, the caliber was to be fully integrated and designed as an inseparable whole. There would be no additional module, but instead a construction built around a column wheel and a central rotor mounted on ball bearings. It would also need to beat at a high frequency in order to be the world’s most accurate chronograph. To complicate matters still further, the movement was to be miniaturized and equipped with a date mechanism. All these factors amounted to an equation so complex that it would take seven years to solve it – four years past the anniversary date. In the transitional year 1972-73, Zenith introduced a new, square logo, as well as a new system of model codes. Serial numbers on the back were no longer used. This 01.0140.415 is one of the rarest El Primero chronographs from this period and only 500pcs were ever made!

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