The Zenith El Primero turns 50!

The Zenith El Primero turns 50 in 2019 and Zenith is celebrating with the introduction of a spectacular box set limited to just 50 pieces. The box -a work of art in itself- holds three watches each powered by an El Primero movement, ranging from a true revival model to the high-tech Defy 21:

Watch 1: the Zenith El Primero A386 Revival 03.A386. 400/69.C815

The El Primero A386 is an ode to the original 1969 A386. In fact, it is a near perfect replica of it! According to Zenith they laser-scanned one of their vintage models and used that as a base for this modern iteration. The case measures 38mm across and holds the El Primero 400 movement.

Watch 2: the Zenith Chronomaster 2 El Primero 03.3001.3600/69.C816

The El Primero Chronomaster 2 is a new model. This has a case of 42mm, which is crowned by a ceramic bezel. It is powered by the El Primero 3600, which has a central chronograph seconds hand which makes one revolution every 10 seconds.

Watch 3: the Zenith Defy El Primero 21 95.9012.9004/69.R582

The third watch is the Defy El Primero 21 - a high-tech take on Zenith's emblematic chronograph. This is powered by the El Primero 9004, which features two separate escapements. The one used for the chronograph beats at a staggering 360.000 bph!

The box

The presentation box combines watchmaking tradition with innovation in performance and precision. Adorned with the anniversary logo, the satin-brushed grey lid with built-in touch screen opens to reveal a reproduction of a miniature watchmaker's workbench, complete with a watch mechanism on a rest, adjustable lighting system, magnifying glass and screwdriver. The screw-locked lower part of the box contains a drawer for the three watches. In a nod to the past, the box contains an actual die of the chronograph’s coupling-wheel bridge (one of the emblematic components of the El Primero movement). This serves as an invitation to the lucky owners to visit the Manufacture in Le Locle and to hand-stamp two coupling-wheel bridges: One will leave with the purchaser in his box, and the other, engraved with his name, will be placed as historical testimony on the entrance wall of the attic where Charles Vermot hid elements essential to the production of the El Primero calibre to save them from destruction, enabling its renaissance in 1984. The Zenith El Primero 50th Anniversary box set is available for pre-order in our eBoutique.