![]() ![]() In 1969, at a press conference held on January the 10th, Zenith announced the imminent launch of the first fully integrated, high-frequency, automatic chronograph movement. With all these requirements, the bar was raised so high that the project could not be completed in time for the centenary in 1965 but it required four more years. A relatively small size and a date indication were additional specifications. And to make things even more challenging, the beating frequency of the chronograph had to be high enough to make it the most accurate chronograph wristwatch in the world measuring 1/10th of a second. Instead of considering the easier option to add a chronograph module to a base movement, Zenith had a more ambitious plan: the chronograph function had to be fully integrated within the mechanism and actuated by a column wheel rather than by an easier-to-implement cam. In 1962, Zenith began developing the idea of creating the first automatic chronograph in watchmaking history with the ambition to launch it in 1965, on occasion of the centenary of the Manufactury. While automatic movements for “solo-tempo” or three-hand watches started becoming popular in the 1940s and 1950s, no automatic chronograph movements had been manufactured yet. After the First World War Zenith began with the development and manufacture of wristwatches, including alarm and chronograph functions. These successes accelerated the growth of the company which was transformed into a stock company in 1911. Over the years, Zenith won many more competitions achieving the impressive record of more than 2,300 prizes considering pocket watches, on board instruments and wristwatches From the classification 100 m / 10 bar / 10 atm, the watch can also be used for swimming.Founded in 1865 in Le Locle by Georges Favre-Jacot, Zenith quickly earned a reputation as the manufacturer of some of the most precise timepieces of those years achieving the first prize in the chronometry competition of the observatory of Neuchâtel in 1903. Only from the classification 50 m / 5 bar / 5 atm can be spoken of a waterproof watch (showering possible). The watch is subjected to much greater stress at the affected points than the immersion depth would suggest. The meter specification does not refer to a diving depth, but to the test pressure that was applied during the water resistance test. We use the manufacturer's water resistance rating. warranty and papers.ģ0 m / 3 bar / 3 atm:Allows light splash water protectionĥ0 m / 5 bar / 5 atm:Allows water contact - showering is possibleĢ00 m / 20 bar / 20 atm:Allows snorkeling/diving at shallow depthsĥ00 m / 50 bar / 50 atm:Allows water sports/diving at greater depths New watch, original box, original documents incl. ![]() It was aptly and sonorously named "El Primero", which is Spanish and means "The First" in German. Zenith was the first manufacture to develop a self-winding chronograph in 1969. Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Open in version 18.2040.4061/69.C494 ![]()
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