Beschreibung:

Zenith Follow Ref. A386 A very fine and rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with date, tachymeter scale, Gay Frères bracelet, guarantee, presentation box, and hang tag. 1969 37.5mm diameter
Manufacturer: Zenith Year: 1969 Reference No: A386 Case No: 923D151 Model Name: El Primero Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3019PHC, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Zenith Gay Frères stainless steel ladder bracelet, end links stamped ZJ, max. length 210mm Clasp/Buckle: Zenith stainless steel deployant buckle, stamped 4.71 Dimensions: 37.5mm diameter Accessories: Accompanied by original Zenith presentation boxes, guarantee and hang tag. Catalogue Essay Zenith’s El Primero (the first) was one of the first wristwatches to feature an automatic chronograph movement. The manufacturer 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, selfwinding chronograph caliber. Renowned for its quality, the Zenith caliber 3019PHC is a watchmaking icon, and was the basis for Rolex’s first selfwinding chronograph, the Daytona reference 16520 introduced in 1988. With the El Primero, Zenith created a new aesthetic with a dial that featured a combination of colors with subsidiary dials in blue, light grey and anthracite. The hour and minute hands were in white enamel with black tips, while the chronograph hand was in red enamel. 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. The present classic El Primero A386 is exceptional for its remarkable condition and completeness. Well preserved and hardly worn, it is totally original and fitted with its uniquely styled Gay Frères ladder bracelet. Complete with its original box, papers, and hang tag, the case remains unpolished as is evident from the factory finish on the lugs and the crispness of the bevels, edges, and caseback engravings. The movement is signed “Zenith 3019PHC”, and “Swiss Made B”, found on early examples of the reference. A rare opportunity for the collector, it is a ‘time capsule’ watch that is sure to impress. Read More Maker Bio Zenith Swiss • 1865 Follow Since 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. View More Works