In 1969, this was one of the world's first automatic chronograph movements, and the only one at the time with a high-beat frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour, for improved accuracy. The Full StoryĢ019 marked the 50th anniversary of the legendary Zenith El Primero movement. A386 is the most iconic Zenith chronograph and was the first watch to house the automatic El Primero movement. This offered significant added accuracy, down to one tenths of a second.Why This Watch Matters El Primero's El Primero. Moreover, of the three automatic chronograph movements that were released in 1969, only the El Primero was high-beat, meaning that it beat at a rate of 36,000 bph. Instead, the El Primero would contain a column wheel and a rotor mounted on ball bearings. Furthermore, it would be the first chronograph movement where the construction would fully integrate the chronograph complication, rather than containing it in a module. It would be the first automatic chronograph movement. Although Zenith would overshoot the date by four years, the movement that they produced would break the mold as far as chronograph movements were concerned-both literally and figuratively. Zenith’s journey to develop the El Primero began in 1962, for a target date of 1965, the company’s centennial.

The fiercest competition was among the Swiss, with two camps vying against each other for supremacy: Hamilton, in concert with Heuer, Breitling, Dubois-Depraz, and new Hamilton acquisition, Buren, who would use Buren's Intra-Matic to develop the 'Chrono-Matic' (or Caliber 11) under the mysterious title of Project 99. Then there were Zenith and Movado, who'd already made a name for themselves as producers of fine chronographs. In 1969, as the Soviets and the Americans raced to put a man on the moon, watch brands raced to develop the first automatic chronograph movement. In absolutely pristine condition, this is a collector-grade example you won't want to miss!

Furthermore, it comes complete with a period correct box, leather strap with signed buckle, and a period Zenith catalog for the Italian market. The included extract from the Zenith archives pinpoints its original delivery between May and August of 1969. The example we have here is a truly special 'MK I' version of the groundbreaking A386 El Primero. As the first model to be fitted with the El Primero automatic chronograph movement, the Zenith A386 was-visually and technically-a standout.

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