Vintage Zenith El Primero Chronograph G382 18ct Gold 1969 1st Release 1/250

Description: Zenith El Primero Chronograph Model G382 18ct 1969 1st Release 1/250 100% Genuine & All Original All Functions Working Perfectly Immaculate Original Unrestored Gold Dial and Hands Large 37mm, 18ct Yellow Gold Zenith Swiss Made Case Limited Edition, 1st Year of Production, 1 of Only 250 Ever Made Very High-Grade Cal 3019, 31 Jewel Movement in Sparkling Condition Movement as used by Rolex in the Daytona Chronograph from 1988 – 2000 Blue Zenith Crocodile Strap with Original Zenith Gold Buckle A Truly Important Watch in Absolutely Immaculate Condition The watch was last serviced in May 2021 by Whittles Watch Works in Wayne, PA. It keeps good time and the chronograph function works properly. Please feel free to send any questions. Why This Watch Is Important Put simply, in 1969 Zenith produced the world’s first automatic chronograph, the El Primero. This movement was a tour de force and so advanced that when Rolex in 1988 needed a more advanced movement to use in its Daytona Chronograph, it chose the El Primero movement and continued to use it right up and until the year 2000 when Rolex finally began to make its own chronograph movements for the Daytona for the first time. This watch, from 1969, is from a limited-edition production run of only 250. It is historic and one of the rarest and most desirable chronographs ever produced. This is also a true ‘time capsule’ piece, by which we mean it has seen little to no real use and has always been kept in pristine condition. The Stats Model Ref G 382, Calibre 3019 PHC, Produced 1969-1970, Case Number 009E465, making this the 9th production example of only 250 pieces ever made. Some Context As some will know, there has been some debate over what would seem to be the relatively straightforward question: which company (or group of companies) was the first to produce an automatic chronograph? What is not in dispute is that on January 10th 1969, the Zenith-Movado group publicly announced to the press, and demonstrated, and showed, the world’s first working example of its automatic chronograph. To underline the significance of this momentous achievement and event, Zenith named its watch the El Primero – meaning: The 1st! It was not until March 3rd of the same year that their main competitor, led by Heuer and Breitling, unveiled its first working examples to the world. It is also true that both groups used the Basel Fair, held in April 1969, to officially launch their competing models. However, due to the considerable technical challenges of manufacturing its much superior movement, Zenith took a little longer to achieve serial production, while Heuer-Breitling delivered 100 pre-production prototype Chronomatics to its major distributors in April-May 1969. However, although the Chronomatic was widely promoted, retail availability followed sometime later, exactly when is unclear. Retail availability of the El Primero commenced in October 1969. So, as you may see, the answer to this question depends precisely on the criteria and how you look at it. The Movement Although which manufacturer was first to produce the world’s first automatic chronograph may be open to conjecture, there is no doubt the Zenith El Primero was the far greater technical achievement. A high frequency 36,000bph, column wheel, automatic chronograph, of integrated construction, with a 50-hr power reserve, and a quick-set date function was an amazing achievement in 1969! Not only this, but the El Primero was, and remains, the only mechanical movement ever able to measure time intervals to within a tenth of a second. In fact, the 31 Jewel movement was so advanced and such a technical tour de force, that when in 1988 Rolex decided to replace its ageing hand-wound Valjoux Cal.72 movement in its Rolex Daytona chronograph with an automatic movement, it chose to buy and fit the Zenith El Primero movement. Rolex then continued to use this movement until the year 2000 when it finally began to produce its own chronograph movement for the first time! As expected, the movement of this watch in first class condition. It has been fully overhauled and serviced, involving complete disassembly of the movement to each of its component parts, cleaning and examination under high magnification, then re-assembly using only the correct Zenith replacement parts where necessary, and specified oils and adjustments as required, before final testing, and calibration. Following careful timing and calibration in 6 positions, this watch is currently running within +4 seconds per day averaged over 6 positions. This is truly outstanding for any watch of this age. This movement also has a 50-hour power reserve when fully wound. The movement is correctly signed Zenith, Swiss Made, with the Caliber number 3019 and 31 Jewels. The Dial Only 250 pieces of El Primero G 382 model in 18ct gold, with the all-gold dial, were ever produced. 700 of the G 381 with gold cases and White dials were also produced. Whereas 2,500 of each, of the steel cased A 384, A 385 and A 386 models were produced, making 7,500 in total. This is the original, unrestored dial. It has applied baton hour indices with remaining original lume. The hands are also original with remaining original lume. As this is a gold dial it has not suffered any degradation over time at all and so we have left the dial and the original hands, totally untouched. As can be seen, each is in amazingly good condition. The hands are not quite as perfect as the dial, but for the sake of the originality and because this is a very special watch, we have left these as they are. The outer scale is known as a Tachymeter scale and can be used in conjunction with the chronograph function to measure speed, or distance travelled. Also a Pulsations scale for measuring heart rate. The Case The 18ct yellow gold watch case measures 37mm, excluding the original Zenith signed winding crown. The case is in almost perfect condition with no evidence of anything other than very careful and gentle hand-polishing. It is completely scratch free and the lugs are sharp, with almost-new edges. The chronograph pushers are also in immaculate, indicating the watch has seen very little use. The inside of the case-back is correctly signed; Zenith, Swiss Made with Swiss Geneva 18ct hallmarks. Externally, the case-back carries the case serial number 009E465. The case-back is of full thickness, has never been engraved and shows no signs of wear visible to the naked eye. The Strap & Buckle An original Zenith high quality Blue Crocodile strap is fitted with the original Zenith gold buckle. The Box and Papers Although there are no original papers with this watch, the numbers and markings on the watch are all correct, dating the watch to 1969. Detailed particulars will be included with the purchase receipt along with a ‘Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee’ which states: “If this watch proves to be anything less than totally authentic, or not as described, Vintage Gold Watches of London will offer you a full refund at any time”.

Price: 18000 USD

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-08-28T19:35:12.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD